HKSTP Rides LEAP 2024 Platform to Power Middle East Innovation Drive and Calls on Ecosystem Leaders to Keep Up with Global I&T Opportunities

(Hong Kong, 5 March, 2024) – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has kicked off the first leg of a landmark delegation with the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB) and Hong Kong Cyberport (Cyberport) to the Middle East. Together with eight Park companies and first stopping at LEAP 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, dubbed the world’s largest tech event, HKSTP is on a mission to rally innovators across the respective ecosystems to keep up with the global speed of disruptive innovation and technology (I&T).

The opening of the first-ever Hong Kong Pavilion at LEAP was officiated by Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Industry (SITI) of the HKSAR Government; Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP; and Mr Peter Yan, CEO of Cyberport. At the same occasion, HKSTP has landed a strategic MoU with Saudi Arabia’s leading technology R&D government institution, the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). The MoU provides reciprocal soft-landing opportunities for companies in both regions, as well as commitment to collaborate on technology, industry best practices and support for startups across the two ecosystem networks. 

Professor Sun Dong, SITI of the HKSAR Government, said, “I am deeply impressed by the energetic I&T culture and supportive programmes available at KACST.  The strategic partnership between KACST and our I&T flagships will further deepen the I&T exchange between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, accelerate the growth and development of our start-ups and nurture more global I&T talent.”

Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said, “LEAP 2024 is a crossroads of culture and innovation that captures the boundless energy and ambition of the Middle East. It is also an electrifying opportunity for HKSTP and eight of our Park companies to showcase cutting-edge advancements and explore the mega potential of Saudi Arabia. We are proud to be part of the Hong Kong delegation. Hong Kong is ready to collaborate, nurture breakthroughs and partner, as we all leap into a new era of innovation.”

Leveraging the Saudi Vision 2030, HKSTP also orchestrated the "Hong Kong Healthtech Innovations Driving Global Transformation for Generations to Come" panel session at LEAP to ignite discussions on R&D, investment, and collaboration. Three Hong Kong biotech and healthtech innovation leaders: Prof Samuel Au, President of Cornerstone Robotics; Dr Zhu Tian, Co-Founder and CEO of GenEditBio and Mr Chi Man Lam, Founder and CEO of Applied Technology Group illuminated the prospects of healthtech and highlighted Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia’s shared visions and limitless opportunities in the industry. Hong Kong-based biotech startup, GenEditBio, has also made its mark in the region with the confirmed MoU with Anwa Biosciences, a leading Saudi genomic firm. Both companies are collaborating to use cutting-edge CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology to combat genetic diseases, starting with sickle cell disease.

For more information on LEAP 2024, please visit:

https://www.hkstp.org/our-community/events-and-happenings/leap-2024/

Photos 1-2: At the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion, Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, emphasised that LEAP 2024 is on the top of the agenda in his first official trip to Saudi Arabia.

Photos 3-6: Featuring 16 innovative solutions from HKSTP and Cyberport tech companies, the Hong Kong Pavilion provides a global platform for Hong Kong to demonstrate its I&T strengths.

Photo 7: Under the witness of Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government (second from left) and H.E. Dr. Munir M. Eldesouki, President, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (second from right), Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP (first from right), and Mr Peter Yan, CEO of Cyberport (first from left), signed a MoU with Dr. Khalid A. Aldakkan, Senior Vice President for Innovation Parks, KACST (middle), to form a strategic partnership between the Hong Kong and Saudi I&T ecosystems, accelerating the growth and development of start-ups and talent.

Photo 8-9: The HKSTP Pavilion mimics Hong Kong’s iconic I&T landmark – the “Golden Egg”, showcasing cutting-edge innovation ranging from biotech, healthtech, logistics, AI, robotics, to new energy from eight forward-looking Park companies.

Appendix: HKSTP Park companies participating in LEAP 2024 (arranged in alphabetical order according to company names):

ALcarbo Technology Limited (ALcarbo)

ALcarbo is a biotech company pioneering a sustainable algae photobioreactor system to absorb and neutralise carbon dioxide. At LEAP 2024, Alcarbo will introduce its new carbon-capturing algae reactor.

Applied Technology Group Limited (ATG)

ATG is a healthtech company using cloud computing and big data analytics to develop one-stop healthcare management platforms. ClinicONE, a smart clinic solution for doctors and patients, will be showcased at LEAP 2024.

Cornerstone Robotics Limited (CSR)

CSR is committed to developing practical and innovative solutions and providing high-quality medical devices for users and patients around the world. Sentire Endoscopic Surgical System, a surgical robot developed by CSR, will make its debut in the Middle East at LEAP 2024.

Fano Labs Limited (Fano Labs)

AI expert Fano Labs will introduce Callinter, an AI interaction analytics system, at LEAP 2024. Callinter empowers contact centres to analyse customer interactions and specialises in analysing call recordings in multilingual and mixed language settings.

FJ Dynamics International Limited (FJ Dynamics)

FJ Dynamics is a robotic company providing digital and autonomous solutions for agriculture, construction, and other sectors. At LEAP 2024, FJ Dynamics will be showcasing the three components of its Digital Construction Management Platform – 3D LiDAR Scanner, Digital Construction Machine Control System, and RTK Rover.

Floship Limited (Floship)

Floship is a leading global circular supply chain and fulfilment solution provider for global e-commerce brands and crowdfunding campaigns. First time joining LEAP, Floship will introduce its new warehouse and fulfilment locations across the Middle East and Australia.

Geek Plus International Company Limited (Geek+)

Geek+ is a global leader in reliable mobile robotics and a smart logistics provider. In 2023, Geek+ opened the first robotic e-commerce fulfilment centre in Saudi Arabia with Starlinks. At LEAP 2024, Geek+ will demonstrate how its picking robots maximise warehouse efficiency and boost picking accuracy.

Halo Energy​ Limited (Halo Energy)

Halo Energy is a provider of smart and sustainable electric-vehicle (EV) charging solutions. First time joining LEAP, Halo Energy will showcase its award-winning Active Load Management System, which optimises power distribution to maximise efficiency, along with other charging management platforms.