Eight enterprises were selected as the inaugural cohort of new industrialization elite enterprises under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s New Industrialization Elite Enterprises Nurturing Scheme.
“By supporting and nurturing a group of high-growth enterprises developing in Hong Kong, the government hopes the program can enhance market recognition and visibility for the ‘Made in Hong Kong’ brand, thereby supporting the future development of enterprises,” Hong Kong SAR’s Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said.
Over 100 enterprises were nominated, covering a wide range of sectors, including life and health technology; artificial intelligence and robotics; semiconductors and smart devices; digitalization, upgrading and transformation; and future and sustainable development. Some enterprises from traditional industries were also included for leveraging innovation and technology to upgrade and transform their businesses.
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The assessment was based on three core selection criteria: research and development capabilities, growth potential, and local contribution and ecosystem impact.
Among the eight winners, autonomous driving and intelligent logistics solutions provider Westwell Holdings (Hong Kong) — an incubatee at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corp — said it looks forward to working with more ecosystem partners to help build Hong Kong’s new industrialization system.
“We will make good use of the program’s platform to increase R&D investment in Hong Kong and commercialize research outcomes, further refining our efficient global development model of R&D in Hong Kong, piloting in Hong Kong, and taking technology and experience to global markets,” CEO of Westwell Holdings (Hong Kong) Kay Yang told China Daily.
A spokesperson for FJ Dynamics International, another HKSTP startup specializing in robotics and digital automation, said the company will remain rooted in Hong Kong, work closely with local industries to develop and validate solutions, and take these solutions to more countries and regions around the world.
The remaining six enterprises are: Hestia Technology Ltd, JinTech Semiconductor Co Ltd, GenieBiome Ltd, Catalo Natural Health Science Ltd, Phase Scientific International Ltd, and Wai Yuen Tong Medicine Co Ltd. The inaugural award presentation ceremony is expected to take place this year.
Cyberport, Hong Kong’s digital technology hub and AI accelerator, said: “We congratulate the inaugural cohort of new industrialization elite enterprises, which will accelerate the development of emerging and future industries to steer Hong Kong toward its vision of building an international information and technology hub.”
Echoing the direction set out in Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2026-2030) and the 2026 Policy Address for nurturing leading enterprises in emerging and future industries for Hong Kong, the program is an important initiative to advance the integrated development of education, technology, talent and industry in the special administrative region.
Contact the writers at oswald@chinadailyhk.com
