Knowledge Inheritance & Development

English | 繁體中文 | 简体中文

Topic: Knowledge Inheritance & Sustainable Development: The Design Thinking Knowledge Inheritance and Sustainable Development Plan for the Chinese World

Major Purpose:

Through the four levels of Knowledge Enlightenment, Deepening, Exchange, and Standardization, we aim to integrate the latest international knowledge of design thinking with the cultural context and local practices of the Chinese world. This initiative promotes the popularization, localization, and industrialization of design thinking, with a core focus on knowledge inheritance and sustainable development.

It seeks to comprehensively enhance individual creative thinking, organizational innovation management efficiency, and societal innovation-driven economic growth, establishing an innovation ecosystem grounded in design thinking and positioning the Chinese world at the forefront of global innovation management.

Major Content:

Part 1: Introducing Design Thinking: Creating Internationally Recognized Success Stories

Part 2: Cross-Sector Application of Design Thinking: Driving Local and Global Innovation Development

Part 3: From Design Thinking 1.0 to 3.0: The Path of Innovation through the Integration of Advanced Technologies

Part 4: The Path to Sharing Design Thinking: Building an Open Knowledge Platform

Part 5: Focusing on Key Chinese Cities to Elevate National Innovation Management

Part 6: China’s Development Journey Over the Past Years (Major Event Highlights)

Part 7: Future Development Strategies and Action Plans

Part 8: Join Us in the Journey of Knowledge Inheritance & Sustainable Development

Part 1: Introducing Design Thinking: Creating Internationally Recognized Success Stories

Since 2017, we have introduced the Design Thinking Method and taken the lead in applying it to Hong Kong’s business and industrial sectors, creating multiple outstanding success stories. These cases have not only achieved significant breakthroughs in practical applications but also saw three of the most representative cases published in top-tier international academic journals and professional books. This has earned global attention and high recognition, establishing Hong Kong as an international benchmark in the field of innovation management.

Starting in 2019, we were invited by the Business Discipline of the Vocational Training Council (VTC) of the Hong Kong government to include five successful cases spanning the business sector, social welfare, education, and public services in the Hong Kong Design Thinking Case Study Collection series. These volumes were published in 2019, 2020, and 2022, respectively. These cases have not only provided valuable references for local readers but have also become important foundational materials for international research in innovation management, promoting the application of design thinking across various fields.

Part 2: Cross-Sector Application of Design Thinking: Driving Local and Global Innovation Development

At the same time, we have actively expanded our network of collaborators, working closely with government departments, local universities, professional organizations, certification bodies, and professional education institutions. Together, we have developed specialized innovation management courses covering diverse fields.

To date, we have successfully launched 11 specialized courses in collaboration with institutions such as The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the City University of Hong Kong, the Vocational Training Council’s Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), UNESCO Hong Kong Association for Sustainable Development, Project Management Institute (PMI), Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA), and the Hong Kong General Testing and Certification Association. These efforts have provided a systematic platform for innovation management learning for professionals across various sectors.

Part 3: From Design Thinking 1.0 to 3.0: The Path of Innovation through the Integration of Advanced Technologies

Over the past eight years, we have successfully conducted more than 550 design thinking training programs in Hong Kong, training over 10,000 professional design thinking practitioners and cultivating a large number of innovative management talents for Hong Kong and mainland China. Our journey not only witnessed the rapid development of the “Design Thinking 1.0” era from 2017 to 2021 but also marked the successful introduction of “Design Thinking 2.0” in 2021—a new execution model of design thinking that integrates big data analytics, injecting higher efficiency and more precise data-driven capabilities into innovation management.

Keeping pace with the global evolution of design thinking in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), we successfully implemented “Design Thinking 3.0” in December 2024 through a community innovation project in Hong Kong. This version of the design thinking methodology deeply integrates AI technologies, shortening the time required to complete innovation management projects from 8–12 weeks to just 1 week, significantly improving execution efficiency. Additionally, the accuracy of market analysis has been enhanced to 90%, fully demonstrating the extraordinary results achieved through the deep integration of design thinking and digital technologies.

