Qiangnao Technology, one of the well-known “six little dragons” based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, has established its presence in Hong Kong, announcing on Monday that it will set up research and development bases in the city, and take part in government-led initiatives to provide intelligent prosthetic services for Hong Kong residents with physical disabilities.
The company also inked a memorandum of understanding with Hong Kong Polytechnic University to explore the launch of the PolyU-Qiangnao Joint Research Centre for Brain-Computer Interface, which aims to promote the adoption of smart prosthetics technologies.
The move aligns with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s latest Policy Address, which calls for support for people-oriented scientific research and includes a two-year program to fully fund high-tech prosthetics for local amputees.
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Betting big on Hong Kong’s role as a springboard for Chinese mainland enterprises going global, Qiangnao plans to set up its Asia-Pacific research and development base and an international business center in Cyberport, the city’s digital technology hub. These efforts are expected to support the company in exporting its products to the rest of Asia, Africa, and other global markets.
Han Bicheng, founder and CEO of Qiangnao Technology, said setting up in Hong Kong is a critical step in the company’s globalization strategy, adding that the city is an international gateway to the world, home to top-tier scientific professionals and world-class academic institutions.
Besides smart prosthetics, Qiangnao Technology is developing tools to help children with autism communicate, as well as solutions to overcome sleep disorders, and technologies for early Alzheimer’s intervention. Han said, in the next five to 10 years, the company aims to provide prosthetics to one million amputees and improve the lives of 10 million people suffering from brain-related conditions.
Sun Dong, secretary for innovation, technology and industry, said the company’s decision to establish operations in Hong Kong shows its confidence in the city’s innovation ecosystem, and reinforces Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector and super value-adder, helping mainland enterprises expand internationally.
The Hong Kong SAR government has supported nearly 500 high-potential or leading tech companies in setting up or expanding their presence in Hong Kong since 2023. These firms brought capital, talent, and technologies, which have boosted the growth of local innovation and technology, and advanced the city’s push toward new industrialization, Sun said.
Founded in 2015, Qiangnao Technology is one of the “six little dragons” -- a nickname for a cluster of Hangzhou-based startups that have emerged as leaders in next-generation innovation. The group also includes DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence company that develops large language models; and Game Science, the creator of Black Myth: Wukong, one of last year’s best-selling computer games.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu met with representatives from the “six little dragons” during his visit to Zhejiang province in April, and toured Qiangnao Technology and Unitree Robotics. Lee invited the companies to expand into Hong Kong, encouraging them to leverage the city’s tech resources and international networks.
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Qiangnao Technology is not the only “dragon” eyeing Hong Kong as a platform for expansion. In March, Unitree Robotics reportedly set up a new company in the city, following its first local registration in 2022. Deep Robotics has teamed up with Hong Kong firms to develop robotic dogs for infrastructure inspections like sewage monitoring. Meanwhile, spatial intelligence service provider Manycore Tech has filed for an initial public offering in Hong Kong.
Contact the writer at irisli@chinadailyhk.com
