The second edition of InnoEX, co-organised by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), along with the 20th HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition), concluded today following four resoundingly successful days. This year’s fairs attracted some 88,000 buyers from 139 countries and regions, mainly from mainland China, India, Japan, Korea and the United States, highlighting Hong Kong’s advantages in its pursuit to become an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre.

The second edition of InnoEX, co-organised by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opens today. Themed Innovations for A Smarter World, this year’s exhibition, together with HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition), will be held for four consecutive days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Leveraging Hong Kong’s international platform, the leading tech fairs showcase new-generation smart solutions and technological products brought by innovation and technology (I&T) experts, entrepreneurs and start-up companies from around the globe. Forums, seminars, business matching and networking activities deepen Hong Kong’s I&T development and promote cross-disciplinary cooperation, accelerating the city’s progress towards becoming an international I&T hub and boosting new productive forces to drive the country’s growth.

The second edition of InnoEX, co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will return to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre next month. This year’s exhibition, themed Innovations for A Smarter World, will gather global next-generation smart solutions and disruptive innovative technologies to promote innovation and foster cross-disciplinary cooperation, showcasing Hong Kong’s strengths as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub.

Hong Kong showcased its strengths in innovation and technology (I&T) at a series of innovation and tech fairs, including the first-ever InnoEX co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), held concurrently with the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition).

The first-ever InnoEX, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), which is running in conjunction with the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition). The three tech fairs opened at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) today, attracting nearly 3,000 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions across Hong Kong, the mainland, Asia, Europe and the Americas, and showcasing Hong Kong's role as a global innovation hub and trade exhibition centre.

Innovation and technology (I&T) play an important role in Hong Kong's development blueprint, especially in the growing demand for smart city technologies and applications, bringing more opportunities for technology companies and start-ups. Leveraging Hong Kong’s role as an innovation and technology hub, the first-ever InnoEX, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will bring together international exhibitors and buyers, officials from Mainland China and ASEAN tech experts, research centres and thought leaders to promote cross-regional, cross-industry and cross-sector cooperation through I&T exchange. Taking place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 12 to 15 April, alongside the HKTDC-organised Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition), under the theme of “Connecting the World with Innovations for Better Living”, the three major technology exhibitions are set to attract over 2,600 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions, highlighting Hong Kong’s growing strength as a centre for technology and innovation, while also reflecting further normalisation of international trade after Hong Kong’s re-opening.

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the International Sourcing Show physical fair, run with the new EXHIBITION+ (EPLUS) model, drew to a successful close on 15 July. Over 20,000 industry buyers attended the physical event and browsed products online. The event facilitated more than 5,000 business meetings, connecting exhibitors with global buyers both online and offline.

International trade fairs and sourcing modes have seen dramatic changes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the organisers of many physical exhibitions and seminars taking a new digitised or hybrid path. To assist enterprises in adapting to the new normal, and help them stay closely connected to international buyers, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is launching the brand-new hybrid exhibition model EXHIBITION+ to strengthen its exhibition platform. Meanwhile, the HKTDC International Sourcing Show runs from 5 to 8 July at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Exhibitors and buyers at the event will be among the first to enjoy the smart business-matching platform, Click2Match, to actively assist them in seizing business opportunities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to physical exhibitions around the world being cancelled or postponed. However, despite this impediment to economic activity, sourcing demand has continued to grow. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) acted swiftly to change its strategy at the onset of the pandemic, actively developing new business channels and services. The HKTDC’s most recent online exhibition has concluded successfully, laying the foundation for a future hybrid model that combines physical and online trade fairs.

In view of the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has acted swiftly to change its strategy, migrating the nine physical exhibitions originally scheduled to be held by the end of July onto an online platform. In addition, an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled business matching service is being introduced to help suppliers and buyers close more deals.