Seminar on Capturing Carbon Market and Carbon Credit Trading Development Opportunities

With the development of the global carbon market and the launch of the EU's CBAM policy, carbon emission reduction targets have pervaded all stages of the industrial chain, including business compliance, and have brought new development opportunities to the testing and certification industry in Hong Kong, which can provide services such as auditing, verification and certification of carbon emission data. The Hong Kong Association for Testing, Inspection and Certification Limited has successfully applied to the Trade and Industrial Organisation Support Fund for the project "To strengthen the knowledge on the latest carbon credit standards and requirements of voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) for Hong Kong testing and certification (T&C) industry" which will help the industry to understand the latest requirements of the voluntary carbon international standard and enhance their competitiveness.The first event of the project, "Seminar on Capturing Carbon Market and Carbon Credit Trading Development Opportunities", is scheduled on 9 December 2024. The event will share the opportunities of the voluntary carbon market, the future development trend of the carbon market and its important distribution and introduce different voluntary carbon market standards to facilitate exchange of ideas and learning.Industry insiders are welcome to register now!

“Start-up Express” - A Journey to Success for Hong Kong Start-ups

Start-up Express is Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)'s highly curated start-up development programme that targets start-ups offering innovative and tech products or solutions, as well as with strong desire to enter the international market. Through a series of capability building, mentoring sessions, marketing activities, extensive publicity, and pitching opportunities, the programme aims to assist local start-ups in building connection, exploring markets, seeking business and funding partners, and enhancing brand awareness.  Target Participants  Start-ups incorporated on or after 1st January 2019; Start-ups raising less than USD10 million in funding; Start-ups with a valid business registration in Hong Kong; Start-ups with a focus on technologies related to Art tech, Fintech, Health tech, Prop tech, Smart city, Sustainability.   Registration is open till 6 May 2024. For further details on the programme and registration method, please visit the official website. Click here to view the details of the past winners.

[Entrepreneur Day 2023] Meet with Start-ups to Learn about Opportunities in the Greater Bay Area

Entering its 15th anniversary, “Entrepreneur Day” organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council will resume its physical form this year! "Entrepreneur Day" will be held from 7 to 8 December this year. Under the theme of "Building Resilience, Boosting Collaboration", a series of exhibitions, seminars, workshops, start-up competitions, business matching, and networking activities will be organised. The event aims to explore how the global start-up ecosystem can develop in a diversified and balanced manner after the entrepreneurial boom; analyse the latest innovation and technology trends; and encourage start-ups to utilise Hong Kong as a platform to explore the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the international market in order to look for potential business partners. The event will bring together nearly 300 start-ups, invention projects and support services providers from 10 countries and regions. Among them, 50 start-up teams funded by the “Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” under the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau will also participate in the exhibition. This scheme aims to provide funding to non-governmental organisations to organise youth entrepreneurial programmes that offer entrepreneurial support, incubation services, as well as start-up capital to Hong Kong young people intending to establish their businesses in the GBA. Young fellows, if you are interested, please refer to the following event details and the list of funded startup teams (in Chinese version only). You are welcome to visit the exhibition and have a chat with the start-up entrepreneurs to learn more about business opportunities in the GBA! "Entrepreneur Day 2023" - Event Details   Date：7-8 December 2023 (Thu - Fri) Opening Hours：9:00 am to 6:00 pm Venue：Hall 1D-E, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Fee: Free of charge Enquiry Hotline: 1830 668 Online Registration for Visitors: Click here

Qianhai unveils 12 measures to empower HK, Macao youths (Chinese only)

(The story is in Chinese only. Please refer to the Chinese version.)

