Young Industrialist Awards · Industrialist of the Year Awards
Two personal awards for industry, run by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries. The Young Industrialist Awards of Hong Kong (founded 1988, 39th edition in 2026) recognise young industrialists aged 21 to 45 with outstanding achievement in their sector; the Industrialist of the Year Awards reach their 25th edition in 2026. Entry is by nomination rather than open application: nominations ran 1 April to 15 May 2026, with final selection in August and the ceremony and dinner in November. Winners form the Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council — the long-run value of this award sits in that circle, not in the trophy.
You personally run or lead an industrial business, you're between 21 and 45, you have verifiable results in your sector, and you want into the core network of Hong Kong industry.
This is an award for a person, not a company or a product — for products, see the Hong Kong Awards for Industries. It also runs by nomination, so filling in a form yourself isn't the route.
- Entry / deadline
- 2026 nominations ran 1 April to 15 May (now closed); final selection in August, ceremony and dinner in November
- Ceremony
- Ceremony and dinner, November 2026
- Who can enter
- Young Industrialist Awards: young industrialists aged 21 to 45 with outstanding achievement in their sector
- Other conditions
- By nomination — a nominator puts you forward for assessment; this is not open self-entry
The annual calendar
Four fixed points each year: nominations open 1 April, close 15 May, final selection in August, ceremony and dinner in November. Anyone serious needs their nominator and materials ready six months before it opens — the nomination window is only six weeks.
Why the value of this award sits in the circle
The Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council, formally registered in 1992, is made up largely of past Young Industrialist Award winners. So this isn't just recognition — it's a ticket into the network of people currently making decisions in Hong Kong industry, and that council also organises the Upgrading and Transformation category of the Hong Kong Awards for Industries. For anyone in manufacturing who needs local supply chain and policy access, that relationship is worth more than the trophy.
- 1
Find a nominator first
This runs by nomination — someone puts you forward before any form gets filled.
Pitfall: Hunting for an entry form on the site, not finding one, and assuming it isn't running.
- 2
Check the age and achievement criteria
The Young Industrialist Awards recognise industrialists aged 21 to 45; the exact reference date and required materials follow the FHKI's rules for the edition.
Pitfall: Sitting right on 45 — wait a year and you're out.
- 3
Work backwards from the 1 April opening
The window is six weeks; materials need to be ready before it opens.
Pitfall: Starting to look for a nominator in April — too late.
- 012026 nominations have closed → start lining up a nominator now and diary 1 April next year.
- 02Want the company recognised rather than yourself → look at the Hong Kong Awards for Industries; three of its five categories judge companies.
- 03Mid-transformation → the Upgrading and Transformation category is organised by that same council; the two lines run together.
The 21-to-45 age range appears in the FHKI's public description; the exact reference date and the nomination documents aren't listed on the pages verified here. Eligibility for the Industrialist of the Year Awards isn't detailed officially.