The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance concluded successfully in Shanghai today, with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) participating for the fourth consecutive year. Together with three major innovation and technology parks—Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), and Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITP)—the HKTDC mounted the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion. The pavilion showcased innovative solutions from 18 leading Hong Kong AI enterprises and institutions to global investors and industry players, covering areas including intelligent robotics, smart city technologies, cybersecurity, and enterprise intelligence. The pavilion demonstrated Hong Kong’s strengths as an international I&T centre and its unique advantage as an important bridge connecting China with global innovation resources.
Silas Chu, HKTDC Associate Executive Director (Technology and Digital Innovation), stated: “The HKTDC is committed to fostering the development of 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. We continue to facilitate the participation of local I&T enterprises in major international technology exhibitions and industry events, enabling deeper exchange and collaboration between the industry and global corporations, investors, research institutions and business partners. These efforts help the sector stay abreast of developments in AI and other frontier technologies, while exploring new application scenarios and market opportunities. Through our participation in WAIC, we hope to showcase Hong Kong’s vibrant I&T ecosystem to a global audience and help bring more innovative solutions to international markets.”
On the first day of the conference, the HKTDC organised the Seminar on Fostering Economic Innovation and Global Collaboration through AI, bringing together representatives from government, research institutions, the financial sector, and I&T enterprises to discuss AI industrialisation and real-world applications, governance and standards alignment, financial empowerment, and the global expansion of Greater Bay Area AI enterprises. The seminar also explored pathways to accelerate technology commercialisation and foster industry development through regional and international collaboration. Prof Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, attended the forum and delivered opening remarks, emphasising Hong Kong’s commitment to transforming into an international innovation and technology centre while building a robust, trustworthy, internationalised, and sustainable AI ecosystem.
Jacky Chung, HKTDC Associate Executive Director (Global Network and Supply Chain) and Director of Chinese Mainland, commented on President Xi Jinping’s keynote speech at the opening ceremony, which highlighted the importance of jointly building a fair and equitable global AI governance framework. Chung noted that 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. The HKTDC will continue to actively support Mainland AI enterprises in expanding into international markets, accelerate the adoption of AI across diverse application scenarios, build international innovation and technology platforms, and foster more cross-border collaboration.
The HKTDC also organised a series of business matching and networking activities, including a visit by participating enterprises to a Shanghai-based business incubator on 16 July, as well as a roundtable and networking dinner with enterprises from Shanghai’s Xuhui District. These activities facilitated business connections between participating Hong Kong enterprises and Chinese Mainland I&T companies, investors, and industry representatives, further deepening I&T collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Additionally, the HKTDC organised the My Favourite Start-up Award, inviting visitors and buyers to vote for the enterprise demonstrating the strongest innovation capability and market potential from among the 18 participating start-ups. The award was presented to HSITP start-up AI SEMI Limited, which is driven by AI-empowered semiconductor manufacturing innovation centered on AI optical proximity correction (AI-OPC).
The HKTDC has been actively bringing Hong Kong enterprises to major international tech shows, including CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Mobile World Congress (MWC) and 4 Years From Now (4YFN) in Barcelona, and Viva Technology in Paris before participating in WAIC. Since its inception, WAIC has brought together more than 8,100 leading scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders from around the world, becoming an important platform for advancing AI innovation, industrial collaboration, and global AI governance. Under the theme “AI Partnership for a Brighter Future,” this year’s conference brought together more than 1,100 companies and featured over 3,000 innovative products, held from 17 to 20 July. The Hong Kong Tech Pavilion’s participation underscores the region’s role as a key connector between China and global innovation resources, with implications for accelerating AI adoption across industries and fostering international cooperation in AI governance.
