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HKSTP Companies Exhibit the Latest AI Technology Solutions at InnoEX 2024 and the Hong Kong Spring Electronics Fair (Spring Edition)

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HKSTP

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 April 2024 – The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), alongside 25 partner companies, has taken part in Asia’s leading annual innovation and technology (I&T) event, InnoEX 2024, and the world-class electronics industry event, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition). Under the theme: From Smart Vision to Intelligent Future, HKSTP presents cutting-edge R&D achievements from 16 partner companies in fields such as Smart City, AI and Robotics, Digital Business, and Marketing Tech, further showcasing the region’s research strengths.

Paul Chan, the Financial Secretary of HKSAR, Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of HKSAR, accompanied by Ir Dr HL Yiu, Chief Corporate Development Officer of HKSTP, visited HKSTP’s booth at InnoEX to experience the latest local R&D achievements.

HKSTP has been steadfast in its commitment to nurturing innovative enterprises that advance the development of Hong Kong as a smart city. On the exhibition’s opening day, HKSTP arranged two start-up showcase sessions, which provided opportunities for business matching and investment opportunities. The sessions were conducted in a competitive format, with the winning start-up scheduled to participate in the Techsauce Global Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, in August, with HKSTP to achieve potential business expansion in Asia.

Ir Dr HL Yiu, Chief Corporate Development Officer of HKSTP, said: “China is focusing on the development of ‘new quality productive forces’, with I&T serving as the core driving force. Our participation in InnoEX presenting market-ready solutions to both local and overseas buyers is expected to capture their attention and garner brand exposure. HKSTP will continue to refine its support for nurturing startups, accelerating the process from R&D to commercialisation, thus fostering the development of intelligent living.”

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)’s Global Frontier Technology Readiness Index in 2023, Hong Kong has ascended from 13th to 9th globally in the capability to utilise cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT. This significant leap underscores a marked enhancement in Hong Kong’s application of innovative technologies. As technological products are now closely intertwined with AI, several partner companies have integrated AI into their offerings for greater intelligence, customisation, and optimisation of efficiency, which in turn significantly enhances the user experience. For example, smart building solutions employ sensors to gather environmental data for subsequent analysis. The integration of AI improves the volume, speed, and precision of data processing. Additionally, some startups have incorporated AI into digital marketing tools, refining the advertisement production workflow, enabling the creation of more targeted and cost-efficient advertising strategies.

In collaboration with global universities, the 14 research AI and robotics laboratories under InnoHK’s “AIR@InnoHK” will show case some of the most advanced solutions at InnoEX.

This year’s InnoEX gathers world-class innovative solutions, featuring science and technology enterprises from over 13 countries and regions, including Hong Kong, Mainland China, Canada, France, India, Poland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and more.

HKSTP’s flagship start-up pitching competition, EPiC, will also culminate with its Grand Finale on the 26th of April at the top of Hong Kong’s iconic International Commerce Centre. The top 74 global start-ups reaching the final round will compete for potential investments totalling USD 45 million. This includes venture capital investment of up to USD 5 million, cash prizes totalling USD 240,000, and opportunities for commercial collaborations. Participating start-ups can benefit from HKSTP’s unrivalled ecosystem as a springboard to tap into the vast opportunities in Mainland China, Asia, and other overseas markets.

Some of the latest products and solutions exhibited by HKSTP partner companies at InnoEX include:

Smart City Solutions

Intelligent Transformation for Old and New Buildings: Comprehensive realization of smart buildings – Neuron Digital’s smart building solutions are tailored for a variety of applications, featuring specialised modules that can interface with 5G or IoT. These systems collect data on temperature, humidity, air quality, space occupancy, etc. By integrating AI with digital twins, Neuron Digital offers a detailed 3D virtual model of a building’s internal and external environments. This enables developers, building operators, and facilities management teams to easily monitor and optimise facility operations, leading to significant energy savings, enhanced building management efficiency, sustainability, and thus contributing to a better living environment.

