Cyberport Brings Together Hong Kong and Pacific Rim Youth for Esports Exchange
May 3, 2021
01

Original by Cyberport, Media OutReach

Workshop Organised with APRU Teaches How to Win Heavyweight Brand Sponsorships for Esports Development

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 30 April 2021 – Hong Kong Cyberport and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), a consortium of 58 leading universities in the Pacific Rim region, today held the APRU Esports Fellowship Workshop on the Cyberport campus and online. Talon Esports, a Cyberport incubatee and well-known organiser of esports leagues, shared its perspective on the esports business ecosystem and how marketing and business sponsorship can benefit the industry’s development. 30 students from universities in Hong Kong and the Pacific Rim, including the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Hong Kong (HKU SPACE) and the Open University of Hong Kong, joined the workshop and exchanged views with fellow students who share their passion for esports.

Participating students conducted a mock sponsor pitch to enhance their knowledge of the esports ecosystem.

Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport, said, “Cyberport is committed to cultivating local young talent and providing them with diversified entrepreneurship and career opportunities. As a high-growth emerging industry, esports and digital entertainment present younger generations with a rich array of opportunities, from content development to team management and training, and from event planning to brand marketing. Through this workshop, participants learned about the esports industry’s business models and the unique advantages of Hong Kong’s esports companies. Those aspiring to a career in esports could also broaden their horizons and enjoy fruitful exchanges via the APRU network with their counterparts from other universities in the Pacific Rim.”

Industry Leader Shares Tips on Winning Sponsorships

According to the latest forecast from industry research institute Newzoo, the global esports market’s value will reach USD1.084 billion in 2021, representing year-on-year growth of 14.5%. Business sponsorship will account for USD641 million, close to 60% of the total value. This demonstrates that business sponsorship is the esports industry’s bread and butter.

As a Cyberport incubatee, Talon Esports is well-known for its League of Legends team, PSG Talon, as well as for the successful esports events it has staged, such as the VALORANT competitions in Hong Kong and Taiwan which have attracted lucrative sponsorships from a wide variety of businesses including sportswear company Nike, KFC Thailand, Hong Kong virtual bank Mox and gaming seat developer Recaro. Today’s workshop tutor, Sean Zhang, CEO and Co-founder of Talon Esports, noted: “Everything begins with the fans. Esports fans typically represent a very valuable consumer segment for many brands, but they are also notoriously difficult to reach through traditional channels. So the most important thing for us to understand from a partnership perspective is what our partners are looking to achieve, from both a business and a branding standpoint, and then our job is to work out how we can best help them bridge that gap between them and the gaming community in a way that is authentic and adds value for our fans too.”

Sponsor Pitch Simulations

Each participating university, including the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HKU SPACE, the Open University of Hong Kong, the Far Eastern Federal University, the National Taiwan University, the National University of Singapore, the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, the University of British Columbia, the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Washington, arranged for two to three representatives to join the workshop. Grouped into five teams, the students were required to conduct a sponsor pitch for a popular esports league. To enhance their knowledge of the esports ecosystem, feedback and suggestions were provided by the tutor.

Organising inter-university tournaments and academic competitions

Dr Christopher Tremewan, APRU Secretary General, said, “Empowering future Esports leaders in the Pacific Rim brought APRU and Cyberport together to create the APRU Esports Fellowship Program. Through Cyberport, the new generation will have access to the resources they need to develop skills and build networks for careers in the thriving Esports industry, including access to over 140 Esports start-ups. A perk of our program is that students will have the exclusive opportunity to pitch to industry leaders after learning about sponsorship relations and insider tips that cannot be found in textbooks. Going forward, we will forge ahead with this partnership and offer more opportunities for students to learn through student-led inter-university tournaments, academic competitions and fellowships.”

APRU is a premier alliance of research universities, established in Los Angeles in 1997 by the presidents of UCLA, Berkeley, Caltech and the University of Southern California. It aims to foster collaboration between member universities to promote economic, scientific and cultural advancement in the Pacific Rim. APRU now has a membership of more than 50 leading research universities.

Organised by Cyberport in partnership with APRU and the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, the APRU Esports Fellowship Program is a one-year programme dedicated to the esports industry. Cyberport’s session in Hong Kong is the programme’s third workshop, with the first two hosted by the National University of Singapore and the University of California, Los Angeles. The next workshop is planned for May, and will be hosted by the University of British Columbia. In addition to workshops, the programme also includes competitions which aim to boost the student’s esports skills and techniques.

About Cyberport

Cyberport is an innovative digital community with over 1,650 start-ups and technology companies. It is managed by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, which is wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government. With a vision to be the hub for digital technology thereby creating a new economic driver for Hong Kong, Cyberport is committed to nurturing a vibrant tech ecosystem by cultivating talent, promoting entrepreneurship among youth, supporting start-ups on their growth journey, fostering industry development by promoting strategic collaboration with local and international partners, and integrating new and traditional economies by accelerating digital transformation in the public and private sectors.

