HKPC Yangtze River Delta Centre Established in Shanghai HKPC and NICE Jointly Launch the “Yangtze River Delta–Hong Kong Joint Innovation Centre” to Build a New Landscape for YRD–Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation

(Hong Kong, 8 September 2026) On 7 September, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) officially established the “Hong Kong Productivity Council Yangtze River Delta Centre” in Shanghai. Serving as HKPC key on-the-ground service platform and Chinese Mainland business hub for the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, the new centre is also HKPC's first regional hub established outside the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). On the same day, HKPC and the National Innovation Center par Excellence (NICE) jointly inaugurated the “Yangtze River Delta–Hong Kong Joint Innovation Centre”, with a focus on addressing industrial needs across the YRD region. The new centre will further strengthen collaboration between Shanghai and Hong Kong in technological innovation, technology transfer and commercialisation, while also extending its impact to support the development of other regions.

The “Hong Kong Productivity Council Yangtze River Delta Centre” focuses on enterprise services, technical support, international standards alignment and overseas expansion. The “Yangtze River Delta–Hong Kong Joint Innovation Centre”, on the other hand, focuses on connecting technology demands, collaborative research and development, and technology commercialisation. Complementing one another, the two centres will jointly advance a collaborative innovation model characterised by “R&D in Hong Kong, Commercialisation in the YRD, and Markets Worldwide”. The establishment of the “Hong Kong Productivity Council Yangtze River Delta Centre” in Shanghai will further enhance HKPC’s capability to serve YRD enterprises, connect with the GBA and engage with global markets.

Hon Sunny TAN, BBS, Chairman of HKPC said, “The National ‘15th Five-Year Plan’ places the GBA and YRD as key drivers for high-quality development across the country. Hong Kong’s strengths in international innovation and technology (I&T) are highly complementary to the YRD’s strengths in industry. With the continued support of NICE, the establishment of the two Centres marks a new stage in Shanghai–Hong Kong innovation collaboration. Looking ahead, we will build on our partnership to promote the industrialisation and internationalisation of more innovation outcomes, setting a benchmark for regional collaborative innovation.”

Professor LIU Qing, Director of NICE said, “Our collaboration with HKPC has moved from strategic planning to practical implementation. Moving forward, drawing on the jointly established innovation platform, both parties will engage in routine, ongoing matchmaking between technology demands and global resources. With practical collaboration, we will accelerate the international expansion of hard-tech innovations from the YRD and continuously inject strong momentum into the development of new productive forces."

Leveraging the Strengths of the Two Centres to Create Three Key Benefits for Enterprises:
1) Matching Industrial Needs through Technological Expertise 
Over the past year, HKPC has actively engaged with more than 20 Chinese Mainland cities and organised over 50 “Think Tank” industry matching events across Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou, Ningbo and other locations. These initiatives enabled in-depth engagement with enterprises to understand their practical needs in digital and intelligent transformation. Building on HKPC’s self-developed AI Platform “HKPC Picasso” and extensive expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing, life and health technology, green technology and new energy, HKPC will further support YRD enterprises in accelerating the adoption of innovative technologies and industrial upgrading.

2) Leveraging Hong Kong’s Advantages to Support YRD Enterprises to Go Global
As a core member of the HKSAR Government’s GoGlobal Task Force, HKPC established “The Cradle - Go Global Service Centre,” which has received more than 600 enquiries from enterprises interested in expanding overseas in using its service. Among these, comprehensive support under its “6 Tactics to Go Global” have been provided to over 300 projects. Recently, HKPC participated in the 2026 World AI Conference & High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance (WAIC), where Shanghai enterprises actively sought consultations on-site, fully reflecting the strong demand from YRD enterprises for going global services. Hong Kong’s global connectivity and international business environment serve as an important springboard for YRD enterprises to reach global markets. Through professional services covering international standards alignment, intellectual property strategy and overseas compliance, HKPC will assist enterprises in accelerating the expansion of their presence in global markets.

3) Two-Way Empowerment to Strengthen Industrial Connectivity Between Shanghai and Hong Kong
In addition to helping YRD enterprises leverage Hong Kong to expand globally, the two centres will support Hong Kong enterprises in accessing YRD industrial resources and application scenarios. They will also assist overseas enterprises in leveraging Hong Kong as a gateway to the YRD region and the broader Chinese Mainland market, creating a mutually beneficial ecosystem of two-way empowerment.

Since signing a strategic cooperation agreement in 2023, HKPC and NICE have continuously to deepen collaboration, with innovation initiatives gradually extending into enterprise services and go global support. In 2026, the establishment of the “Yangtze River Delta–Hong Kong Joint Innovation Centre” in Shanghai, alongside the launch of the “Hong Kong Productivity Council Yangtze River Delta Centre”, have created a two-way collaboration platform spanning Hong Kong and the YRD while connecting with global markets.

Tangible outcomes have been delivered through joint innovation projects that support enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta. NICE facilitated cooperation between Nanjing ZhongKe ShenGuang Science&Technology Co., Ltd and HKPC to jointly develop advanced materials for 3D printing, significantly enhancing the performance and quality of high-end components used in aerospace, automotive and other industries.

In addition, HKPC has collaborated with the Materials Academy, Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI) to develop high-performance thermal management materials. The project has achieved breakthroughs in several core technologies while advancing equipment localisation and patent deployment in both regions. The resulting products are expected to enhance the lifespan and computing performance of CPUs and other semiconductor chips, thereby supporting the development of the AI industry.

Looking ahead, HKPC will continue to uphold the principle of “leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths to serve national needs”. Together with NICE, HKPC will build an international innovation ecosystem characterised by complementary strengths and two-way empowerment. The partnership will support Hong Kong enterprises in expanding in the YRD market while helping YRD enterprises leverage Hong Kong’s international platform to expand globally, thereby contributing further to the development of new productive forces and China’s high-level opening-up.

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Witnessed by Professor LIU Qing, Director of NICE (second from left), and Hon Sunny TAN, BBS, Chairman of HKPC (second from right), Professor GU Yuandong, Vice President of NICE (far left), and Mr Edmond LAI, Chief Digital Officer and Chief Executive Officer, Mainland Business, HKPC (far right), jointly officiated at the unveiling ceremony of the “Yangtze River Delta–Hong Kong Joint Innovation Centre”, marking a new milestone in YRD–Hong Kong technology collaboration.

Mr Edmond LAI, Chief Digital Officer and Chief Executive Officer, Mainland Business, HKPC (far right), together with Mr Alvin WANG, Vice President, Mainland Business Development, HKPC (far left), officiated at the unveiling ceremony of the “Hong Kong Productivity Council Yangtze River Delta Centre,” HKPC's first regional hub established outside the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Accompanied by Professor LIU Qing, Director of NICE (far right), Hon Sunny TAN, BBS, Chairman of HKPC (second from the right) and his delegation visited the NICE exhibition hall to gain a deeper understanding of the Centre’s initiatives and achievements in promoting the integration of the innovation and industrial value chains across the YRD region.