MTR leverages metaverse to foster co-creation and youth innovation

MTR Corporation moves with the times and actively makes use of innovation and technology (I&T) to enhance services. Through the development of the MTR Metaverse, the Corporation has created a new generation of railway experience and further interacted with customers.  

Recently, the Corporation organised creative competitions centred around the metaverse to cultivate the innovative mindset of the youth and encourage co-creation, as well as to promote the popularisation of I&T.  

Following MTR’s journey in the metaverse last year, the Corporation built the “MTR Metaverse Station” and recreated a virtual Choi Hung station from the 1980s earlier this year.  

This time-travelling journey brings a brand-new experience to players as they explore the limitless possibilities for a future MTR station while also taking a nostalgic trip back to relish the historical significance and cherished memories of Choi Hung station.  

MTR has also made use of the metaverse to promote the popularisation of I&T. Two creative competitions using the metaverse as their theme were organised earlier to bring the knowledge and application of I&T from virtual space to the real world.  

The “MTR Metaverse Future Station Facility Creation Competition” was held during the summer holidays for secondary school students and attracted the participation of nearly 200 teams.  

Drawing on their observations of daily railway operations, participants identified customer needs and utilised their imagination and creativity to design future station facilities for the MTR Metaverse.   

To unleash students’ potential and contribute to the advancement of STEAM education, the Corporation conducted workshops where the students were introduced to 3D modelling tools and techniques.  

In September 2023, the Corporation organised the “MTR Metaverse Generative AI Train Competition”, inviting the public to design future trains with their creativity and imagination by adopting generative AI technology. The competition received over 10,000 submissions.  

Jeny Yeung, managing director, Hong Kong Transport Services of MTR Corporation presented awards to the winning students at an awards ceremony on 20 October 2023. The event also featured an exhibition to showcase various innovative competition entries for the public to explore the possibilities of future stations.  

This article is sponsored by MTR Corporation.