More than 2,500 university students and 1,300 companies and organisations participated in the new round of the STEM Internship Scheme launched this summer, far exceeding the total numbers last year.

The Innovation & Technology Commission said the figures showed that the scheme received overwhelming support from both the universities and the business community.

The scheme aims to encourage university students to experience work related to innovation and technology (I&T) and foster their interest in developing an I&T career in the future. It also has the goal to assist employers in recruiting suitable future I&T talents.

An intern who joined the scheme for the first time noted that she already got a job offer from an artificial intelligence company after graduation.

She said the scheme offered her a precious opportunity to get in touch with the I&T field and the internship firmed up her commitment to develop her I&T career.

A participating company also said the scheme is very helpful to both the industries and students.

The scheme provides university students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines with at least four consecutive weeks of internships and a $10,500 monthly allowance for up to three months in every academic year.

The majority of the participating universities plan to join the scheme in the coming winter break, the commission added.