The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) sets out the blueprint for the city's development as an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, with the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address taking that direction forward through this year's priorities, among them AI ecosystem development, research commercialisaion and development of the Northern Metropolis. InvestHK hosted the Forum to advance this agenda and attract enterprises in these strategic sectors to develop in and expand through Hong Kong.
The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, delivered welcome remarks and said, "AI is no longer an emerging trend of Hong Kong, but an engine of our next era of growth. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has adopted a dual approach focusing on development and governance, alongside strengthening industry-institution collaboration in AI. We have introduced multiple measures to create favourable conditions for AI development, which include enhancing the city's computing capacity, reinforcing the funding continuum from seed-stage research to global expansion, as well as promoting the broad adoption of AI across the workforce and society. By integrating AI into finance, healthcare, transport, creative industries and sustainable development, Hong Kong's traditional strengths can be transformed into new productivity and growth."
In his opening remarks and keynote presentation, the Acting Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Arnold Lau, said, "InnoTech Forum 2026 demonstrates the breadth and depth of Hong Kong's full-stack AI ecosystem, highlighting how global investors and innovators can leverage our strong research base, capital access, robust IP protection, and international connectivity - alongside the exciting prospects of the Northern Metropolis - to shape the next frontier of AI. InvestHK is committed to attracting meaningful AI businesses, investments, and technologies to Hong Kong, while strengthening the city's position as a primary launchpad for Chinese Mainland AI companies with international ambitions."
The Forum featured four dedicated panel sessions highlighting Hong Kong's end-to-end AI capabilities, ranging from chip research and development and advanced, low-latency data centre infrastructure to talent cultivation and the commercialisation of real-world AI applications. Speakers came from various organisations with diverse backgrounds, including AWS Hong Kong, Gobi Partners, the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the InnoHK AI Chip Center for Emerging Smart Systems, MiniMax, Phancy Group, INCE Capital, Range Technology and Westwell. During the panel session, representatives from Range Technology and Westwell shared that they are actively leveraging Hong Kong as their base for global expansion to manage and scale their international businesses.
During the Forum, People's Daily Online launched "Smart China in Action", its flagship 2026 short-film series. Told from an international perspective, the series highlights China's AI applications across healthcare, education, smart manufacturing, culture, tourism and the arts. Hong Kong is the first stop of the global screening tour. As an international innovation and technology hub where Chinese and world cultures converge, Hong Kong presents Chinese innovation to the world in a distinctly human way.
The event concluded with closing remarks from the Head of Innovation and Technology and Life and Health Sciences of InvestHK, Mr Andy Wong, and an executive networking luncheon.
