The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance concluded successfully in Shanghai on July 20, with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) participating for the fourth consecutive year. The HKTDC, together with Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITP), mounted the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion, showcasing innovative solutions from 18 leading Hong Kong AI enterprises and institutions to global investors and industry players.
The pavilion covered areas including intelligent robotics, smart city technologies, cybersecurity and enterprise intelligence, demonstrating Hong Kong’s strengths as an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre and its unique advantage as a bridge connecting China with global innovation resources. Silas Chu, HKTDC Associate Executive Director (Technology and Digital Innovation), said, "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."
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, governance and standards alignment, and financial empowerment. Prof Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, delivered opening remarks, stating, "The Hong Kong SAR Government is pressing ahead with transforming Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre, while building a robust, trustworthy, internationalised and sustainable AI ecosystem and proactively integrating into the national AI Plus initiative."
Jacky Chung, HKTDC Associate Executive Director (Global Network and Supply Chain) and Director of Chinese Mainland, noted, "In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony, President Xi Jinping emphasised the importance of jointly building a fair and equitable global AI governance framework... 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 support Mainland AI enterprises in expanding into international markets, accelerate AI adoption across diverse application scenarios, and foster cross-border collaboration.
The HKTDC also organised business matching and networking activities, including a visit to a Shanghai-based business incubator on July 16, a roundtable and networking dinner with enterprises from Shanghai’s Xuhui District. These activities facilitated connections between Hong Kong enterprises and Mainland I&T companies, investors and industry representatives, deepening I&T collaboration. The My Favourite Start-up Award was presented to AI SEMI Limited, an HSITP start-up driven by AI-empowered semiconductor manufacturing innovation, focusing on AI optical proximity correction (AI-OPC).
The HKTDC has been actively bringing Hong Kong enterprises to major international tech shows, following CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Mobile World Congress (MWC) and 4 Years From Now (4YFN) in Barcelona, and Viva Technology in Paris. For more information about the HKTDC, visit www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Media enquiries can be directed to the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department at http://mediaroom.hktdc.com.
