Hong Kong tech firms are intensifying efforts to strengthen their foothold in Europe by attracting overseas investments and broadening sales channels, with one expecting “high double-digit business growth” in the region.

Twenty-four local tech companies are preparing to showcase the latest technological developments and innovations at the Mobile World Congress, one of the world’s largest mobile technology gatherings, in Barcelona, Spain from March 3-6.

With the support of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corp and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), these firms aim to establish connections with potential customers and investors as they look to expand globally.

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This is the first time that local startup Aiqua Corp will be participating in an overseas exhibition, following the launch of its first-generation sonar-based drowning detection system last July.

Norman Chan, co-founder and head of engineering at Aiqua, said he aims to make contact with at least 10 venture capitalists at MWC. In addition to helping his company secure funding, Chan said these investors could provide insights on how to adapt Aiqua’s products for the specific demands in Europe.

Because of the distance between Europe and Hong Kong, it will be not easy to visit clients often, he said. To solve this, his company has created a complete set of solutions tailored for such overseas markets, including easier installation methods that allow clients to install the system themselves with some guidance.

Syngular Technology, which focuses on augmented reality-based orthopedic surgery assistance, also needs funding. CEO Louis Sze said he hopes to attract international investors at the upcoming exhibition, saying that as a medical device company, Syngular requires financial support for research and development as well as getting device registrations in different markets.

This will be the company’s second appearance at an international industry event, following the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last year. Sze said his products have started trials with clients in places as far away as Israel.

Sze added he believes there will be high demand for such surgical assistance tools in Europe, given that many European countries have small populations and fewer clinical cases, which means their doctors have fewer examples to reference when dealing with complex surgeries.

Altai Technologies, a Hong Kong provider of industrial-grade Wi-Fi solutions, aims to strengthen their presence in Europe beyond its established networks in the United Kingdom. “We hope to develop more sales channels in Europe and meet our target customers to showcase our homegrown technologies,” company president Ken Leung said.

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With strong demand for industrial Wi-Fi in Europe, Leung said he hopes the company can achieve high double-digit business growth in the region in the future.

Derek Chim, head of startup ecosystem and development at HKSTP, said that while Hong Kong has strong research capabilities, a competitive talent pool, and a good funding environment, it is still a relatively small market. “To achieve business growth, companies need to look beyond Hong Kong,” he added.

Besides organizing companies for MWC, Chim said that the Science Park team will visit the UK to build connections with scholars and research teams at leading universities. The team aims to bring more talent to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and encourage professionals interested in commercializing their research findings in China and the Asia-Pacific to use the city as a platform.

Contact the writer at irisli@chinadailyhk.com