Hong Kong’s position as a regional IP trading centre and hub for innovation and technology has substantially solidified following the conclusion of the Business of IP (BIP) Asia Forum and Entrepreneur Day (E-Day) events on 5 December, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
The two flagship events examined how IP can drive business expansion, unlock new financing opportunities and empower start-ups to connect with investors and expand into new markets.
Attracting over 3,300 attendees including patent experts, legal professionals and IP directors from leading multinational companies, this was the 15th edition of BIP Asia and featured a series of conference sessions covering topics such as valuation, financing, sustainability and data licensing.
The growing role of AI in the IP industry was a strong theme with many participants welcoming this development and anticipating significant advancements in the years ahead.
In a session on the latest trends in IP valuation, Lewis Lee, Founder & CEO of Moat Metrics remarked: “Never before have we been so close to being able to assess IP value in a systematic and high-fidelity manner. Advances in AI and data over the last 12 months have accelerated the development of this framework. I encourage the industry to continue pushing forward.”
Participants seeking business opportunities and connections were rewarded with valuable insights into Hong Kong’s unique advantages in IP trading, complemented by business matching sessions organised by the HKTDC.
Local professional service providers, IP lawyers, and specialists offered one-on-one consultations covering IP registration strategies, application procedures and patent claims drafting.
These services proved particularly attractive to enterprises from the mainland and overseas that are considering establishing a presence in the city.
Sichuan HangWan Cultural Communication CEO Zoe Fang said her company plans to use the city’s professional services to form strategies for patent registration and expansion into international markets.
A participant from the Middle East, Voithy Tech Founder and CEO Mohamed Orikat commented: “At BIP Asia, we received professional advice on patent filing and company registration in Hong Kong, which has provided significant insight and assistance to our plans to expand into the Asian market."
E-Day ignites start-up innovation
E-Day returned for its 17th edition under the theme “Where Start-up Dreams Take Flight” and showcased over 360 start-ups, invention projects and support organisations across AI, health tech, cybersecurity, construction & logistics tech, spatial computing, sustainability and more. The event received over 12,000 visits.
Ammar Mohammed Al Ojaili, Vice President of R&D and Innovation at OQ, a global integrated energy group founded in Oman, said: “Hong Kong and the South China region are important markets for us. Events like Entrepreneur Day bring together start-ups, universities and industry players all in one place, making it easier for companies like ours to discover innovative technologies and explore collaboration opportunities.”
During the conference, the HKTDC announced the winners of its Start-up Express International initiative—10 up-and-coming enterprises from outside Hong Kong making breakthroughs in fields such as green tech, health tech, AI, edtech, and more.
During a session with the winners, speakers noted that Hong Kong’s role as a regional innovation and technology hub makes it an ideal testing ground for companies to validate business models and to access the Chinese Mainland market and beyond.
The HKTDC also launched collaborations with Junior Chamber International Hong Kong (JCIHK) and France-based Hello Tomorrow to strengthen support for local SMEs, young entrepreneurs and start-ups as they expand into international markets.