Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has wrapped up its participation at Viva Technology (VivaTech) 2026 in Paris, held from June 17 to 20, marking the event's 10th anniversary. The delegation reinforced HKSTP's position as a key orchestrator of Asia's innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem, culminating in the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between Hong Kong park companies and European partners.
Among the notable agreements, microalgae expert Algreen partnered with South Korean climate tech firm ForNatures, which specializes in carbon capture management. The collaboration aims to amplify research and development capabilities to advance environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. Robotics solutions provider Robocore signed with ARCHTYP, a Slovenian cognitive software startup, to integrate a differentiating layer onto an established platform to meet market demands. Additionally, Robocore closed a deal with French advertising giant JCDecaux to supply a thousand robots, extending its reach in the European market. Meanwhile, LeafIoT's green asset management solutions attracted interest from European preservation professionals, including the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), Catalonian landscaping firm Gremi de Jardineria de Catalunya, and Professor Andrea Galli from the Laboratory of Geotechnical Analysis and Modelling (GeoT-LAM) at Politecnico di Milano, all exploring new opportunities and market expansion.
The annual showcase provided a platform for founders to connect with the local I&T community, explore market access, and forge global partnerships through pitching sessions, networking mixers, and investor engagement. Compared to VivaTech 2025, this year's delegation achieved over 50% growth in opportunities, totaling more than 200 potential business leads worth HK$70 million. HKSTP's growing presence at VivaTech reflects its mission to open new doors for Hong Kong's startups, build pathways into European markets, and create reciprocal opportunities for European innovators to enter Asia through Hong Kong's strategic location in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, recognized as the world's No.1 innovation cluster by the World Intellectual Property Organisation Innovation Index.
Terry Wong, CEO of HKSTP, stated: "France and the EU represent critical opportunities for Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland I&T ventures to scale globally. VivaTech provides a world-class platform for collaboration, co-creation, and knowledge exchange. Our strong ties with French partners underline the importance of Hong Kong as a global launchpad for innovation, supporting startups on their journey from local success to international impact."
A highlight of this year's event was the expansion of HKSTP's partnership with Bouygues Construction, a global leader in sustainable construction headquartered in France, operating across more than 60 countries. Through its Hong Kong arm, Dragages Hong Kong, Bouygues has maintained a 70-year legacy in Hong Kong, contributing to iconic infrastructure projects and championing innovation in construction safety, modular design, green materials, and site automation. HKSTP is the first and only institution in Hong Kong to bridge tech ventures directly into the Bouygues Construction "Scale One" programme, providing a fast track to prototyping and commercialisation. Building on this foundation, Bouygues Construction is now stepping up collaboration with HKSTP beyond Asia, offering selected Hong Kong startups the chance to showcase solutions at Bouygues' headquarters in France, with opportunities for solution validation and pilot trials across European operations.
The Hong Kong Tech Pavilion, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and supported by partners including HKSTP, showcased market-ready solutions spanning AI, green tech, and health tech from 24 tech ventures, marking a major milestone in creating a direct bridge between Hong Kong and Europe's innovation heart. More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.