Digitalised Transport Solutions for Smart Cities – Smart transportation is a pivotal component of smart cities, and Neuvix is at the vanguard with solutions that leverage edge computing, computer vision, AI, and digital twin. These solutions support the intelligent upgrading of transport infrastructure, analysing driving behaviour on roads, traffic flow, and vehicular data at stations to realise intelligent transportation systems and smart stations.

Digital Business

Creating Sterile Environments with 20kV – Apicem Technology Services Company Limited (ATS) has developed a patented Baal Decontamination system that utilises a 20kV high-voltage electric field to eliminate bacteria and viruses, thereby purifying the air. It represents a new green technology capable of one-off filtration of carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and the removal of dioxins, hydrogen sulphide, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, and odours. Its cloud-based Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) monitoring system can track improvements down to PM1.0 particulates and can be integrated with existing property management systems to achieve digitalised management and sustainable development.

Asia’s First “On-premise” AI Bot Development Platform – GPTBots.ai – empowers business enterprises to effortlessly custom-build and train their own exclusive AI bots within their networks. It is the first platform in Asia that enterprises can mitigate the risk of data breaches without using third-party AI platforms. By simply uploading their proprietary data to the internal knowledge base and connecting to large language models (LLM) of their choice, enterprises can seamlessly train the bots through interactive chatting. The versatility of these AI bots spans across a broad spectrum of applications, encompassing translation services, customer engagement, personal assistance, and knowledge retrieval, among others.

AI and Robotics

Hong Kong-developed robots target ESG implementation challenges – In a bid to address challenges such as staffing difficulties in property management and healthcare services, Novelte has launched a series of robots designed to tackle issues related to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). These robots are particularly focused on enhancing daily operations in property management and facilitating hospital deliveries. Established in 2019, the company specialises in the R&D of robotics and has since introduced a diverse range of robots tailored for various applications, including meal delivery, intelligent assistance, and security.

Marketing Tech

Asia’s Leading AI Advertising Platform Elevates Efficiency – GoGoChart has unveiled AppAura, a state-of-the-art digital marketing and ad management platform that utilises AI to optimise the ad management process and boost advertising effectiveness. Users can with ease create engaging advertising campaigns and content, enjoy the advantages of cross-platform integration and streamlined ad management across major online media platforms. This enhances work efficiency and cuts costs for users, granting clients a significant advantage in the highly competitive digital market.

AI SEO Tools Help Businesses Succeed in the Global Market – Capturing the attention of the target audience amidst the overwhelming information of the digital age, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial. The Hong Kong startup Aloha has unveiled its self-developed SEO tool, RankBot, which incorporates AI and real-time global search engine data, offering support for over 90 regions and 45 languages. RankBot’s cutting-edge technology empowers users to make precise, data-driven decisions, drastically cutting down the time needed to execute and manage SEO and improving their products’ global search engine rankings, thus aiding businesses in expanding their international presence.

InnoEX 2024
Date: 13-16 April, 2024
Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai
HKSTP Pavilion Booth No: 3C-B01

Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition)
Date: 13-16 April, 2024
Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai

Elevator Pitch Competition (EPiC 2024) Grand Finale
Date: 26 April, 2024
Venue: Sky100 Observation Deck, International Commerce Centre

About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 to create a thriving I&T ecosystem grooming 12 unicorns, more than 14,000 research professionals and over 1,700 technology companies from 26 countries and regions focused on developing healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies, etc.

Our growing innovation ecosystem offers comprehensive support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation for technology ventures, with the I&T journey built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Shatin, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long realising a vision of new industrialisation for Hong Kong, where sectors including advanced manufacturing, micro-electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined.

Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen plays positive roles in connecting the world and the mainland with our proximity, strengthening cross-border exchange to bring advantages in attracting global talent and allowing possibilities for the development of technology companies in seven key areas: Medtech, big data and AI, robotics, new materials, microelectronics, fintech and sustainability, with both dry and wet laboratories, co-working space, conference and exhibition facilities, and more.

