Chan Yik Hei (born 17 October 1989;Chinese:陳易希,Jyutping: can4 yik6 hei1) is a young entrepreneur inHong Kong. He graduated fromCCC Tam Lee Lai Fun Memorial Secondary School andHong Kong University of Science and Technology.
In 2004, he achieved a Second Award in Engineering Category of theIntel International Science and Engineering Fair for hisTotal Equip, arobot for domestic security[1] modelled afterR2-D2.[2] Therefore, anasteroid,20780 Chanyikhei, was named after him byLINEAR[3] under theCeres Connection program[4], which name asteroids after winners of certain science and engineering competitions.
Back to Hong Kong, he was called "Son of the star" by thelocal media, and became increasingly famous and popular. Awater rocket of his product was launched on the welcoming ceremony forFei Junlong andNie Haisheng, the Chineseastronauts ofShenzhou 6.
In May 2006, he was accepted by the Department ofElectronics andComputer Engineering ofHong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) for a 4-yearundergraduate study (including a 1-year preparatory course), making him a rare case to be accepted intouniversity without completing any public examinations in Hong Kong.
In July 2006, hisautobiographyChan Yik Hei, the young man who grabbed the star (Chinese:摘星少年陳易希) was published, and became one of thebestsellers on theHong Kong Book Fair. He is also the honourable scholar of thePriority Academy, created byStandard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong).
In November 2013, he gave a speech at TEDxYouth at theHong Kong Polytechnic University.[1]
As he became a celebrity, controversy raised over his admission into HKUST. In August 2006, when he at first refused to announce hisHKCEE results,netizens expressed their dislike in localvirtual communities likeHK Golden Forum, HKEPC, and Miniforum. There was a rumour that he only got 3 grade points in HKCEE, which was proved to be false. It was later announced that he obtained Grade F (Fail) in both Chinese and English, an E in Computer and Information Technology, D in both Mathematics and Chemistry, C in Physics and B in Graphical Communication. In total, he obtained only 12 points[5], just slightly above themedian.
In Oct 2006, he "invented" a cup for the blind, which he named "smart cup" (Chinese:智能杯). The principle of his "invention" is when the water level reach the two metal strips, the water completes the electric circuit, thus the buzzer sounds to warn the user that the cup is full. The media in Hong Kong said this is a great invention. However, many netizens suggested that he copied the design from a mainland inventor and from an exam project in HKCEE. Chan declared that he had never referred to the design by the mainland inventor.[citation needed]
After graduating from HKUST in 2011, he launchedBull B Tech, a firm that specializes in developing apps for Apple products, with other partners[6][7]. He was also elected as alumni's representative in the School Management Committee of his former secondary school[8].