Innovation Journey in 2025: A 5-Day Expedition to Hong Kong and Shenzhen for German Technology Pioneers
In a five-day journey, a delegation of twelve innovation and technology talents from Germany visited Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The trip, co-organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) and Germany's Young Founders Network (YFN), aimed to provide the young talents with an in-depth exploration of the twin cities' entrepreneurial ecosystem, industry support, and I&T opportunities.
The journey followed a successful pitch competition held earlier this year in Munich, Germany. The delegation, comprising of 18 members, included notable figures such as Sophie Defauw, Co-Founder and CEO of AthleteIQ, and Isa Taflan, Co-Founder and CFO of Fibclick.
During their stay, the delegation visited various locations. They explored the Hong Kong Science Park, the Shatin Communications and Technology Centre, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Center, and the Qianhai International Talent Innovation and Exchange Centre in Shenzhen.
The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster, which was ranked first globally by the World Intellectual Property Organization, showcased its vibrant tech scene to the visiting talents. The cluster's reputation as a hub for innovation and technology seemed to resonate with the delegation, with Sophie Defauw expressing that Hong Kong and Shenzhen offer an attractive development hub for her startup, especially for business expansion, validating product-market fit in Asia, and connecting with hardware accelerators.
Isa Taflan, on the other hand, expressed interest in high-end manufacturing, construction, and mobility industries with the efficient supply chain in Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
The visit was significant for both cities, as Hong Kong leapt to fourth place globally and first in Asia in the World Talent Ranking 2025. Chris SUN, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, stated that talent and technology are key engines driving high-quality economic and social development.
The exact name of the leader of Hong Kong Talent Engage, who organised the trip of the German I&T talents, was not available in the search results. However, it is clear that HKTE has been actively promoting talent acquisition, having completed about 70 outreach visits and hosted more than 170 talent promotional programs on Mainland China and overseas. The organisation plans to enhance its external promotion to recruit more global talent with diverse backgrounds.
This visit marks a significant step in strengthening the ties between Germany and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster, and it is expected that more collaborations will follow in the future.
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