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Partners

Run with universities,
industry & civic.

GQC’s three editions are made possible by a small group of long-term partners — host universities, civic bodies, founding industry sponsors and the agencies that fund the prize pool. Every partner sits on at least one of the GQC councils.

Host universities

Three hosts, one academic council.

Host · Hong Kong
HKUST
Centre for Entrepreneurship

Co-founded GQC in 2019. Hosts the Hong Kong jury days and provides the Asia chapter of the academic council.

Host · London
Imperial College London
Enterprise Lab

Runs the London edition’s prototype labs. Provides faculty for the Digital & AI methods clinics.

Host · New York
NYU Stern
Berkley Center for Entrepreneurship

Hosts the New York edition and the GQC Global Final. Chairs the Americas chapter of the academic council.

Institutional partners

Civic, cultural, and academic.

Civic
British Council
Programme partner · all editions

Co-convenes the cross-edition exchange and funds bursaries for teams from low- and middle-income countries.

Civic
Hong Kong Science Park
Infrastructure partner · Edition I

Provides studio space and engineering mentors for the Hong Kong Digital & AI cohort.

Cultural
Somerset House Trust
Venue partner · Edition II

Hosts the London opening symposium and public exhibit floor.

Cultural
The Cooper Union
Venue partner · Global Final

Hosts the GQC Medal ceremony in New York.

Civic
Newlab · Brooklyn Navy Yard
Innovation campus · Edition III

Studio space, fabrication and prototype mentors for the New York Digital & AI cohort.

Academic
Royal Society of Arts
Fellowship pathway partner

Offers a five-year RSA student fellowship to two GQC Medal winners each cycle.

Industry & venture

Who funds the prizes.

Founding sponsor
Outpost Capital
Founder’s Prize

Funds the Founder’s Prize seed grant and provides accelerator placements for shortlisted Digital & AI teams.

Strategic partner
Studio Northbank
Brand & Communication track

Underwrites the campaign labs and contributes the Brand & Communication track jury chair.

Strategic partner
Pacific Tribune Group
Media partner · Asia

Provides editorial coverage of the Hong Kong edition and an interview slot with each city winner.

Strategic partner
Atlas Bench Foundation
Research Prize

Underwrites the Research Prize and offers two writing residencies for medal winners.

Strategic partner
Lighthouse Ventures
Impact Prize

Funds the Impact Prize and places winners with portfolio companies as paid research fellows.

Programme sponsor
Anker & Lin LLP
Legal & IP advisory

Provides pro-bono legal advice on intellectual property to GQC finalist teams for twelve months.

We are talking to two new partners for 2027· If you want to underwrite a prize· partnerships@gqc.org

Competition Notes

A short monthly briefing on open calls, dates, prize winners and ideas from the GQC alumni archive.

Global Quest Competition

Awards 2026

#GQC2026

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