Innovation and Technology
A session with a deeper dive, examining Hong
Kong’s role as a centre for Innovation and Technology as highlighted by the 14th
Five Year Plan, and the Policy Address, with a particular focus on the role of
the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park. More details to come.
About the Part 1 speakers
Dr. Duncan Wong is the CEO of CryptoBLK, which specializes in building Blockchain technologies with track records including Blockchain-based systems for trade finance and insurance, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), smart contracts for utility and security tokens, DeFi systems, and quantum-resistant privacy-preserving cryptocurrency, Abelian (abelian.info).
Before founding CryptoBLK, Dr Wong was in charge of the Financial Technologies (FinTech) Initiative of the largest R&D Center in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI). The FinTech Initiative was focused on Cybersecurity, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, and Machine Learning.
Dr. Wong has also been a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, then the City University of Hong Kong for 13 years, and tenured in the Department of Computer Science at City University of Hong Kong. Dr Wong has authored over 200 research papers in Cryptography and Information Security, and has served as a member including the chair of the program committees for over 100 international conferences in cryptography and information security.
NFT Queen Asia also known as Hanis Harmiles, a recognized Metaverse/NFT Strategist, an Advocate of Web3.0 and a StartUp Advisor in the Web3.0 DeFi ecosystem. She consults companies and brands to delayer their business model shifting towards Web3.0. Prior to this, Hanis was a sought-after Digital & Technology Global Senior Leader in Consulting & Banking, where she acquired deep expertise in Design Thinking skills building customer-centric products.
Hanis is also Founder of Reinvent DAO, where she is in ‘BUIDL mode’ for the future of work model of the best talents, on a mission to reinvent CultureTech and DAO formation for companies looking at Web3.0 world.
Rhys McWhirter is a Partner in the Eversheds Sutherland Hong Kong office and leads the Technology Practice in Hong Kong. He has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating high-value and strategic technology outsourcing agreements and has acted for both government and private sector clients, particularly financial institutions throughout Asia Pacific on complex commercial and digital transformation projects.
He has significant experience in advising leading financial services, mining and aviation multi-national companies in Asia Pacific on various strategic commercial and TMT related transactions, including infrastructure (private and public cloud), contact centre services, core-banking, telecommunications, enterprise software, data centre, facilities management and application outsourcing arrangements.
Ir Sam Pang is a professional Engineer Consultant with over 35 years of experience in Design and Project management of Infrastructure and Building projects in Asia.
Sam is a strong active contributor in applying innovation and technology in many of his projects to enhance their quality, safety and efficiency. To name a few, he applies spatial data infrastructure and cloud-based platform into design and management of citywide public utilities, intelligent transportation systems and smart buildings.
He is proactive in promoting innovation and technology in the engineering construction industry and the society by contributing to related professional institutions. He is the Immediate Past President of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Hong Kong and Founding Council Member of the Smart City Consortium.
His current professional interests includes applying Digital twin technologies to the new and existing facilities to enhance their operation and maintenance, and smart city solutions to wider spectrum of projects for sustainable development.
Sam is currently the Director for Structures and Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing business for Asia, Engineering Services in Atkins based in Hong Kong.
About the Part 2 speakers
Mr Albert Wong is leading HKSTP on a mission to support tech startups and enterprises on their journey for innovation and growth. He and his team are focusing on nurturing talent, entrepreneurship, connections and commercialising R&D into successful innovation with impact. As CEO of HKSTP since 2016, he has led his team growing HKSTP into Hong Kong’s home for unicorns and the city’s largest R&D hub with over 11,000 research professionals and 1,000 tech companies.
Albert has 30-plus years of commercial, industrial and leadership experience through roles with various multinationals that have provided him with deep China and Asia-Pacific insight, plus critical understanding of building companies and investment networks, and solving market needs.
Prior to HKSTP, he spent 15 years in total with GE at its US headquarters, Asia-Pacific and China. He served as CEO, GE Oil & Gas China, as well as CEO, GE Industrial Solutions Asia Pacific – where he was responsible for M&A, Business Development, Product Management and Business Operations. Prior to GE, he held management and engineering roles at PerkinElmer, Emerson, Caterpillar and Schlumberger.
Mr. Andy Wong is the Head of Innovation and Technology at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the government department responsible for attracting, facilitating and retaining Foreign Direct Investment into Hong Kong. He leads a team of technology specialists to address clients’ needs by providing sector-specific information, business support facilitation and networking opportunities. His key focused technology clusters include biotech, medical devices, healthcare, AI and robotics, microelectronics, new materials, and green technologies.
Before joining InvestHK, Mr. Wong was a consulting director at PricewaterhouseCoopers and a strategy director at Cisco Systems to provide consulting services to multi-national companies in the technology sector. His expertise spans across corporate strategy, business development, technology advisory, system implementation and regulatory support.
Christina Tse is a branding and communications professional with over 30 years of expertise across a wide spectrum of industries, including broadcast, telecommunications, tourism & hospitality and information & technology. She is also skilled at dealing with a wide range of stakeholders, including owners, investors, government regulatory and legislative bodies, NGOs and advocacy groups, analysts, media, and the public at large.
Christina brings her cross-industry experience in her role as the Co-Founder & Advisor of Pantheon Lab Limited, a Hong Kong deep learning (Artificial Intelligence) startup founded by her and with two other co-founders in 2019, also a member company of Incu-Tech Programme, HKSTP. The company uses deep-learning technology to create cutting-edge applications in providing various synthesised content including AI-driven realistic quality virtual humans and Metaverse content for the marketing, creative and content industries. As a public relations and marketing professional with a strong background in digital technology, she oversees overall operations, branding, stakeholder management and communications. Her focus is on developing and delivering synthesised content technologies for business services and solutions, providing outstanding client service and driving profitable revenue growth.
Mattis Tsang is an entrepreneur based in Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, his previous experiences as a university lecturer and aircraft pilot gave him an inspiration to found Aerosim. The company is specialised in professional simulation training devices. Aerosim’s R&D has drastically reduced manufacturing costs and increased stabilities and realism, making aviation education more practical and effective. The company has also developed a range of software and hardware solutions to achieve bolder learning outcomes for the aviation training and education industry. These innovations have helped trainees and training organisations to reduce the overall training duration and costs for aspiring pilots. Aerosim achieved numerous of international and local awards. In the upcoming years, Mattis will be working with the HKSTP, aircraft manufacturer, universities and training organisations to shift the boundaries of traditional aviation training by conducting academic research and commercial development to localise training in local soil.
He has significant experience in advising leading financial services, mining and aviation multi-national companies in Asia Pacific on various strategic commercial and TMT related transactions, including infrastructure (private and public cloud), contact centre services, core-banking, telecommunications, enterprise software, data centre, facilities management and application outsourcing arrangements.
About the moderators
In his role as Digital Leader at Alumni Services, Phillip McManus regularly works with executives of multinational businesses to build strategic digital programs. Phil has deep roots in Hong Kong, having spent his entire life in the SAR. He has spent the last decade as a senior client director at a technology firm and as the director and cofounder of a platform business. He focuses on applying emerging technologies to help companies in this region meet their digital growth ambitions, while protecting their business.