The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) successfully concluded its participation at Viva Technology (VivaTech) 2026 in Paris, France, last week, hosting the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion to showcase 24 local innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises and institutions. The pavilion, organized with strategic partner the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (Brussels ETO) and supporting organizations including Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Cyberport, aimed to connect Hong Kong startups with global investors and industry players.
During the exhibition, a series of thematic seminars, startup pitching sessions, and networking events were held to facilitate industry exchanges and business matching, helping local startups seize opportunities in the European market and deepen their international collaboration networks. HKTDC’s Chris Lo, Regional Director, Europe, Central Asia & Israel, stated: “VivaTech 2026's Hong Kong Tech Pavilion has achieved excellent results once again this year, facilitating multiple cross-border collaborations. We are pleased to see that some of these outcomes have gradually come to fruition from connections and exchanges initiated last year.”
The participating startups and institutions included Formwork IO, which specializes in developing carbon-negative construction materials and sustainable solutions, and was selected as one of the top 30 finalists for VivaTech's "Tech for Change" Award. Tech for Change recognizes startups that leverage innovative technology to drive positive impact for the environment, society or health, with an emphasis on the parallel pursuit of impact and commercial value. Additionally, PointFit Technology, a developer of wearable health monitoring and smart sports solutions, and Robocore Technology Limited, which develops globally leading open-platform service robot solutions, were selected to give live demonstrations at VivaTech's Discovery Stage to buyers and investors worldwide.
Several participating companies successfully established connections with European investors, large enterprises and industry partners, and commenced business discussions. Robocare Technology is in negotiations with JCDecaux, a France-based multinational outdoor advertising company, for a cooperation agreement that will provide 1,000 robots to JCDecaux for marketing campaigns. Robocore Technology first connected with JCDecaux at the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion at VivaTech last year. Its CEO, Lim Long-hei, said: "Leveraging the business connections we have built through the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion at VivaTech over the past two years, we hope to further deepen our collaboration with European multinational corporations, achieve greater market share, and attain rapid business growth in Europe and beyond."
Additionally, LeafIoT Technology Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lecco Campus of Politecnico di Milano to further advance their cooperation and accelerate the pace of expanding into the European market. LeafIoT Technology specializes in developing smart tree monitoring solutions. The two parties will collaborate in talent cultivation and technological innovation, jointly promoting the application and market expansion of AI algorithms and remote sensing technology in enhanced tree monitoring and health assessment. Its Managing Director, Chan Pak-kwan, said: "We hope to extend Hong Kong's industry-university-research model further into Europe, while promoting the R&D achievements of Hong Kong institutions, and deepening collaboration with European academic institutions, thereby achieving five- to ten-fold business growth."
The HKTDC hosted a series of seminars, startup pitching sessions, and networking events during VivaTech, including a thematic seminar and networking event titled "Building Resilient Tech Ecosystems: Powering the Next Wave of International Tech Leadership from Hong Kong" on 19 June. The Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic & Trade Affairs to the European Union, Shirley Yung, attended and highlighted Hong Kong's innovation ecosystem advantages, including top-tier research and talent, deep pools of global capital, unparalleled access to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area innovation cluster, and strong connectivity to global markets.
The HKTDC is actively working with local enterprises to participate in major international technology exhibitions, assisting startups to expand into overseas markets. Following the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2026) in Las Vegas, USA in January, and the Mobile World Congress (MWC) and ‘4 Years From Now’ (4YFN) exhibition in Barcelona, Spain in March, the HKTDC once again organized the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion at VivaTech, providing a platform for startups to showcase their innovative achievements and connect with international funding. The 10th VivaTech attracted participants from over 165 countries and regions worldwide, with more than 15,000 global startups and 200,000 visitors. For more information on the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion, visit VivaTech's exhibitor page.
