Tech firms from Hong Kong engaged with industry leaders, decision-makers and investors from around the world at MWC Barcelona in Spain earlier this month, shining a spotlight on cutting-edge ideas and solutions from Hong Kong, while fostering opportunities for business collaboration, technology co-development and investment.
MWC, formerly known as the Mobile World Congress, is one of the world’s most influential innovation and technology (I&T) trade shows, attracting more than 100,000 attendees from more than 200 countries and regions to Barcelona this year.
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), led a delegation of 20 local I&T companies and institutions to the Spanish city, helping them deepen connections with overseas markets, while promoting Hong Kong’s high-tech capabilities and ecosystems.
For the first time, the HKTDC and HKSTP also staged a pavilion at 4YFN, a dedicated start-up event co-located with MWC, in addition to a pavilion at MWC’s main exhibition.
Alejandro Gallego, International Business Director of AMEC, a trade body for industrial and technology businesses from Spain, said that he had been discussing concrete opportunities for collaboration with Hong Kong companies after visiting the pavilions.
“The Hong Kong pavilions are highly inspirational, and the exhibiting companies we visited showcased exceptionally innovative technological solutions,” he remarked.
The pavilions also hosted themed talks and pitching sessions, as well as networking events, attracting an enthusiastic response while helping facilitate partnerships and investment opportunities for high-potential, market-ready solutions.
This year’s dual-pavilion layout gave Hong Kong tech players even greater exposure to European and broader global business opportunities, commented HKTDC’s Director of Merchandise Trade and Innovation & Director of External Relations, Iris Wong.
“Hong Kong is committed to developing into an international I&T centre, actively promoting cross-industry integration and driving high-quality development of the industries through technological innovation,” she stated.
“We possess a robust mobile communications infrastructure, and the industry is highly competitive in research and development as well as technology related to 5G/6G applications and AI integration.”
With 2026 marking the opening year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and with technological innovation as a national priority, the HKTDC will continue to join hands with HKSTP to help tech firms from Hong Kong expand overseas, while supporting the development of a vibrant and internationally competitive ecosystem in the city.
Another MWC Barcelona attendee – Jacobo Pérez-Soba, Manager of the Internationalisation Department of the Madrid Chamber of Commerce & Industry – highlighted the quality of the innovation taking place in Hong Kong.
“The solutions and services provided by Hong Kong companies are highly forward-looking and demonstrate outstanding technological advancement,” he observed.
Upcoming tech events in Hong Kong should also be of significant interest to Spanish companies and start-ups, he added.
This year’s InnoEX, a major technology fair and conference organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the HKTDC, will take place next month, from 13-16 April.