For more information, please visit www.cyberport.hk.

Related Articles
IESGA's 6th Global Conference Forges Pathways to Empowering Sustainability
more
APRU SWM Forum 2023: Advancing UN SDGs and ESG for a Sustainable Future
more
Indigenous Knowledge Has the Power to Help Address the Climate Crisis
more
APWiL Mentoring Program keeps growing, 4th Cohort takes off
more
APRU Indigenous Knowledges Network meets in Melbourne
more
SDG4GC - How a growth mindset can open a world of opportunity
more
APRU Open Dialogues tackles Gender-Based Violence Prevention in Learning Environments
more
Winners Announced: APRU Global Health Virtual Case Competition and Student Poster Contest 2023
more
APWiL Mentoring Program 3rd Cohort concludes, having promoted teaching and learning in both directions
more
Routes Towards a Sustainable Society: Forum with Springer Nature Editor-in-Chief
more
Towards a Sustainable Biochar Market in Korea
more
APRU Multi-Hazards Summer School Resumed In-person Trainings in 2023 at Tohoku University
more
APRU Esports Fellowship Program 3rd Cohort provides ample food for thought on well-being, networking, and universities’ future role
more
AI for Social Good Summit Gathered Academics and Gov’t Representatives to Showcase Joint Research Outcomes Enhancing Wellbeing in Southeast Asia
more
APRU Steering Committee 2023-2024
more
Public Agencies from Thailand Participated in AI for Social Good Summit
more
2023 Global ESG Forum in Singapore Underscores Biodiversity and ESG Reporting as Key Drivers to Sustainable Development
more
CUHK Hosts APRU Undergraduate Leaders’ Program on Sustainable Cities Development
more
The University of Hong Kong hosts APRU Presidents’ Meeting on Sustainable Future Solutions
more
Keio University News: Keio University Launches 2023 Mentoring Program to Promote Female Faculty Member Empowerment and Leadership
more
APWiL Third Cohort & Professor Freshwater as new APWiL Presidential Champion
more
Unique innovations blossomed at the APRU SDG Education for Global Citizenship Program
more
Country Workshop Aims to Turn AI Research Results into Actionable Public Policy
more
Global Climate Change Simulation Offers USC Students New Perspectives on Worldwide Fight
more
UO Students Co-host APRU Global Climate Change Simulation
more
World BOSAI Forum 2023 facilitates forward-looking visits to Japanese APRU members
more
APAIE 2023: APRU universities showcase successful student programs for social impact
more
UP News: UP participates in APWiL Mentoring Program 2022
more
17th Annual APRU Multi-Hazards Symposium Presents New Approaches and Tools to Tackle Future Risks
more
APRU Presents Solutions for New Core Competency- Building at 18th APEC Future Education Forum
more
APRU on Bloomberg: The next stage: APRU-Google-UN ESCAP AI for Social Good Project now working directly with government agencies
more
12th APRU Population Ageing Virtual Conference 2022 Takes on Massive Challenges in Achieving Optimal Outcomes for Older Persons
more
APRU SDG4GC orientations kick-start exploration of health & well-being
more
UMelbourne News: An international focus on Indigenous knowledge
more
Tec News: APRU universities meet in San Cristóbal de las Casas to hold dialog on indigenous knowledge in the Pacific Rim
more
APRU Sustainable Cities & Landscapes Conference Helps Shifting Toward Well-prepared and Resilient Urban Societies
more
The APRU Climate Change Simulation- Preparing Students to Lobby Leaders for Vital Actions
more
Congratulations to the winners of the APRU Digital Art Contest, “Level-Up Our World”
more
APRU Students Showcase Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills in APRU Global Health Virtual Case Competition
more
APRU MetaGame Conference 2022 Successfully Concludes in Hong Kong With Academics Pushing New Ideas on the Application of Esports in Education
more
Congratulations to the winners of the APRU Rampage Invitational Tournament
more
Students from Tongji School of Medicine Enrolled in the Top 10 Entries of the APRU Global Health Virtual Case Competition 2022
more
APRU Brings Universities into the World of Esports with MetaGame Conference 2022
more
CUHK Biologists Unveil the Genetic Histories of Centipedes and Millipedes to Contribute to Studies of Biodiversity and Ecology
more
APRU Steering Committee 2022-2023
more
APRU ends pandemic hiatus with first physical meeting at NTU Singapore and highlights urgency to collaborate through international university networks
more
APRU Readies for Looming Book Launch with Springer on Safety and Resilience of Higher Educational Institutions
more
Graduation Ceremony and Final Presentations of Esports Fellowship Program 2nd Cohort leaves participants in awe
more
APRU on Bloomberg: APRU Readies for Looming Book Launch with Springer on Safety and Resilience of Higher Educational Institutions
more
Congratulations to the Winners of the APRU VSE Earth Day Challenge!
more
