Hong Kong start-up Syngular Technology has won a €100,000 (US$117,131) investment in the 2025 EQT Impact Challenge, after beating three other finalists in the pitch competition by impressing judges with its augmented-reality surgical system.
The competition, organised in partnership with the South China Morning Post, drew more than 200 submissions, which were whittled down to 10 semi-finalists in April, before four finalists were selected. This year marked the first time the competition was held in Hong Kong, following previous events in Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
The four finalists stood out for their efforts to commercialise research-driven technologies, with applications from climate solutions to biotechnology and healthcare. Many of the teams were supported by local universities, accelerators and research institutes, and have begun forming industry partnerships to advance their innovations.
“At EQT, we’ve always believed that entrepreneurship can be a powerful force for good,” said Jean Salata, chairperson of EQT Asia. “That means using our capital, our network and our platform not just to generate returns, but to help solve real-world problems, build more resilient societies and support the next generation of changemakers.”
The Impact Challenge embodies that belief, he added, by backing entrepreneurs who are committed to creating both financial and societal value.
Syngular’s mixed-reality platform converts medical scans into ultra-high-definition holographic images, allowing surgeons to view a “digital twin” of a patient’s anatomy for higher precision in surgery. The technology, which incorporates game-engine graphics and artificial intelligence, has already been used in more than 50 bone-cancer operations at Prince of Wales Hospital. The company aims to further develop it to assist remote and underserved clinics.
