The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has taken a significant step towards fostering global technological advancement by leading its inaugural delegation to VivaTech 2025, Europe's largest startup and tech showcase held in Paris, France. This initiative aims to bridge the innovation ecosystems of Hong Kong and France, thereby supercharging global tech development across various critical sectors.

The delegation comprises 18 of Hong Kong's most promising innovators specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, health technology (healthtech), green technology (greentech), and financial technology (fintech). They joined a robust display of startups at the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion, an exhibition organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

HKSTP, recognized as Hong Kong's largest innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem, serves as a vital conduit for propelling home-grown innovators onto the global stage and facilitating the success of international innovators across Asia. The debut presence at VivaTech 2025 offered an unparalleled platform for these innovators to collaborate, evolve their technologies, and identify new market opportunities in Europe and worldwide.

Several Hong Kong tech pioneers received notable recognition at VivaTech this year. Ailytics, for instance, was honored as one of the five winners of the prestigious EDF Startup Challenge and listed among the Top 30 VivaTech Innovations of the year, lauded for its AI-powered video analytics solutions that enhance safety, productivity, and operational efficiency, particularly in heavy industries. In the fintech sphere, AQUMON and Midas Analytics were nominated for the Top 12 FinTech Trail for their cutting-edge AI-driven data analysis solutions. Furthermore, Imsight, OKOsix, and Vismed were selected as finalists for the Tech for Change Award, acknowledging their contributions to wellbeing management solutions in cancer diagnostics, biomaterial composition, and medical training and care, respectively.

Beyond accolades, the event was a fertile ground for strategic partnerships. Westwell Technology, a provider of smart new energy solutions for the container logistics industry, confirmed a strategic partnership with Logicor, a leading European logistics provider. This collaboration will culminate in an innovation exhibition showcasing an integrated logistics solution involving new energy commercial vehicles and autonomous driving at Garonor Park in Paris. PointFit, a wearable technology company known for its pioneering non-invasive and continuous lactate monitoring device, announced a partnership with France-based Kinomap, an interactive indoor-training application and platform. In a broader move to foster global collaboration, HKSTP also signed a partnership agreement with Startup Genome, a leading innovation ecosystem development organization, to promote global ecosystem collaboration and networking opportunities for their respective members.

Hilda Chan, Chief Marketing Officer at HKSTP, emphasized the pivotal role of innovation development in Asia for the future global landscape. She highlighted Hong Kong's deep connectivity, globally fluent talent pool, and trusted legal and financial systems as key attributes making it an ideal base for innovators with global aspirations. The ground-breaking technologies showcased at VivaTech underscore the immense potential derived from connecting global innovation, with Hong Kong serving as a crucial hub.

The convergence of the rapidly advancing I&T ecosystems of Hong Kong and France aligns with France's clear ambition to drive a new era of innovation-powered growth, led by AI unicorns. Hong Kong, consistently ranked second globally in the Global Innovation Index by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), complements this vision perfectly.

Building on this momentum, HKSTP is preparing for the ninth edition of its flagship pitching competition, EPIC. This initiative invites bold and burgeoning startups from around the world to compete for a targeted investment funding of US$100 million, alongside opportunities for scaling and an immersive experience with like-minded visionaries in Hong Kong this November. The previous iteration of EPIC attracted over 600 applicants from 47 economies, and EPIC 2025 is setting an even higher bar, with global applications open until June 17, 2025.

Established in 2001, HKSTP has cultivated a thriving I&T ecosystem that now boasts 13 unicorns, over 15,000 research professionals, and more than 2,300 technology companies from 25 countries and regions. These companies primarily focus on developing healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech, and smart city technologies. HKSTP's extensive support includes R&D infrastructure, startup assistance, enterprise services, commercialization and investment expertise, robust partnership networks, and talent attraction initiatives. Its operations span key locations such as Hong Kong Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong, and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O, and Yuen Long, collectively realizing a vision of new industrialization for Hong Kong in sectors like advanced manufacturing, micro-electronics, and biotechnology.

Further extending its reach, the Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen, plays a crucial role in connecting the world and mainland China through cross-border exchange. This branch attracts global talent and facilitates the development of technology companies across seven key areas: Medtech, big data and AI, robotics, new materials, microelectronics, fintech, and sustainability, offering both dry and wet laboratories, co-working spaces, and conference and exhibition facilities. Through these comprehensive efforts, HKSTP continues to solidify I&T as a fundamental pillar of growth for Hong Kong.