The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance concluded in Shanghai on July 20, marking another milestone for global AI collaboration. For the fourth consecutive year, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) participated, partnering with Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), and Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITP) to mount the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion. The pavilion showcased 18 Hong Kong AI enterprises and institutions, presenting innovative solutions in intelligent robotics, smart city technologies, cybersecurity, and enterprise intelligence to international investors and industry players.
Silas Chu, HKTDC Associate Executive Director (Technology and Digital Innovation), emphasized the council's commitment to fostering Hong Kong's I&T and start-up ecosystem. "Through various platforms, we actively help start-ups enhance their market visibility, expand into the Chinese Mainland and overseas markets, and further promote Hong Kong's I&T strengths," he said. The HKTDC facilitates participation in major international tech exhibitions, enabling deeper exchange and collaboration between local enterprises and global corporations, investors, and research institutions.
On the conference's first day, the HKTDC organized the Seminar on Fostering Economic Innovation and Global Collaboration through AI. The event brought together government representatives, research institutions, financial sector leaders, and I&T enterprises to discuss AI industrialization, governance, and global expansion of Greater Bay Area AI enterprises. Prof Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, delivered opening remarks, stating, "The Hong Kong SAR Government is pressing ahead with transforming Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre, while building a robust, trustworthy, internationalised and sustainable AI ecosystem and proactively integrating into the national AI Plus initiative."
Jacky Chung, HKTDC Associate Executive Director (Global Network and Supply Chain) and Director of Chinese Mainland, highlighted President Xi Jinping's emphasis on building a fair global AI governance framework. "As AI shifts from R&D breakthroughs towards large-scale industrial application, Hong Kong will leverage its unique strengths to contribute to the national 15th Five-Year Plan," Chung said. The HKTDC will continue to support Mainland AI enterprises in expanding internationally and accelerate AI adoption across diverse scenarios.
The HKTDC also organized business matching activities, including a visit to a Shanghai business incubator on July 16 and a roundtable with enterprises from Shanghai's Xuhui District. These efforts facilitated connections between Hong Kong enterprises and Mainland I&T companies, investors, and industry representatives.
During the exhibition, the HKTDC presented the My Favourite Start-up Award to AI SEMI Limited, an HSITP start-up focused on AI-empowered semiconductor manufacturing. The company's AI optical proximity correction (AI-OPC) technology reshapes the lithography value chain through a "algorithm + data + process" flywheel.
The HKTDC has been actively promoting Hong Kong enterprises at major international tech shows, including CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and Viva Technology in Paris. WAIC 2026, themed "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future," brought together over 1,100 companies and featured more than 3,000 innovative products. Since its inception, WAIC has gathered over 8,100 leading scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors, becoming a key platform for advancing AI innovation and global governance.
