About

Since 1955, The Hong Kong Exporters' Association (HKEA) has been devoted to supporting Hong Kong exporters in exploring new business opportunities and enhancing competitive advantages, and "Hong Kong Innovation & Invention" (Project) is our new effort. "Made in Hong Kong" is a globally renowned brand that guarantees quality. Besides manufacturing "tangible" products, we also acquire an "intangible" advantage – the spirit of innovation.

Innovation is the essence of the Hong Kong entrepreneurship. Innovation and technology (I&T), an emerging industrial revolution coming ahead, can spawn new industrial fields and facilitate the advancement and transformation of our traditional industries, enhancing the overall competitiveness of our business sector. Our I&T ecosystem is growing vibrantly – the Gross Domestic Expenditures on R&D reached HK$26.5 billion in 2020 and the amount of investment in venture capital funds reached HK$41.7 billion in 2021. Moreover, the National 14th Five-Year promulgated in 2021 expresses support for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to develop into an international I&T centre, creating new opportunities for the I&T development in Hong Kong. HKSAR Government also promulgated the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint in 2022 December, establishing a clear development path and systematic strategic planning for Hong Kong's I&T development over the next 5 to 10 years, leading Hong Kong to become an international I&T hub in near future.

With our acquired strengths on various fronts in I&T aspects and the enormous opportunities arising from the development of the GBA, Hong Kong is at the dawn of a golden era for I&T development. Through an array of activities in this Project, we hope to bring more business opportunities for the Hong Kong exporter community, bringing our local industry a bright prospect with sustainable development.

“Connectivity” has been one of the core values of the Hong Kong Exporters Association (HKEA) throughout the years. The initiative "Hong Kong Innovation & Invention" is also an endeavour to connect – with the innovation and technology (I&T) industry of the Hong Kong community, the Mainland and the world. Hong Kong is proudly ranked 3rd worldwide in the Digital Intelligence Index report jointly published by Mastercard and the Fletcher School of Tufts University in the United States in 2020, proving that our I&T industry is taking centre stage in the global realm. Hong Kong should leverage its unique edges, including our well-established global connections as an international city as well as the policy support from the Mainland, and actively perform our role as a two-way platform that bridges the Mainland and the world.

With this Project, we aim to foster closer communication and exchange innovative ideas in the I&T field through a wide range of activities: First of all, the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva – the most important event in the world devoted to innovation – has been a supporting organization of HKEA since 2018. With this partnership base, it becomes an excellent platform to showcase Hong Kong’s capacity for technological innovation to the world. Furthermore, Hong Kong is also the major engine powering the Greater Bay Area’s development. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou region ranks 2nd among top science and technology clusters around the world according to the Global Innovation Index 2022 published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. Therefore, we have our Delegation Trip to Foshan to promote collaboration with other GBA cities. For the local community, we will have the Display Showcase at HKTDC Entrepreneur Day to connect tech experts, entrepreneurs and investors for potential collaborations.

Last but not least, we are grateful for the support from the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the HKSAR Government, the committee members and friends of the HKEA. Let’s join us to build a stronger network and facilitate the vibrant growth of the industry together.

The Hong Kong innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem has been booming in recent years, with significant advancements in quality, quantity and breakthroughs across various domains. The number of start-ups has reached around 4,000 in 2021 and over 10 unicorns have emerged. Hong Kong’s performance in the technology aspect has earned it the first and second global rankings in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking by the International Institute for Management Development in 2021 and 2022 respectively. These all demonstrate the strength of Hong Kong’s scientific research and technological capabilities.

"Hong Kong Innovation & Invention" (Project), hosting a range of activities including display exhibitions, delegation trip and student inspiration tours, is the best platform to present our outstanding I&T capacity. Having served as a convener for Hong Kong delegation to the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (IEIG) since 2003, I am delighted to witness Hong Kong's innovations shining in the international arena. IEIG is the largest global exhibition devoted exclusively to inventions, with all the exhibited inventions evaluated by an international jury of specialists. In the 2023 edition, our delegation presented a record-high 293 projects in total, achieving remarkable success by winning numerous Grand and Special prizes, as well as Gold Medals with Congratulations of Jury. Comprising nearly 500 representatives from universities, research and development centres, research laboratories, technology companies, government departments, and primary and secondary schools, the delegation exemplifies Hong Kong’s vibrant I&T community and our strong innovation and R&D competence.

These remarkable achievements are set to become key drivers in addressing Hong Kong's imminent need to focus on I&T as the cornerstone for the future economic development. It also inspires our young generation to pursue I&T in their future paths. Through participating in this Project, I hope the Hong Kong I&T community can join forces with us in showcasing the vision, creativity and capabilities of our local industry.