Open Forum – Innovators meets Entrepreneurs

The Open Forum named “From Digital Leadership to Re-Industrialization: Innovators meets Entrepreneurs” organized by Department of Computing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 20th August 2016.  The City University of Hong Kong Engineering Doctorate Society (CityU EngD Society) was one of supporting organization.  This open forum aimed to invite speakers from the government, industry and academic to discuss the trend, direction, experience and cases on how digital leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs contributed toward the processes of re-industrialization.  In the beginning, Dr. Walter Fung as forum coordinator introduced the forum arrangement and topics.

Then all guest speakers were took a photo for memory.

Prof. Ca
o Jiannong (Chair Professor and Head, Department of Computing, PolyU) gave a welcome speech. Then he introduced their digital leadership program.  He said we were in the digital ecosystem including big data, cloud computing, AI, etc. For instance, they promoted Smart-Ageing (or Active-Ageing) in which not only focused on health but also mental and social impacts.  

The first speaker was Dr. Joseph C.K. Liu (Director, China Concord Ltd.) and his topic entitled “Local Biotechs: Unleash the Power”.  Firstly, he introduced HKSTP biotech tenants/incubatees whose related bio-diagnostics.  There were 38 companies in HKSTP currently in which come from CUHK (4, 27%), HKU (3, 20%), HKUST (2, 13%) and HKBU (1, 7%).  

Previous companies from CityU led by Prof. Michael Yang included Multigene Diagnostics Ltd., Genetel Pharmaceutical Ltd; led by Prof. Cheng Shuk Han included Vitargent (International) Biotechnology.  For CUHK, Arbele and Xcelom led by Prof. Dennis Lo.   Then Dr. Liu introduced Hong Kong X-Tech Start-Up Foundation which established on 16 July 2016.

Dr. Liu said the discovery process of the future would begin with an understanding of disease at the molecular level.  So that molecular diagnostics and other related technologies were very important.  Finally, he pointed out the future biotech trend would be more Personalized, Predictable and Preventive Medicine (3Ps).

The second speaker was Mr. Howard Lau (Chief Architect, Data Center Solution, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.) and his topic named “Can Hong Kong follow the way of Chinese Style Technology Innovation?”  

Firstly, he explained the types of innovation in China could be separated into “Technology”, “Cost”, “Proces”, “Application”, “Supply Chain”, “Product”, “Business Model” and “Non-customer”.  The first example for technology innovation was Mozihao which was the first quantum satellite.  The last example was “Non-customer” that mean to change from non-customer to customer. 

Then Mr. Lau discussed some factors could help innovations such as Ideas and Resource (including Money, Skill Labour / Knowledge, Place, Time, Network / Eco-system, and Government Policy / Support).  Finally, he observed Chinese Innovation focused on practical way such as problem solving, cost-performance, functional, small improvement, reverse engineering, etc.  Finally, he tried to any the topic question.  He said China and Shenzhen were very good in network and ecosystem.  Hong Kong companies could join in this network and ecosystem, so as to let Hong Kong growth faster.  

Dr. David Chung (Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology, ITB) and his briefed the policy and direction of Innovation and Technology Bureau.  Firstly, David mentioned the aims of the development of local innovation and technology below.

i)                   Transform Hong Kong into a knowledge-based economy

ii)                  Diversify our economy and increase our competitiveness

iii)                Provide quality employment opportunities, especially for our youth

iv)                Improve quality of life for Hong Kong people

Then he introduced the role and focus of the Government that to be both Connector and Facilitator, but not a Player.  Therefore, they focused to create an ecosystem for I&T development.  During he analyzed our strengths and opportunities, he mentioned there was about 1600 I&T start-ups in Hong Kong in 2015 which increased 50% compared to 2014.  Moreover, growth of Hong Kong’s start-up ecosystem was ranked Number 5 globally in 2015!  However, we also faced many challenges such as 90% SMEs in Hong Kong with relative low investment in R&D and lack of manufacturing base.  

After that David briefed some funding program they initiated for University and Industries in the following slide. 

Lastly, he told us the main drive was “Re-industrialization”.  We needed to develop high value-added industries and manufacturing processes in Robotics, Smart City and Healthy Ageing.  In order to attract high value-added manufacturing industries, the following activities were being done.

i)                   Science Park expansion

ii)                 New Industrial Estate Policy – Multi-Storey Building

iii)                New sites near Liantang / Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point (Long Term)

The forth speaker was Dr. Bryan Wong (Executive Director, LTBL Co., Ltd.) and his presentation title was “Transformational Global eBusiness via Social Media”. Firstly, he pointed out some cases for demonetization such as Newspapers, IDD, SMS, Maps, Torch, GPS, and Camera … etc. He added that transformation could be anyone, anywhere and anytime and they were so suddenly.  

He briefed 5 Transformation and summarized as below:

i)                   Demonetization (e.g. Freemium)

ii)                  Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime (e.g. Apps & Social Media)

iii)                Sharing Economy (e.g. Uber, Alibaba, Airbnb, Facebook, etc.)

iv)                 Legal Uncertain (e.g. Uber)

v)                  Disruption (e.g. skype, Netflix, Uber and Dreamtrips)

Then he briefed the business model of such transformation through social media.

After that he described mobile social media.  He said mobile as our organs and social media was un-detachable.  3S stands for Social, Sharing and Sentimental.  Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) was focused on user experience.  He also mentioned the changes of Advertising media from Traditional Advertising to Social Media Targeted Advertising and finally to Social Media Soft Marketing.  

Finally, he told us the successful Social Media Marketers were “Impressive Personal Branding”, “Educational”, “Story Telling”, “Image Director”, “KOL” and “Influential Entrepreneur”.  Lastly, he quoted Ohmae Kenichi (大前研一) book named “One Man Ecomony” to explain about Social Media Ecosystem.

During the break, I needed to support Ir. Dr. Hon Lo Wai-kwok (LegCo Member (Engineering)) Election Gathering. It was pity that I missing the following topics.

The fifth speaker was Dr. Abraham Lam (Director, MEGA Automation Ltd., Fusquare Technology Ltd. (Shenzhen)) and presentation topic named “Applying Internet of Things (IoT) into buildings – a R&D startup of Qianhai”.

Dr. Thomas Chan Man-hung (Director of China Business Centre, PolyU) was the last speaker and his topic entitled “Re-industrialization in Hong Kong and Pearl Delta Region”.

Reference:

PolyU Digital Leadership - http://www.polyu.edu.hk/iaee/en_us/programmes/detail/digital-leadership/overview

CityU Engineering Doctorate (EngD) Society - http://www.engd.org/  

Engineering Doctorate (Engineering Management) - http://www.cityu.edu.hk/seem/prg-engd.htm

20151017: CityU EngD Open Forum – Innovation and Entrepreneurship - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2015/10/cityu-engd-open-forum-innovation-and.html