Creative Works Showcase Opens for Cross-Over Partnerships

For Hong Kong companies aspiring to leverage the penetration power of local creative designs for brand enhancement and to tap new markets, the “Cross Industry Matching Showcase 2012”, which opens at the InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong today (22 March 2012), offers an effective platform for cross-over business partnership.

Organized by the Innovative Entrepreneur Association (IEA) and co-organized by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), the three-day Showcase features an exhibition of the creative works of 70 local cartoon characters illustrators, licensors, and graphic and product designers, and four local design institutes. It also comprises exchange forums on cross industry collaboration; and on-site consultation service on intellectual property management.

Opening the Showcase, Dr Raymond Choy, President of IEA, said, “The inaugural event last year successfully matched over 10 companies with their business partners to produce innovative lines of cross-over items. These are strong proof that while the creative sector can use this platform for cross-industry opportunities, enterprises can leverage the penetration power of local designs for value creation and promotion.”

Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC, said, “New elements are added this year to facilitate businesses in building closer ties with the creative industries and tap the Mainland and global markets with their own brands. We also hope to assist creative start-ups to grow their business.”

This year, a mentorship programme is being introduced with four creative heavyweights offering their advice and guidance on business development to 10 exhibitors. Also, 22 local enterprises have already pledged to partner with one or more exhibitors from the Showcase for collaboration.

The Showcase is a highlight of a programme to promote commercial application of creative works. The programme is supported by close to 40 organizations from the creative and business sectors and sponsored by Create Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Other activities include setting up a cross-industry matching website (www.crossmatchingshowcase.com), and the provision of one-stop support services for creators and their SME business partners.

For information about the Showcase, please contact Mr Philippe Tang, Senior Consultant (Mainland and Business Management) of HKPC, at tel.: (852) 2788 5733 or email: kwtang@hkpc.org.  For other media enquiries, please contact Mr Felix Chan of HKPC’s Corporate Communications Division at tel.: (852) 2788 5036 or email: felixchan@hkpc.org.

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Mr Jonathan Ho
General Manager
Corporate Communications
Hong Kong Productivity Council
Tel: (852) 2788 6390
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: jonathanho@hkpc.org 
Website: www.hkpc.org

22 March 2012

Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC (centre); Dr Raymond Choy, President of IEA (second from right); Mr Kevin She, Organizing Committee Chairman of “Showcasing Creative Works to Inspire Cross Industry Matching in Commercial Applications 2012” programme (second from left); Miss Cindy Kwong, Senior Manager (Funding) of CreateHK (first from left); and Mr Raymond Cheng, General Manager (Mainland and Business Management) of HKPC, open the “Cross Industry Matching Showcase 2012”

Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC (right), and Mr Eric Yim, mentor of “Creative Mentorship Programme”, study the products of success match-ups from last year’s Showcase

Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC (first from left), talks with exhibitors of the Showcase