The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will co-organise the 16th Business of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia Forum) and the 18th HKTDC Entrepreneur Day (E-Day) from 19 to 20 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The two flagship events will gather global innovators, investors, professional service providers and policymakers to explore emerging trends in intellectual property, innovation and technology, and entrepreneurship, with the aim of promoting commercialisation and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen Hong Kong's role as an international platform connecting innovation, capital and markets.
Silas Chu, Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC, said the events align with Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan and the latest Policy Address, which position the city as an International Innovation and Technology Centre and a Regional IP Trading Centre. He noted that the BIP Asia Forum acts as a catalyst for IP exchange and business collaboration, while E-Day brings together start-ups, investors and industry leaders to translate innovation breakthroughs into real-world commercial opportunities. The synergies between the two events are expected to boost technology transfer, IP commercialisation, and market expansion into the Chinese Mainland and international markets through Hong Kong.
Under the theme 'Powering Commercial Success Through IP & Innovation', this year's BIP Asia Forum will gather close to 100 industry pioneers to discuss how businesses can leverage IP and innovation to build competitive advantages, attract capital investment, and generate sustainable long-term value. The morning session on 19 November will feature opening remarks by Financial Secretary Paul Chan and HKTDC Executive Director Sophia Chong. Plenary Session I, 'From Sandbox to Scale: Unlocking the Next Phase of IP Financing', will explore emerging opportunities in IP financing and how IP assets can move beyond pilot initiatives towards broader market adoption. Speakers include Adam Williams, Chief Executive and Comptroller General of the UK Intellectual Property Office, and Ying-ying Cheng, Head (Banking Supervision) of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
Plenary Session II, 'Reinventing Sports: Unlocking IP Value Inside and Beyond the Stadium', echoes the World Intellectual Property Organization's World Intellectual Property Day 2026 theme 'IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!' and will examine how IP creates value and drives sustainable growth in the sports industry. The Forum also introduces a new Tech Chapter featuring sessions on IP commercialisation, technology transfer, and innovative entrepreneurship, including discussions on AI and IP licensing led by experts from WIPO and Tencent Music Entertainment Group. Other highlights include panels on brand protection in e-commerce and the power of strategic IP for Hong Kong brands.
E-Day, themed 'Where Start-up Dreams Take Flight', is expected to bring together more than 370 start-ups and innovation projects from 14 countries and regions. The event will focus on high-growth sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, Deep Tech, Green Tech, and Health Tech, with seminars and workshops designed to help start-ups expand their networks and accelerate global business growth. The HKSAR Government Digital Policy Office will set up the 'Hong Kong Innovation Pavilion' showcasing over 35 award-winning projects from the Hong Kong ICT Awards, while the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau will host over 50 ventures supported by its Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Greater Bay Area.
Entering its fifth edition, Start-up Express International will spotlight global innovators in AI, Green Tech, and Health Tech, with winning teams showcasing their technologies at E-Day and fostering cross-border exchange on international growth strategies. DesignInspire will be held concurrently from 18 to 21 November at the HKCEC, bringing together local and international design talents. The three events aim to create synergy and generate more business opportunities for the industry. For further details, visit the BIP Asia Forum website and the Entrepreneur Day website.
