HKSTP and AWS Enhance Collaboration with the Establishment of Hong Kong's First AWS Joint Innovation Center

(Hong Kong, 29 September 2023) – Hong Kong Science Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are set to strengthen their strategic collaboration with the establishment of the first AWS Joint Innovation Center (JIC) in Hong Kong. This JIC aims to increase support for local start-ups, link up enterprises and start-up ecosystems, and nurture digital talent. Both parties will jointly select and invest resources to incubate start-up teams, focusing on cutting-edge technology areas pertinent to Hong Kong. The inaugural co-incubation programme will focus on artificial intelligence (AI), with a goal to nurture 100 start-ups. Furthermore, HKSTP will integrate AWS's AI courses, the AI learning tool AWS DeepRacer, and competition programme into its permanent learning infrastructure. This effort will enhance talent development and stimulate innovation, thereby providing a continuous learning environment.

AWS Joint Innovation Center (JIC) is a collaborative innovation programme designed for enterprises and institutions. By combining resources, it incubates promising startups and nurtures digital talent. Additionally, the JIC is committed to connecting local markets with the AWS global startup community, creating more opportunities for startup development and overseas market expansion. To date, AWS has established over ten such cooperative innovation programs worldwide, including in Singapore, India, and Taiwan. Hong Kong's first JIC will serve as a platform for local startups to connect with the global AWS startup network. It will also facilitate startups from other countries and regions to break into the Hong Kong market, promoting bilateral tech innovation.

The upcoming Co-incubation programme will offer robust support to eligible start-ups at all stages. AWS will provide free cloud resources, professional technical training, AI and machine learning coaching, business development support, and innovative educational resources. AWS will utilise its decade-long customer and partner network in Hong Kong to launch long-term projects that connect start-ups with large enterprises, fostering deep collaboration. HKSTP will make use of its vibrant innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem to provide start-ups with office space, infrastructure, and professional guidance from mentors, strategic partners and investors to outreach to potential partners and investors. Each shortlisted start-up will receive up to HKD 1.29 million in funding. For further information about the Co-incubation programme, please visit the webpage. 

Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said, "I am honoured to witness the establishment of Hong Kong's first AWS JIC. It represents an integration of AWS's global cloud computing leadership with over 20 years of HKSTP's experience incubating startups. Our shared mission is to incubate high-potential tech ventures, provide them with advanced technologies, and accelerate their path to market success.”

Robert Wang, Managing Director of AWS Hong Kong and Taiwan, said, " We are honoured to deepen our relationship with HKSTP, introducing the AWS Joint Innovation Center (JIC) to Hong Kong and thereby amplifying startup growth and transformation. The launch of this JIC is a testament to the vibrant progression and increasing demands of Hong Kong's startup ecosystem. We are steadfast in our commitment to continue providing AWS’s support to startups, serving as a robust conduit between institutions and entrepreneurs and between Hong Kong startups and international markets.”

AWS and HKSTP established a strategic collaboration in 2022,  focusing on four key development areas including scientific research and development, technology simulation, co-incubation, and the nurturing of talent and innovative culture. Concurrently, they launched a six-month programme targeted at start-ups operating under a “Software as a Service” (SaaS) model, successfully recruiting and nurturing more than 50 start-ups.