[GoGBA one-stop platform] New features to help develop businesses in the Greater Bay Area

Unleash the potential for local young people and Small and Medium Enterprises in the thriving Greater Bay Area (GBA). Hong Kong Trade Development Council's  GoGBA one-stop platform offers comprehensive career and business information in the GBA. Apart from the new Career and Service Providers features, the GoGBA Go-to Guides for instance, hope to help entrepreneurs and businesses with the first steps of setting up a business, handling taxation and completing related procedures. Connect with business partners and access career information in the GBA with just few clicks！ Visit www.go-gba.com to know more! Stay connected with our GoGBA WeChat Mini-program for the latest updates. (Scan QR code in WeChat)    

[Social Innovation] SIE Fund's new batch of intermediaries to provide support for social entrepreneurs

The Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund) has appointed four organisations as the third batch of intermediaries in 2023 to run a new round of innovative programmes to provide support for more social entrepreneurs. By promoting social innovation and entrepreneurship, it enables more social entrepreneurs to address social needs through innovative ideas, products and services, and assists the Government in formulating targeted poverty alleviation initiatives. The four intermediaries appointed are Fullness Social Enterprises Society Ltd, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, MakerBay Foundation Limited and Oxfam Hong Kong.The four intermediaries are knowledgeable and experienced organisations in the social innovation field. They aim to nurture and support social innovators and organisations to develop innovative projects with diversity and impact through the following innovative programmes. Individuals and organisations with innovative ideas in addressing poverty issues and wish to seek financial support to implement innovative projects may learn more by clicking the below logos and approach the intermediaries running innovative programmes directly and submit applications under their funding schemes.Wish to compare the four innovative programmes in one go? Do not miss the Programme at a glance, a clear comparison table highlighting the eligibility, amount of grant and uniquite features of the prorgammes. Innovator FarmImpact IncubatorImpact Innovation LabGrant for GoodWhat is Social Innovation? What are Social Entrepreneurs? Click here to view the story《6 Fun Facts about Social Innovation》and know more！

The Cyberport University Partnership Programme provides a life-changing experience!

The Cyberport University Partnership Programme (CUPP) supported by Cyberport Creative Micro Fund (CCMF) is a life-changing experience to unleash participants’ full potential and gain insights into the global market! This financial technology (FinTech) focused entrepreneurship programme with boot camp, mentorship and competition that aiming at nurturing young FinTech talents for Hong Kong since 2015. The nominated students have unique chance to participate in Overseas Entrepreneurship Boot Camp and receive mentorship from local and international industry elites. The winning teams will receive HK$100,000 grant from CCMF. ​ The Programme offers - A series of FinTech pre-camp nurturing sessions in Hong Kong- An Entrepreneurship Boot Camp by a prestigious overseas university- Mentorship and insight from FinTech industry elites, both local and overseas- Opportunities to pitch innovative FinTech business ideas to investors Admission Requirement - The project must be rooted in digital tech and focus on FinTech, with components in Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, etc. - Applicants must be nominated by CUPP co-organising university partners- Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive) at the time of the nomination deadline- Applicants must be undergraduate or postgraduate students from CUPP co-organising university partners, either currently enrolled university students or graduated within 3 years from the co-organising universities (i.e. 3 years before the nomination deadline)- Applicants must have a good command of English- Team members could be a mixture of students from different CUPP co-organising universities- Each team could have up to 5 members Prizes Winning teams will receive a grant of HK$100,000 from Cyberport Creative Micro Fund (CCMF). Apply now CUPP is nomination-based. Interested applicants should contact CUPP co-organising universities for nomination.

Visit cyberhub.hk for free training to avoid being the victim of cyber risks!

