The Cradle — Going Global Service Centre opened in Hong Kong on Friday, with the aim of assisting both local and Chinese mainland technology firms in expanding their global markets.
The center will also bolster the city’s technological innovation capabilities to better navigate the challenges of international trade and economic uncertainties.
Launched by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), the center is supported by three national innovation hubs — the Zhongguancun Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Innovation Centre, the National Innovation Centre par Excellence, and the Greater Bay Area National Centre of Technology Innovation.
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According to the HKPC, the facility will offer a suite of services for technology companies, including guidance on international standards, technical support for product localization and internationalization, and assistance with intellectual property management and overseas regulatory compliance.
It will also help enterprises develop in a greener, smarter and more digital direction through Hong Kong’s strengths in supply chain management, trade financing, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices.
Sun Dong, secretary for innovation, technology and industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, said through this platform, the city can acquire cutting-edge technologies and operational know-how from the mainland to build a robust local innovation and technology ecosystem.
Regarding the United States government’s repeated imposition of excessive tariffs on Chinese goods, HKPC Chairman Sunny Tan said that while these may create short-term challenges, Hong Kong should maintain its long-term focus on strengthening industrial capabilities and advancing economic development.
The city should continue to upgrade industries, stabilize supply chains, and enhance product quality by technological innovation, so as to sustain its competitiveness in this volatile global landscape, he said.
The Cradle showcased three examples of mainland tech companies expanding into international markets via Hong Kong.
UISEE, a Beijing-based artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous driving technology firm, which established its international headquarters and research and development center in Hong Kong last year, with the aim of leveraging the city’s global connections to attract talent and investment. Its services and products are now in use at various airports worldwide, including those in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Qatar.
Beijing Tashan Technology Co, which specializes in developing AI tactile sensing chips, has collaborated with the HKPC on four projects in the AI sector focusing on applications such as embodied intelligence and elder care robotics.
CEO Ma Yang said the company has identified application scenarios for its products in Hong Kong, which has not only provided an endorsement for expanding into international markets, but also serves as a replicable model for Tashan’s global expansion.
Yunji Technology, a robotics and AI service provider, has partnered with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to establish an innovation lab focused on digital intelligence for the hospitality sector.
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Xie Yunpeng, the company’s vice-president, shared his vision of bringing more products to the Hong Kong market. He also said the firm will collaborate with more local universities to build an international technical team, which would help foster technology commercialization and talent development.
Contact the writer at irisli@chinadailyhk.com