Part 4: The Path to Sharing Design Thinking: Building an Open Knowledge Platform

As a leader in design thinking applications in Hong Kong, we have earned the trust of government departments, universities, professional organizations, and industry associations. Over the years, we have organized more than 250 free lectures, case studies, and seminars, sharing best practices across industries and establishing ourselves as a key force in promoting design thinking knowledge.

To enhance knowledge sharing, we partnered with organizations to record and edit all free activities, making them publicly accessible via our official website, www.DesignThinking.org.hk. Since 2020, we have hosted the “Design Thinking Practice and Case Library,” and the platform was officially upgraded to become the “Design Thinking 3.0 Playbook: For Start-Up, Step-Up & Scale-Up Entrepreneurs” in April of 2025. It now includes over 150 high-quality videos and in-depth articles, available in Cantonese/Traditional Chinese, Mandarin, and English, categorized into eight major industries or sectors for easier learning. Additionally, a curated collection of international publications and specialized articles has been added to the case library, further enriching its content.

To maintain a nonprofit approach, we do not collect personal data from viewers or include commercial promotions. This ensures the purity of knowledge dissemination, maximizing accessibility and benefiting individuals and organizations committed to innovation.

This platform embodies the principles of Knowledge Enlightenment, marking a milestone in sharing design thinking knowledge and advancing its sustainable development within the Chinese world. With over 5,000,000 views to date, it reflects society’s strong demand and interest in design thinking.

Part 5: Focusing on Key Chinese Cities to Elevate National Innovation Management

To further promote the comprehensive development of innovation management in China, we have identified nine core cities with strong economic and innovation potential as strategic hubs for promoting and applying design thinking courses. These cities include Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Wuhan. All are renowned for their robust economic strength, industrial foundations, and innovation capacity, with GDP levels comparable to or exceeding those of Hong Kong.

In these cities, we will tailor our design thinking courses and projects to align with local industry needs and development trends, assisting businesses, educational institutions, and public service departments in enhancing their innovation management capabilities.

Through this strategic deployment, we aim to build a nationwide network for innovation management, fostering collaborative development among the nine cities while amplifying China’s influence in the global innovation management field. We believe that the successful implementation of design thinking in these cities will serve as a benchmark for the promotion and application of design thinking across China, further enhancing the nation’s overall innovation management capabilities and ushering in a new era for innovation management in China.

Part 6: China’s Development Journey Over the Past Years (Major Event Highlights)

Part 7: Future Development Strategies and Action Plans

In the four areas of Knowledge Enlightenment, Deepening, Exchange, and Standardization, we will continue to integrate the latest international knowledge with local practices to promote the popularization and application of design thinking in the Chinese-speaking world. We sincerely invite people from all sectors to join us in opening a new chapter in innovation management and advancing the inheritance and sustainable development of knowledge!

7.1 Knowledge Enlightenment: Free Short Lectures Co-hosted with Experts
Core Goal: Popularize the concept of design thinking and inspire innovation potential.
We will collaborate with leading domestic and international experts to offer free 1-2 hour lectures on the application of design thinking for the general public and student groups. The content will cover industry trends, practical cases, and innovative solutions. The action plans include:

  • Popularizing the Concept of Design Thinking: Introduce the core concepts of design thinking in an easy-to-understand way to enhance public awareness and interest in this methodology.
  • Inspiring Students’ Innovative Thinking: Develop dedicated content for students, combined with real-world cases, to help them master basic tools and improve their learning and practical abilities.
  • Promoting Social Participation: Use the lectures as a cross-disciplinary knowledge-sharing platform to attract innovation management enthusiasts and promote the widespread application of design thinking.

Key Features: Based on industry cases and incorporating interactive sessions, participants will gain inspiration and embark on a journey of innovative thinking in a short time. Multi-language versions (Cantonese, Mandarin, and English) will be provided to ensure coverage of a diverse audience.

7.2 Knowledge Deepening: Develop Internationally Recognized Training Courses
Core Goal: Systematic learning to promote industry application.
We plan to collaborate with well-known domestic and international universities and industry associations to launch internationally recognized courses lasting 1 to 5 days, meeting the learning needs of participants at different levels. The action plans include:

  • Basic Courses: For beginners, providing training on the basic concepts and tools of design thinking.
  • Advanced Courses: Focusing on industry applications, exploring product development, service innovation, and user experience design to help participants solve specific industry problems.
  • Trainer Courses: Providing professional trainer courses for experienced design thinking practitioners, teaching instructional methods, course design, and how to lead workshops.

