The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) participated for the fourth consecutive year in the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, held in Shanghai from July 17 to 20. The HKTDC, in collaboration with Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), and Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITP), mounted the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion, showcasing innovative solutions from 18 leading Hong Kong AI enterprises and institutions. The pavilion covered intelligent robotics, smart city technologies, cybersecurity, and enterprise intelligence, demonstrating Hong Kong's strengths as an international I&T centre and its unique advantage as a bridge connecting China with global innovation resources.
Silas Chu, HKTDC Associate Executive Director (Technology and Digital Innovation), emphasized the council's commitment to fostering Hong Kong's I&T and start-up ecosystem. "Through various platforms, we actively help start-ups enhance their market visibility, expand into the Chinese Mainland and overseas markets, and further promote Hong Kong's I&T strengths," he said. The HKTDC organized a seminar on the first day of the conference, titled "Seminar on Fostering Economic Innovation and Global Collaboration through AI," which brought together representatives from government, research institutions, the financial sector, and I&T enterprises to discuss AI industrialization, governance, and global expansion of Greater Bay Area AI enterprises.
Prof Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, delivered opening remarks at the seminar, stating: "The Hong Kong SAR Government is pressing ahead with transforming Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre, while building a robust, trustworthy, internationalized and sustainable AI ecosystem and proactively integrating into the national AI Plus initiative." He highlighted the unique advantages of "One Country, Two Systems" and the deepening collaboration among government, industry, academia, research, and investment sectors.
Jacky Chung, HKTDC Associate Executive Director (Global Network and Supply Chain) and Director of Chinese Mainland, noted President Xi Jinping's emphasis on jointly building a fair and equitable global AI governance framework. "As AI shifts from R&D breakthroughs towards large-scale industrial application, Hong Kong will leverage its unique strengths to contribute to the national 15th Five-Year Plan," Chung said. He added that the HKTDC will continue to support Mainland AI enterprises in expanding internationally and accelerate AI adoption across diverse application scenarios.
The HKTDC also organized business matching and networking activities, including a visit to a Shanghai-based business incubator on July 16 and a roundtable with enterprises from Shanghai's Xuhui District. These activities facilitated connections between Hong Kong enterprises and Mainland I&T companies, investors, and industry representatives. Additionally, the HKTDC presented the "My Favourite Start-up Award" to AI SEMI Limited, an HSITP start-up focused on AI-empowered semiconductor manufacturing innovation.
The HKTDC has been actively bringing Hong Kong enterprises to major international tech shows, including CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Mobile World Congress and 4 Years From Now in Barcelona, and Viva Technology in Paris. The participation at WAIC 2026 further provided a platform for start-ups to showcase their solutions and connect with international investors. The conference, under the theme "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future," brought together more than 1,100 companies and featured over 3,000 innovative products. For more information on the HKTDC, visit www.hktdc.com/aboutus.