Through our R&D infrastructure, startup support and enterprise services, commercialisation and investment expertise, partnership networks and talent traction, HKSTP continues contribute in establishing I&T as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong.

More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.

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Energy

U.S.-Africa Energy & Minerals Forum Expands to Critical Minerals and Supply Chain Security

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2 days ago

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February 27, 2026

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Africa

This year’s U.S.-Africa Energy & Minerals Forum in Houston signals a strategic shift toward integrated energy and critical minerals investment, strengthening U.S. partnerships across Africa’s resource and industrial value chains

HOUSTON, United States of America, February 26, 2026/APO Group/ –The U.S.-Africa Energy & Minerals Forum (USAEMF) has relaunched with a dedicated focus on critical minerals, marking an important evolution in its role as a platform for U.S.-Africa commercial engagement. Building on its foundation in energy, power and industrial projects, the forum’s expanded scope positions it at the center of investment conversations shaping the future energy economy.

 

Scheduled for July 21–22, 2026, in Houston, Texas, USAEMF comes at a time of surging global demand for copper, cobalt, lithium, manganese and rare earth elements, driven by electrification, battery storage, AI infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. Africa is increasingly critical to securing these materials, highlighting how energy and minerals are now interconnected pillars of industrial growth, geopolitical stability and decarbonization.

The forum’s minerals mandate deepens engagement with African producers – particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), home to some of the world’s largest copper and cobalt reserves. Momentum is building through the U.S.–DRC strategic minerals framework and the U.S.-backed Orion Critical Mineral Consortium, a major investment platform supported by the DFC and private partners. The consortium is pursuing a 40% stake in the Mutanda and Kamoto copper-cobalt operations in a $9 billion transaction, securing long-term supply for allied markets while reinforcing cooperation on infrastructure, security and supply-chain governance.

Placing critical minerals at the center while maintaining strong hydrocarbons engagement strengthens U.S.-Africa commercial ties

U.S. financing is also expanding across the region, with the DFC managing a continental portfolio exceeding $13 billion to support mining, processing and transport infrastructure for critical mineral supply chains. Recent commitments include rare earth, graphite and potash projects in Malawi, Mozambique and Gabon; broader investments in Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa; and $553 million linked to the development of the Lobito Corridor. The DFC is also a major backer of TechMet, a U.S.-supported investment firm valued at over $1 billion, which is raising up to $200 million to expand copper, cobalt, lithium and rare earth assets and pursue new opportunities across the DRC and Zambia. Together, these initiatives underscore Washington’s push to diversify battery-mineral supply while positioning Africa as a long-term partner in clean energy and industrial value chains.

Houston’s role as host city reflects the alignment between American industrial capacity and African resource development. Long established as a global energy hub, the city is expanding into energy transition technologies, advanced materials, carbon management and industrial innovation. By convening African governments with U.S. private equity, development finance institutions, exporters, insurers and technical service providers, the forum creates a commercial platform capable of converting mineral potential into bankable projects.

“The evolution from USAEF to USAEMF reflects a broader shift toward integrated energy and mineral development,” states Nadine Levin, Portfolio Director at Energy Capital & Power, forum organizers. “Placing critical minerals at the center while maintaining strong hydrocarbons engagement strengthens U.S.-Africa commercial ties and advances projects that deliver long-term shared value.”

While critical minerals define the forum’s strategic expansion, the U.S.’ longstanding role in Africa’s energy sector remains central to the platform’s value proposition. American energy companies continue to advance exploration and development across key upstream markets, support gas monetization in the Gulf of Guinea and revitalize mature production in North Africa. U.S. export credit and development finance are also helping unlock large-scale LNG capacity in Mozambique while supporting optimization and expansion across existing gas infrastructure in West Africa – demonstrating how American capital, engineering expertise and risk-mitigation tools convert resource potential into delivered energy systems.

