Leveraging Finance+AI+global connectivity
Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026
Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK (HKFW x SMUHK) 2026’s two-day main conference at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre brought together government officials, regulators, entrepreneurs, investors, technology pioneers, business leaders, and more than 30 delegations from the Chinese Mainland and international markets to explore new opportunities under the three core growth engines: Finance+, AI+ and Global Connectivity.
HKFW x SMUHK 2026, in its 11th year, focused on how Hong Kong enterprises may leverage capital, technology, and global connectivity to develop. The week’s main conference on November 2 and 3 examined how finance can drive innovation and industrial transformation, how AI is reshaping industries and creating new value, and how Hong Kong’s global networks and ecosystem can help enterprises expand internationally.
HKFW x SMUHK was hosted by the Financial Services and Treasury Bureau, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), in partnership with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), and the Insurance Authority (IA).
Connecting finance, innovation, and growth globally
The main conference officially opened with The Chief Executive, HKSAR Government,Mr. John Lee’s remarks.He noted Hong Kong’s capacity to give businesses the stability to invest, innovate, and thrive as technology and new investment and trade patterns offer new opportunities.
Mr Lee stated, “The HKSAR Government released Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development less than two months ago. It follows the National 15th Five-Year Plan, which guides Hong Kong to capitalise on its assets and contribute to national development. Our inaugural Five-Year Plan shows Hong Kong’s future for enterprises, investors, and innovators.”Mr. Lee said the Five-Year Plan should assist firms to capitalise on Hong Kong’s vast potential and national and worldwide development possibilities.
He also noted that investors are continuing to invest in Hong Kong, talented professionals are moving to the city for their futures, and international companies are building and scaling here. In the future, he sees technological potential, Asia driving global economic growth, and China driving transformation. Hong Kong’s access to global funding, strong international connectivity, and extensive Mainland links allow enterprises to to scale up and enter Chinese Mainland and worldwide markets.
In his keynote talk, Financial Secretary Paul Chan outlined three priorities for fintech development: efficiency as the engine, inclusiveness as the purpose, and trust as the foundation. Mr. Chan stated, “Bringing fintech benefits into corporate operations is how we advance it, not by launching additional pilots. The government will provide clear rules and reliable infrastructure. I invite you to bring practical applications to Hong Kong.”
Finance+ and AI+: increasing market and industry innovation
Policymakers and business experts examined how financial empowerment and tech innovation are expanding opportunities across industries and the economy, building on the conference’s goal.
Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, named data as an enabler, tokenisation as the new infrastructure, and AI as the new intelligence as the three tools he considered essential to bridge the world and the future in fintech in his panel discussion “FinTech Nexus: Where Data, Tokens and AI Converge”. He further explained that the government, regulators, and industry are collaborating to use the three instruments. Legislation, improvement of regulatory measures, innovation, use cases, and talent development will build infrastructure and a robust ecosystem, enabling the sector to grow sustainably.
Mr. Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, said, “Innovation and technology companies and start-ups need a trusted platform, a reliable international hub, and world-class professional services to navigate geopolitical complexities, inflationary pressures, and global economic uncertainty. These are Hong Kong’s strengths. Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan clarifies the city’s development aims and gives businesses a defined growth strategy. We will continue our efforts to enhance Hong Kong’s business environment, making it an ideal launchpad for global businesses, including start-ups, to thrive and expand.”
Mr. Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, said “The Global Financial Centres Index ranks Hong Kong third in the world and first in Asia, with our fintech products leading the world. Innovation thrives on certainty. We are establishing the regulatory regime for virtual asset dealing, advisory, management, and custody service providers under Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong and aim to introduce the relevant amendment bill into the Legislative Council this year to clarify market compliance pathways. Hong Kong follows the international’same activity, same risk, same regulation’ approach. Our clear, rigorous, and predictable regulatory structure is essential for innovators to establish themselves in Hong Kong “.
In the innovation economy, speakers discussed how emerging technologies are reshaping economic competitiveness, including the infrastructure and collaborative ecosystems needed to support frontier industries, ensure technology adoption at scale, and create long-term economic growth.
