Hong Kong IP and Entrepreneurship Events Drive Business Expansion Through Innovation Connectivity

The 15th Business of IP Asia Forum and 17th Entrepreneur Day concluded on December 5, 2025, after connecting intellectual property experts and business leaders from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, ASEAN, and global markets. These concurrent events examined how intellectual property can drive business expansion, unlock financing opportunities, and support startups in accessing new markets. The BIP Asia Forum welcomed over 3,300 attendees, while Entrepreneur Day recorded over 12,000 visits, with more than 350 business matching sessions arranged to solidify Hong Kong's position as a regional IP trading center and international innovation hub.

With global intangible asset value estimated at USD 80 trillion, IP is increasingly recognized as a powerful engine for accessing capital and scaling business growth. The BIP Asia Forum explored topics including IP Valuation and Financing, examining how enterprises can leverage IP as collateral to secure funding. Lewis Lee, Founder & CEO of Moat Metrics, noted during a session that advances in AI and data have accelerated the development of frameworks to assess IP value systematically. The plenary session "Propelling Sustainability with IP" examined how enterprises can leverage IP to strengthen their competitive edge amid global shifts toward green transition. Krishna Singhania, Senior Intellectual Property Counsel of Maersk, emphasized that embracing flexible IP models including lead-partnership and joint ownership can help meet climate targets like decarbonization by 2040.

To respond to growing demand from Mainland companies for overseas expansion, the Intellectual Property Department hosted a dedicated "IP Go-Global Business Matching Session" during the Forum. Local professional service providers, IP lawyers, and specialists offered one-on-one consultations covering IP registration strategies, application procedures, and patent claims drafting. Zoe Fang, CEO of Sichuan HangWan Cultural Communication Co. Ltd, stated that her company would leverage Hong Kong's international legal services to address cross-border IP issues and develop actionable plans for entering international markets. Mohamed Orikat, Founder and CEO of Voithy Tech Limited from the Middle East, noted that Hong Kong serves as a crucial bridge to Chinese Mainland and APEC markets, providing significant insights for expanding into Asian markets through professional advice on patent registration and company establishment.

Entrepreneur Day returned under the theme "Where Start-up Dreams Take Flight" and offered exhibitions, conferences, roundtable discussions, and matchmaking opportunities tailored for startups and SMEs. The event showcased over 360 startups, invention projects, and support organizations across AI, health tech, cybersecurity, construction & logistics tech, spatial computing, and sustainability. Dr. Ammar Mohammed Al Ojaili, Vice President of R&D and Innovation at global integrated energy group OQ, remarked that events like Entrepreneur Day bring together startups, universities, and industry players, making it easier for companies to discover innovative technologies and explore collaboration opportunities. The session "T-Chat: From Labs to Battlefield: Navigating Deep Tech Commercialisation and Global Scale" explored how deep tech innovators can leverage capital, partnerships, and international networks to accelerate commercialization.

YeYe Xiao, Innovation Consulting Manager & Central Asia Lead at Hello Tomorrow, emphasized that Entrepreneur Day highlights Hong Kong as an innovation and technology hub where stakeholders gather annually. Martin Chu, CEO & Co-founder of i2COOL Limited, noted during the GBA Tripartite Roundtable that cross-border collaborations brought by Entrepreneur Day are important for startups because Hong Kong serves as a super connector for different industries and markets. The HKTDC signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Junior Chamber International Hong Kong and France-based Hello Tomorrow to deepen collaboration on supporting local SMEs, young entrepreneurs, and startups in expanding into international markets.

The "Start-up Express International" program continued to attract global founders exploring Hong Kong as a base for expansion into Asia and the Greater Bay Area, covering innovative fields such as green tech, health tech, AI, and edtech. During the "Meet the Global Start-ups" session, participants shared insights on technology development, IP strategies, market expansion, and cross-border collaboration, highlighting Hong Kong as an innovation and technology hub where companies can validate business models and use the city as a springboard to tap into the Greater China market and beyond. Video replays of BIP Asia Forum events will be available through the BIP Asia Forum website from December 8, 2025 to January 7, 2026, while replays of E-Day events will be available through the E-Day website after January 5, 2026. Additional information about startup programs can be found through the Start-up Express International website.