SITI attends AsiaBerlin Summit 2023 in Berlin, Germany (with photos)
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, yesterday (June 12, Berlin time) attended the AsiaBerlin Summit 2023 in Berlin, Germany. The four-day summit is expected to welcome more than 3 000 attendees from communities within the startup ecosystems across Asia and Berlin to discuss the newest tech trends and cross-border collaboration between Asia and Berlin.
Delivering a keynote speech themed "Hong Kong: The Innovation Powerhouse of Asia – Ideal Gateway to Mainland China Market" at the summit's opening ceremony, Professor Sun briefed the audience on the HKSAR Government's strong commitment to perfecting the innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem and promoting industry development, in particular various support to startups, which enables the city's positioning as one of the best destinations for startups to set up and grow to success.
"We welcome I&T companies, not only start-ups, but also high-potential and top-notch I&T enterprises from all over the world, to set up or expand their operations in Hong Kong, where they can leverage the seamless access to the gigantic market in the GBA and the Mainland China, and explore boundless business opportunities provided therein," Professor Sun said, adding that only through close cross-regional co-operation and solid exchange between East and West could create a powerful synergy in global technological development and bring prosperity as well as benefits to the human societies.
Before the Summit's opening ceremony, Professor Sun met the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Mr Kai Wegner. He also exchanged with government officials and leaders from I&T sector from Europe and Asia on the I&T development in the VIP breakfast hosted by the AsiaBerlin Summit. During the Summit, Prof Sun took a short tour to visit booths set up by various innovation networks and agencies, science platforms, as well as startup incubators.
In the afternoon, Professor Sun met with Research Fab Microelectronics (FMD) Germany during which he learned about the latest micro- and nanoelectronic research and development (R&D) in Germany. The FMD, one of the largest cross-site R&D co-operations for micro- and nanosystems in Europe with competences and know-how of 13 institutes from two research organisations – Fraunhofer and Leibniz, focuses on bridging the gap between basic research and customer-specific product development, as well as providing expertise and techniques for innovation solutions.
He later visited German Accelerator, a government-funded project under German Entrepreneurship, and was briefed on its highly-customised programmes which empower innovation and help startups from all stages and across various industries to achieve international growth and success.
Professor Sun then called on the Envoy of the Chinese Embassy in Germany, Ms Zeng Yingru, and briefed her on the latest I&T development in Hong Kong.
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Professor Sun will proceed to Hamburg and continue his visit in Germany on June 13 (Hamburg time).
