Hong Kong IP Forum and Entrepreneur Day Events Foster Business Growth Through Intellectual Property and Innovation

The 15th Business of IP Asia Forum and 17th Entrepreneur Day concluded on December 5, 2025, after bringing together intellectual property experts, business leaders, and entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, ASEAN, and global markets. These concurrent events, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council with government support, examined how intellectual property can drive business expansion, unlock financing opportunities, and help start-ups access new markets. The Business of IP Asia Forum welcomed over 3,300 attendees, while Entrepreneur Day recorded over 12,000 visits, with more than 350 business matching sessions arranged during the two-day period.

The Business of IP Asia Forum focused on unlocking the value of intellectual property, which represents a global intangible asset value estimated at USD 80 trillion. Sessions explored how enterprises can leverage IP as collateral to secure funding, with Lewis Lee, Founder & CEO of Moat Metrics, noting that advances in AI and data have accelerated the development of frameworks for assessing IP value systematically. The plenary session "Propelling Sustainability with IP" examined how enterprises can strengthen their competitive edge amid global shifts toward green transition, with Krishna Singhania of Maersk emphasizing the need to move beyond traditional IP ownership models to meet climate targets.

To support Mainland companies seeking overseas expansion, the Intellectual Property Department hosted a dedicated "IP Go-Global Business Matching Session" during the Forum. Local professional service providers offered one-on-one consultations covering IP registration strategies, application procedures, and patent claims drafting. Zoe Fang, CEO of Sichuan HangWan Cultural Communication Co. Ltd, stated that her company would leverage Hong Kong's international legal services to address cross-border IP issues and develop actionable plans for entering international markets. Mohamed Orikat of Voithy Tech Limited noted that Hong Kong serves as a crucial bridge to Chinese Mainland and APEC markets, providing significant insights for expanding into Asian markets.

Entrepreneur Day returned under the theme "Where Start-up Dreams Take Flight" and showcased over 360 start-ups, invention projects, and support organizations across AI, health tech, cybersecurity, construction & logistics tech, spatial computing, and sustainability. Dr. Ammar Mohammed Al Ojaili of OQ remarked that events like Entrepreneur Day bring together startups, universities, and industry players, making it easier for companies to discover innovative technologies and explore collaboration opportunities. The session "T-Chat: From Labs to Battlefield: Navigating Deep Tech Commercialisation and Global Scale" explored how deep tech innovators can leverage capital, partnerships, and international networks to accelerate commercialization.

Martin Chu, CEO & Co-founder of i2COOL Limited, highlighted the importance of cross-border collaborations brought by Entrepreneur Day, noting that Hong Kong serves as a super connector for different industries and markets. The HKTDC signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Junior Chamber International Hong Kong and France-based Hello Tomorrow to deepen collaboration on supporting local SMEs, young entrepreneurs, and start-ups in expanding into international markets. Additional information about these events can be found on the BIP Asia Forum website and E-Day website.

The "Start-up Express International" program continued to attract global founders exploring Hong Kong as a base for expansion into Asia and the Greater Bay Area, covering innovative fields such as green tech, health tech, AI, and edtech. During the "Meet the Global Start-ups" session, participants shared insights on technology development, IP strategies, market expansion, and cross-border collaboration, highlighting Hong Kong's role as an innovation and technology hub where companies can validate business models and tap into the Greater China market. More details about this initiative are available through the Start-up Express International website.

Video replays of Business of IP Asia Forum events will be available from December 8, 2025 to January 7, 2026, while replays of Entrepreneur Day events will be uploaded after January 5, 2026. These events collectively reinforce Hong Kong's position as a regional IP trading center and international innovation and technology hub, facilitating connections between intellectual property, financing, and market expansion opportunities for enterprises across the Greater Bay Area and global markets.