Visit cyberhub.hk for free training to avoid being the victim of cyber risks!Want to avoid being the next victim of cyber risks? Train up your staff to mitigate potential risks from the source.The changes in the digital era, such as digital transformation, work-from-home and e-commerce, bring not only convenience but also potential cyber risks. According to data from Hong Kong Police Force Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB), corporate email scams have caused losses of more than HKD 1.5 billion in 2021.Lack of cybersecurity training will lead to employees relying on their own experience to work without any awareness of cyber risks and hence exposing the company to cybersecurity risks!Cybersec Training Hub Cybersec Training Hub is a complimentary self-learning platform initiated by Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC), which aims to lower the threshold for organisations to provide cybersecurity training to employees, particularly for SMEs with limited resources. The vision of HKIRC is to join hands with the community to build Hong Kong into a healthier and safer cyber-smart city by enhancing cybersecurity awareness among different industries and employees as well as reducing cybersecurity risks from the source.How to Start- Bookmark the website of Cybersec Training Hub (cyberhub.hk)- Schedule the training for your employees flexibly. Induction training for new joiners is highly recommended.- Employees will receive an e-certificate after completing the 20-minute online self-training- Send the e-certificate to HR/managers as a training record Benefits of the Programme- Professional training content provided by well-known Big-4 cybersecurity consultancy firms- User-friendly, interactive, and ready-to-use- Available in Traditional Chinese and English- Introduce cyber risks in a real-life working scenario- Training targeting different job positions (e.g. HR, Finance, etc.)- Complimentary and easy to use for all SMEsVisit cyberhub.hk to start your free training NOW!For enquiry, please email to HKIRC Cybersecurity Team: [email protected]

HKSTP InnoCell provides a smart co-creation community for likeminded people

InnoCell is a smart living and co-creation space designed for I&T talents to spark collaboration within Hong Kong Science Park. All of the spaces are designed with a well-considered balance between aesthetics and functionality. InnoCell’s vision is to develop an I&T co-creation community where its values and structures align with its residents’ needs. At InnoCell, a new way of living has been created with a focus on a genuine sense of community, where the use of shared spaces and smart living technologies helps to build greater personal interaction and collaboration — resulting in a network of likeminded talents who inspire one another and have a positive impact. Eligibility Criteria The 17-storey InnoCell provides over 500 beds. Apart from the Science Park's company founders, Mainland or overseas employees, it is also open to visiting academics, scientists and technology talents. InnoCell’s monthly rent is set up to around 60% of the market price of a similar property in the neighbourhood. The maximum lease period is one year. Experience Innovative Smart Living with Four Types of Unit There are four types of units: THE SOLO, THE TWIN, THE SUITE and THE POWERHUB. THE POWERHUB, with eight individual studios plus a private working area, is an ideal space for a project team to assemble and brainstorm.   THE POWERHUB   THE SOLO   It is not all work and no play at InnoCell. There is an approximately 30,000 sq ft common area that includes meeting rooms, a library area, and a gym, etc., offering tailored communal facilities for the residents.   For admission and more information about InnoCell, please visit the website of HKSTP and InnoCell.

Hong Kong Innox Academy

(Please refer to the Chinese version.)

Five key survey findings on the development of startups

According to the 2021 Startup Survey released by Invest Hong Kong, Hong Kong's startup ecosystem remains vibrant despite the ongoing economic challenges of the global pandemic. Let’s go through the survey results. 1. Record high in the total number of startups The overall number of startups in the city reached a record high of 3,755, up 68% over 2017. 2. Number of employees recruited by startups bounced back The number of staff hired by startups in 2021 surged 29% to 13,804 persons, despite a year-on-year drop of 14% was recorded in 2020. 3. Continuous growth in locations of co-working spaces/incubators/accelerators Since 2017, the number of co-working spaces/incubators/accelerators has doubled, up from 62 to 124 in 2021. 4. Increase in non-local talents In 2021, the percentage of non-local startup founders has increased 2% to 28%. 20.5% of them were from Mainland China. 5. Most startups are engaged in the financial technology sector The financial technology sector ranks the top in terms of number of startups in 2021 with 472 such companies. The continued rise of digital behaviour has also fuelled specific startup growth in sectors such as the e-commerce and supply chain & logistics technology sector, in which the number of startups companies in the sector has increased from 385 in 2020 to 432 in 2021. Interested in starting your own business in one of the fast-growing industries? Here below are some useful resources: Startup How-Tos: How to prepare for my entrepreneurship? Startup How-Tos: Three pillars of e-commerce   Reference: Invest Hong Kong’s 2021 Startup Survey