APRU on The Fiji Times: FNU Students Join Global Climate Change Simulation
more
APRU Carbon Neutral Society Action Month Opens New Doors for Early Career Researchers
more
Congratulations to the winners of the APRU Student Esports Paper Competition
more
APRU Global Sustainability: Waste & The City Seminar Course Helps Graduate Students Shape Green Leadership Concepts
more
Tec News: Tec Professors, in a Global Mentoring Project for Women
more
UBC News: 2 UBC Esports undergrads win industry research scholarships
more
APEC Healthy Women Healthy Economy Prize Accepting Applications 2022
more
APRU on UNESCO News: New report “Moving minds: Opportunities and challenges for virtual student mobility in a post-pandemic world”
more
APRU on SCMP: Covid-19 wrecks exchange programme plans, as record low number of Hong Kong university students went overseas in last academic year
more
UC Davis News: APRU, UC Davis and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Launch Second Cohort of Asia-Pacific Women in Leadership Mentoring Program
more
UCLA News: Building the foundation — and networks — needed to diversify university leadership
more
APRU on HKMB: Digital games exercise minds
more
APRU Esports Fellowship Program Welcomes the 2nd Cohort of Student Leaders
more
APRU on Nikkei: COVID has made a bad situation worse for women academics
more
UP hosts the first virtual APRU Undergraduate Leaders’ Program
more
Global MOOC and Online Education Conference 2021 highlights APRU Virtual Student Exchange (VSE) Program
more
APRU on SCMP: Virtual foreign exchange allowing students to ‘study abroad’ without leaving home will outlast Covid-19
more
UH News: Esports fellowship creates global opportunities for UH students
more
APRU Metagame Conference 2021 Returns at Cyberport’s Annual Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum
more
Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2021: winners announced
more
APRU Global Health Conference Focuses on Urban Health and Infodemics
more
APRU Steering Committee 2021-22
more
The 16TH APRU Multi-Hazards Symposium 2021: Transdisciplinary Collaboration for Disaster Resilience
more
APRU Celebrates Successful Completion of Its APWiL Mentoring Program’s First Cohort
more
Congratulations to the 1st Cohort of the APRU Esports Fellowship Program Participants
more
APRU on The Jakarta Post: A Mounting Battle that Starts at Home
more
New APRU Member – Tongji University
more
APRU Student Global Climate Change Simulation Tackling Climate Change Head-On
more
Esports Webinar Series by YESPORTS and APRU helps exploring career opportunities
more
New APRU member - Simon Fraser University
more
APRU on UWN: Long way to go for parity for women in HE leadership
more
APRU on World Economic Forum: Universities can be 'living labs' for sustainability
more
Asia Summit: ‘penalty systems’ and ‘male allies’ address gender gap
more
APRU Joins Solve Climate by 2030 Project
more
YESPORTS ESPORTS APPRENTICESHIP Recipient Announced
more
4th SCL Conference mastered shift from face-to-face to virtual, new survey shows
more
APRU on JUMPSTART: How Esports Fellowships Can Pave the Way for A Stable, Ethical, Diverse Industry
more
Good-bye 2020, Welcome 2021!
more
APRU Launches the First Global Inter-University Esports Conference and Fellowship Program
more
14th APRU Global Health Conference 2020 records massive virtual reach
more
APRU Quarantunes Competition Connects and Uplifts Student Communities through Music, Boosting Spirits during Ongoing Pandemic
more
Civic Resilience and the COVID-19 Crisis (Part 2 of 2)
more
APRU E-Sports Apprenticeship
more
Winners of the Global Health Student Activities 2020 Announced
more
TEC News: Song of Tec students wins 1st place among universities worldwide
more
Quarantunes Student Music Competition
more
APRU-IRIDeS Multi-Hazards Virtual Summer School 2020
more
Collaboration, technology and global health policy
more
Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy concludes first cohort
more
New Member Spotlight: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
more
New Member Spotlight: Universidad San Francisco de Quito
more
Upgrade needed for universities’ workplace wellness programs, new APRU survey shows
more
UNU-IAS and Partners Launch Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy
more
Cities and Refugees – 2019 Global Student Design Ideas Competition
more
Sustainable Urban Development Mayors Fellowship
more
APRU joins industry & government in shaping the eSports ecosystem in Hong Kong
more
APRU Inaugural Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Design Field School
more
Winners of 2018 Global Health Student Poster Contest
more
APRU at the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction
more
APRU-IRIDeS Multi-Hazards Summer School 2014 Report is out now
more
2nd Multi-Hazards Summer School 2014
more
9th Multi-Hazards Symposium 2013
more
Partnering for a less hazardous planet: Interview with Professor John Rundle
more
1
113