Ningbo-Hong Kong young entrepreneurs deepen innovation ties

The 16th Ningbo-Hong Kong Young Entrepreneurs Roundtable was held in Hong Kong on April 13, bringing together more than 70 young entrepreneurs, experts, and representatives to discuss innovation and industrial cooperation.

Jointly organized by the Ningbo Hong Kong Fellowship Association and the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the event focused on topics including the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements and the development of new quality productive forces.

At the event, the municipal bureau of investment promotion in Ningbo, East China’s Zhejiang province, introduced the city's economic and social development and business environment, while the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong outlined its services. Attendees exchanged views on innovation, industrial complementarity, and youth collaboration.

Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, former president of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, said the country's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) supports Hong Kong's development into an international innovation and technology center, offering new opportunities. She highlighted the strong complementarity between Ningbo and Hong Kong and encouraged participants to deepen cooperation and explore global markets.

Philip Sohmen, director of World-Wide Shipping Agency Limited and president of HKUE Limited, said cooperation between the two sides has evolved into a mutually reinforcing partnership. He said that Ningbo provides a testing ground for Hong Kong's technology companies.

Gillian Yu, founder and chief executive of SPIN AGI Limited, shared her entrepreneurial experience spanning Ningbo and Hong Kong. She said her team recently deployed embodied intelligence models in robots at an automaker, which drew attention from leading institutions.

Citing the philosophy of the unity of knowledge and action developed by Wang Yangming (1472-1529), she described Hong Kong as a center of knowledge and Ningbo as a base for practical application.

A memorandum of understanding was signed during the event to deepen cooperation in areas such as technology commercialization, industrial upgrading, and youth entrepreneurship.

The roundtable has been held for 16 consecutive years and has attracted nearly 1,000 participants, making it a key platform for youth exchange and cooperation between Ningbo and Hong Kong.

In 2025, investors from Hong Kong were involved in more than 110 newly approved projects in Ningbo, with total investment nearing $2 billion. To date, Ningbo has established more than 1,000 enterprises and institutions in Hong Kong, with cumulative investment exceeding $10 billion.