HKSTP Pushes Ahead to Strengthen Hong Kong’s I&T Ecosystem with MoU Signed with Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. (Mizuho) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Tokyo to enhance cross-market support for start-ups.

(Front row, from right to left)

• Mr Albert Wong, CEO, HKSTP
• Mr Tatsufumi Sakai, President and Group CEO, Mizuho
• Mr Peter Yan, CEO, Cyberport

(Back row, from right to left)

• Dr Sunny Chai, Chairman, HKSTP
• Mr Kuninori Matsuda, The Japanese Ambassador and Consulate-General to Hong Kong
• Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government
• Mr Nicholas Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government
• Dr George Lam, Chairman, Cyberport

(Hong Kong, 1 November 2018) - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Tokyo with Mizuho Financial Group Inc. (Mizuho), the financial institution with one of the largest financial services customer base in Japan, to jointly nurture and support high potential technology start-ups from both markets to their next level of development.

With this MoU, HKSTP and Mizuho establish a win-win collaborative framework to foster interactions among start-ups, investors and other industry players from both regions. Both parties will explore long-term strategic partnerships to support the growth of start-ups in both Hong Kong and Japan’s innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystems, and strengthen the cooperation covering key technology fields including fintech, biomedical technologies, robotics and smart city. HKSTP and Mizuho will dedicate value-added support to start-ups extending from exchange of talent and knowledge, support from incubation and acceleration programmes, investment matching, to access-to-market.

HKSTP will introduce a new fintech-focused cohort next year under its Global Acceleration Academy (GAA) – an initiative HKSTP currently partners with international industry leaders to develop thematic acceleration programmes – with Mizuho being one of the partners to promote and encourage the development of Fintech solutions, projection adoption and commercialisation. Budding high-potential fintech start-ups from around the world can leverage on HKSTP’s and Mizuho’s networks to receive all manner of services including training, consultancy and mentorship as well as investment activities.  

Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer, HKSTP, said, “We are wasting no time in pushing forward our plans in helping our start-ups grow to their fullest potential and enriching our vibrant I&T ecosystem through various value-added services.  While we have just announced our resources deployment plan to accelerate the I&T development in Hong Kong, this MoU comes at the right time – exemplifying our efforts in providing deeper and broader services for start-ups through partnerships with leading enterprises.”

“The conversation today is no longer about competition between markets to attract start-ups. Instead, it is more about how we can collaborate with a global vision and help each other’s start-ups find their feet and succeed. We help them refine their products, gain access to funding support, find the markets for their products, and support them as they scale upwards. I’m confident many positive outcomes will be achieved through this partnership with Mizuho, and we look forward to building more bridges with many more international companies to support the growth of our ecosystem and build Hong Kong as an international I&T hub,” Wong added.

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