FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LINGSHUI, HAINAN, CHINA – July 29, 2025 – The inaugural HaiNan SouthEast Asia AI Hardware Battle (HNSE AHB) 2025, a flagship competition of the 2025 Hainan Southeast Lingshui Tech & Art Festival, successfully concluded on Saturday (July 26). Cear Inc from Japan has emerged as the top winner for the competition.
Held in the vibrant city of Lingshui, Hainan, the competition brought together grand finalists from across Asia and beyond, showcasing cutting-edge advancements poised to redefine industries worldwide.
Co-organized by Lingshui Li Autonomous County Development Group Holdings Limited and TNGlobal, the HNSE AHB 2025 served as a crucial platform for startups and tech companies from all across Asia to present their AI-driven hardware solutions.
The competition, which emphasized smart hardware applications in both consumer and industrial sectors, aimed to empower innovators through comprehensive support, including product refinement, capital connection, international exposure, and ecosystem integration.
After intense pitching sessions before an esteemed panel of international investors, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem leaders, the top innovators were announced.
Among the standout innovations presented were:
Top three winners:
Winner: Cear Inc
Project: A Speaker that Reinvents Listening:Spatial Audio Evolved through Hardware and Cutting-edge Technology —And AI Leads It into the Future.
First runner-up: Robocore Technology Ltd
Project: AI in Motion for a Smarter and More Caring World
Second runner-up: Cresento Ltd
Project: AI Powered Smart Shin Guards for Football Players
The top three winners were also invited to a demo session at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Hainan Southeast Tech and Art Festival on Sunday.
Top 10 Grand Finalists (Ranking is in alphabetical order)
- Apping Technology Sdn Bhd – “WorkForceTruth” AI character‑screening kiosk for HR
- Cear Inc – Spatial‑audio speaker that “reinvents listening” through AI‑driven acoustics
- Cresento Ltd – AI‑powered smart shin guards for football injury prevention
- EthicalAI Limited – “HoloPC” holographic AI desktop computer
- Hainan Qingwen Yayin Technology Co Ltd – “Dr. Hear”: a directional hearing‑assistive robot targeting early‑stage hearing loss
- Healytec – “Healytec” digital‑health biosensors for continuous monitoring
- Robocore Technology Ltd – service‑robot stack for “a smarter and more caring world”
- WealthRyse – “WealthRyse Genisys AI”: an AI‑powered personal‑finance engine for mass‑affluent users
- The Smarter Solution Edge Sdn Bhd – voice‑first digital‑health companion
- Wansu (Guangzhou) Technology Co Ltd – “BrainTrace” brain‑computer‑interface headset for neuro‑wellness
Selected Top 10 finalists will also be given a retail showcase – a minimum two-week in-store showcase at selected physical retail outlets across Japan, operated by the renowned CCC Group – including iconic bookstores such as Tsutaya Books chain (terms and conditions apply).
This unique retail showcase, powered by strategic partner GREEN FUNDING, offers direct access to Japan’s influential tech-lifestyle audience.
Meanwhile, all grand finalists were also recognized as “HNSE STARs” (Hainan Southeast Tech AI Rising Stars) to recognize their hard work and groundbreaking ideas.
HNSE STARs include Immobot Technology Inc, ZXing Technology Co Ltd, Mirai Link Co Ltd, Zero Technologies Electronics Sdn Bhd, Shenzhen Bee Technology Co Ltd, Amer Leading Global Lubritech Sdn Bhd, ARSK & OXYGEN, Ever AI Technologies, Ride-Wind Technology, PixelRo Co Ltd, and FREEHOMES.
Curated jointly by the Hainan Southeast Lingshui Tech & Art Festival, the Hainan Provincial Government, and expert partner institutions, the HNSE STARs list will recognize the most promising AI‑powered smart‑hardware projects emerging from this year’s battle.
Exclusive Benefits for HNSE STARs are as follows:
- Government facilitation – tailored support for project localization, including policy consultations and landing services.
- BEYOND Expo 2026 showcase – guaranteed exhibition slot at one of Asia’s largest technology events.
- Amplified promotion – dedicated features across official HNSE channels, partner media outlets, and global innovation communities.
“The Hainan Southeast AI Hardware Battle has truly exceeded expectations, demonstrating the immense talent and innovation flourishing within the AI hardware sector across Asia,” said Dr. Lu Gang, Founder & CEO of the TechNode Group.
“This event is a testament to Hainan’s commitment to bridging its free-trade-port ambitions with the region’s vibrant hardware-AI scene. The top three finalists were also given the opportunity to pitch at the largest demo stage in Asia, at the closing ceremony of 2025 Hainan Southeast Tech & Art Festival ” he added.
The success of HNSE AHB 2025 further reinforces Hainan’s strategic vision to become the “First Stop for Smart Hardware Going Global.” Leveraging its unique policy advantages as a free trade port and Lingshui’s blend of culture and technology, Hainan is actively cultivating an ecosystem that fosters technological advancement and international collaboration.
About HNSE Asia AI Hardware Battle
The HNSE AHB, as the flagship competition of the 2025 Hainan Southeast Tech & Art Festival, is dedicated to building a global platform for exchange in smart hardware and AI technologies.
Leveraging the policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port and Lingshui’s unique geographical position and vibrant blend of culture and art, the competition focuses on the deep application of smart hardware + AI in both consumer and industrial sectors. It aims to empower innovators and entrepreneurs through comprehensive support in product refinement, capital connection, international exposure, and ecosystem integration.
HNSE AHB aims to:
- Provide a platform for innovation exchange and project incubation
- Position Hainan Southeast as the “First Stop for Smart Hardware Going Global”
- Connect international capital, technology, and market resources
- Accelerate the AI-driven transformation of the smart hardware industry
- Discover high-quality projects to integrate into the long-term Hainan Southeast brand ecosystem
Official event website: https://technode.global/hnse-ahb