Key Features: Upon course completion, internationally recognized certificates will be awarded, enhancing participants’ professional image and market competitiveness.

7.3 Knowledge Exchange: Promote Field Visits and International Exchanges
Core Goal: Cross-cultural collaboration and learning of best practices.
We will regularly organize overseas field visits, taking participants to global innovation hotspots to facilitate cross-cultural exchange and learning. The action plans include:

  • Visits to Benchmark Organizations: Visit leading international companies to learn their best practices.
  • Cross-cultural Exchange: Invite international experts for in-depth dialogues to explore different application directions of design thinking.
  • Practical Workshops: Combine field visits with on-site application of design thinking tools to solve real problems.

Key Features: Visits to global innovation hotspots, such as China, Asia, and Europe, to explore the latest trends in global innovation management. Two-way exchanges will promote collaboration and experience sharing between international experts and local practitioners.

7.4 Knowledge Standardization: Formulate Localized Standards for Design Thinking
Core Goal: Promote standardized industry applications and enhance professionalism.
We will collaborate with government agencies and higher education institutions to develop localized standards and industry application frameworks for design thinking, ensuring the practicality and adaptability of the methodology. The action plans include:

  • Certification System: Launch design thinking professional qualification certifications to enhance the credibility and professional capabilities of practitioners.
  • Industry Adaptation: Develop targeted application guidelines based on the characteristics of different industries (e.g., finance, services, manufacturing).
  • Standardized Processes: Establish implementation frameworks for design thinking, covering the entire process from problem definition to prototype design and testing optimization.

Key Features: Industry leadership through standardization, ensuring consistency and efficiency in the application of design thinking across various fields. Collaborating with governments and industry associations to facilitate standard implementation enhances the international influence of design thinking in the Chinese-speaking world.

Part 8: Join Us in the Journey of Knowledge Inheritance & Sustainable Development

As a core methodology driving global innovation, design thinking plays a critical role in knowledge inheritance and sustainable development in China. We remain committed to integrating the latest international knowledge with localized practices, leveraging innovative thinking to address industry challenges, and promoting cross-sector collaboration and value co-creation.

We sincerely invite you to join the “Knowledge Inheritance and Sustainable Development Program” to promote the dissemination and application of design thinking across the world of Chinese. Whether you are an enthusiastic individual or an organization committed to innovation, your participation will have a profound impact on the future of innovation management in China.

If You Are an Individual

We particularly welcome passionate individuals to join us, including:

  • Design Thinkers: Creative problem-solvers who advocate for human-centered innovation;
  • Gamechangers: Visionaries who are dedicated to driving transformative change;
  • Innovation Trainers and Consultants: Professionals specializing in inspiring innovation in others and helping businesses and organizations enhance their innovation management capabilities.

If you are passionate about innovation management and wish to bring the principles of design thinking to more industries and communities, we warmly invite you to join this program. Your expertise and vision will inject powerful momentum into the advancement of innovation.

If You Are an Organization

We also look forward to collaborating with the following organizations:

  • Government Departments: Public entities dedicated to promoting innovation policies and social development;
  • Local Universities: Academic institutions driving the integration of design thinking into education and research;
  • Professional Organizations: Associations that support industry development and foster innovation;
  • Certification Bodies: Institutions specializing in professional qualification certifications;
  • Professional Education Institutions: Platforms dedicated to professional development and skill enhancement;
  • Innovation Training and Consulting Firms: Professional agencies focused on innovation management training and consulting services.

Through collaboration, we aim to co-develop localized courses, workshops, and innovation initiatives that embed the values of design thinking into various industries, driving sustainable growth and innovation.

How to Join

If you are interested in becoming a partner in this program, please email us at admin@innoedge.com.hk with the subject line: “Interested in Joining the National Design Thinking Collaboration Plan.”

Let us work together to promote the dissemination and practice of design thinking, inspire innovation, and create a new chapter in innovation management across the Chinese-speaking world. Your participation will spark creativity, empower communities, and generate lasting impact!

Overview of InnoEdge Group

2-minute video | To enable subtitles for this video, please click on the [CC] icon located in the bottom-right corner of the video player.