The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, said, “Innovation alone is not enough. Basic research needs a clear road to commercialisation, cutting-edge technology needs real-world applications, and start-ups need people, funding, industry, and market access to create ‘new productive forces’ Hong Kong is well-suited to meet these needs. We are building an ecosystem where research can meet industry, innovation can find real-world applications, and start-ups can grow into globally competitive businesses through AI+, enhancing physical computing infrastructure, co-ordinating AI development and risk governance, encouraging patient capital, closer collaboration across the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and accelerating major developments like the Northern Metropolis. To turn innovation into new industries, possibilities, and prosperity for Hong Kong, we aim to streamline the process.”
Miss Diane Wong, Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, said Hong Kong connects markets, capital, technology, and talent. The Government is committed to developing green technologies and turning research into low-carbon, high-application, and commercialised technologies through the HK$400 million Green Tech Fund and the newly established Hong Kong Green Technology Innovation Centre. The Green Technology Bridgehead Programme, beginning next year, would also help green technology and environmental enterprises expand internationally from Hong Kong, Miss Wong said.
The conversations showed how Finance+ and AI+ are expanding outside sectors, generating new opportunities in finance, technology, sustainability, and industrial growth.
Enhancing financial market trust and connectivity
As financial services continue to evolve alongside advanced digital technologies, the conference also explored the foundations needed to support innovation at scale. Discussions examined how market infrastructure, regulatory frameworks and cross-sector collaboration can help foster innovation while maintaining the trust, resilience and stability that underpin international financial centres.
HKMA CEO Eddie Yue hosted “Navigating the New Frontier: AI, Tokenisation, and Quantum in Global Finance” panel discussion. He stressed that resilience and public trust are essential for financial services technology adoption. As a facilitator, the HKMA must maintain public-private partnership to create a dynamic ecosystem that promotes innovation and trust. He added that Hong Kong is well-positioned for fintech expansion. Based on “Fintech 2030” progress, banks and fintech firms may better use data, AI, tokenisation, and other new technologies.
During a panel discussion, SFC CEO Julia Leung outlined the SFC’s strategic vision for using AI and tokenisation to boost Hong Kong’s financial markets while protecting investors and market integrity. Hong Kong’s AI development and usage are accelerating. She advocated an agile and proportionate approach to agentic AI, with autonomy calibrated to the impact and reversibility of activities and robust safeguards for higher-risk applications. Ms. Leung also stressed the importance of cyber resilience as AI-enabled threats grow. She said tokenisation will scale when it is incorporated in market operations and improves efficiency, accessibility, liquidity, and settlement.
Mr. Clement Cheung, CEO of the IA, underlined the importance of insurance in bolstering Hong Kong’s global innovation and technology status. He also noted the IA’s AI Cohort Programme’s progress in establishing insurers’ AI Centres of Excellence in Hong Kong, strengthening talent pipelines, and incubating R&D use cases. Our AI strategy aligns with Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan by using our established insurance industry, strong institutions, robust regulatory environment, and cross-border ecosystem. Mr. Cheung stated we would continue to build a vibrant AI ecosystem to transform national strategic aims into sector-specific resilience actions.
Hong Kong powers long-term global growth
The conference focused on how technology is affecting industries and business building and scaling. Companies created for regional and global markets need finance, talent, infrastructure, and trusted networks across various jurisdictions. Hong Kong’s unique financial strength, creative aptitude, and global connectedness can help enterprises scale confidently in this new landscape.
Ms. Alpha Lau, Director-General of Investment Promotion, said, “Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 has created lasting contacts, partnerships, and commercial opportunities. Under Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan, the city is consolidating and enhancing its status as an international financial centre, developing an international innovation and technology centre, and expanding its global co-operation network. InvestHK is committed to advancing that vision, matching global capital with the founders shaping what comes next, and giving both a runway into the Chinese Mainland, Asia and beyond.”
After the conference, HKFW x SMUHK 2026 continued across the city through November 6 with community and partner activities expanding industry talks, investor engagement, and commercial linkages. The program included a two-day GBA Immersive Executive Tour to Shenzhen, one of the world’s most active innovation ecosystems.
Picture Source: HKSAR Government