he Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has announced that it partnered with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to co-organise the “HKSTP InnoExpress X JETRO Innovation Programme” for the first time in Hong Kong.
The one-day forum cum investor pitching event was developed specifically for Japanese technology start-ups; to encourage them to explore opportunities in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
The Park also announced their new HKSTP InnoExpress programme, which is designed to encourage overseas technology rising stars to tap into the China market.
Sharing the same aspiration as HKSTP to nurture technology start-ups, the JETRO brought a delegation of nine selected Japanese companies in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Augmented Reality, Healthcare, FinTech, Data Analytics and Electronics under JETRO Innovation Programme (JIP) to gather at HKSTP @Wheelock Gallery.
Through the event, the Japanese start-ups met guest speakers from Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre, a massive global bank and a major professional services firm, explored business opportunities in Hong Kong and learned about the city’s edge in innovation and technology development.
In addition, innovative solutions were present and ideas we exchanged between local investors and venture capitalists during the pitching and networking sessions.
HKSTP’s new InnoExpress programme helps technology companies intending to expand businesses into the Hong Kong and GBA markets quickly grasp the keys to setting up operations in the area.
The programme provides international start-ups with tailored support and guidance about visas and immigration, taxation, government grants and support, fundraising, talent recruitment, go-to-market strategies, policies and regulations, and supply chains for selected industries.
The Chief Commercial Officer of HKSTP stated that seeing the JETRO Innovation Programme hosted in Hong Kong for the first time is encourage as Hong Kong is the only city in East Asia serving as a JETRO Innovation Hot Spot.
The city has unique advantages in terms of its physical proximity to the Mainland, particularly the GBA, yet maintaining an independent legal system and financial markets.
Hong Kong can provide highly competitive and sophisticated business services to help overseas companies expand into the enormous GBA marketplace and the entire Mainland.
The Park’s new programme, InnoExpress, will put international start-ups on a fast track to the regions wide array of opportunities.
The JIP delegation to Hong Kong will visit Shenzhen after the event. JIP is one of JETRO’s important projects to support the overseas expansion of Japanese small and medium-sized companies and start-ups with innovative technologies, products and intellectual property.
This project started in 2015. Since then, JETRO has successfully supported many Japanese start-ups to go global. This year, the programme is held in Shanghai, Silicon Valley and Bangkok, as well as Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
In April 2019, OpenGov reported that by the Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao governments jointly organised a symposium in Tokyo, Japan where Hong Kong’s Chief Executive called on Japanese businesses to seize the unique business opportunities arising from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The Symposium on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was the first joint promotion held overseas by the three governments since the Central Government announced the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in February 2019. Over 1,000 executives and leaders from various sectors attended.