USAEMF is the leading platform connecting U.S. capital and technical expertise with Africa’s energy and minerals sectors. For more information or to participate at the upcoming forum, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Business

Pesalink and Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) Unlock Cross-Border Payments in Local Currencies in Kenya

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February 27, 2026

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Pesalink

The Pesalink–PAPSS partnership will reduce costs, speed up settlements, and help individuals, SMEs and businesses send money more efficiently across borders

NAIROBI, Kenya, February 26, 2026/APO Group/ —

  • Instant 24/7 bank-to-bank transfers across African borders in local currencies.
  • Simpler cross-border payments for individuals, businesses, and SMEs.
  • 80 plus Pesalink network participants now linked to 160 plus PAPSS participating banks.

 

Pesalink, Kenya’s de facto instant payment network, has partnered with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to ease cross-border payment and speed up regional financial integration.

 

The partnership enables instant 24/7 cross-border payments from PAPSS participants into banks and mobile money operators within the Pesalink network in Kenya, all settled in local currencies. This reduces complex correspondent banking requirements and reliance on foreign reserve currencies.

 

Kenyan banks will now be able to offer faster, cheaper cross-border payments

PAPSS, an initiative of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, enables cross-border payments between African countries. Pesalink is now a Technical Connectivity Provider. It means that 80 plus Kenyan bank, fintech, SACCO and telco participants on the Pesalink network will be connected to 160 plus commercial banks and fintechs on the PAPSS platform.

 

Cross-border payments remain expensive and slow for many African businesses. The 2023 (http://apo-opa.co/4baDSh7) World Bank Remittance Prices report indicates that sending money across African borders incurs on average 7-8% of the total value sent (above the global average of 6–7%). Settlement can also take three to seven business days.

 

The Pesalink–PAPSS partnership will reduce costs, speed up settlements, and help individuals, SMEs and businesses send money more efficiently across borders.

 

Speaking during the partnership signing held at Pesalink offices in Nairobi, PAPSS CEO Mike Ogbalu III said, “For PAPSS to deliver true impact, collaboration with national and private switches like Pesalink is essential. Pesalink is the first switch we’ve piloted for transaction termination in Kenya, and we are already seeing greater adoption by opening more channels for seamless, local-currency cross-border payments across Africa.”

 

Pesalink CEO, Gituku Kirika, said “Kenyan banks will now be able to offer faster, cheaper cross-border payments. They will be helping their customers grow more regional trading relationships and thrive in a more integrated digital economy.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Events

Africa Trade Conference Returns to Cape Town with Esteemed Speakers Driving Africa’s Trade Agenda

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February 27, 2026

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Africa

Second edition convenes global policymakers, business leaders, and innovators to accelerate Africa’s integration into global trade

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, February 26, 2026/APO Group/ –Access Bank Plc (www.AccessBankPLC.com) is proud to announce the distinguished line-up of speakers for the second edition of the Africa Trade Conference (ATC 2026), scheduled to take place on March 11, 2026, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town, South Africa. Building on the strong foundation of its inaugural edition, ATC 2026 will convene an exceptional assembly of global and African leaders, policymakers, investors, and business executives committed to shaping the future of trade on the continent.

The Africa Trade Conference has rapidly emerged as a premier platform for advancing dialogue and action around Africa’s evolving role in global commerce. The 2026 edition will feature influential voices from across finance, government, development institutions, and the private sector, who will share insights on unlocking trade opportunities, strengthening intra-African commerce, enabling business expansion, and positioning African enterprises for global competitiveness.

The confirmed speakers represent a powerful cross-section of leaders driving Africa’s economic transformation.

Building on the momentum of its maiden edition, which convened senior decision-makers from 28 countries, the 2026 conference with the theme “Turning Vision into Velocity: Building Africa’s Trade Ecosystem for Real-World Impact”, will have the keynote address delivered by Kennedy Mbekeani, Director General, Southern Africa Region, African Development Bank (AfDB), alongside Kwabena Ayirebi, Managing Director, Banking Operations at the African Export-Import Bank. Their joint keynote will address the evolving financing landscape for African trade and the strategic pathways for unlocking continental prosperity.

The welcome address will be delivered by Roosevelt Ogbonna, CEO/GMD, Access Bank Plc, who will set the tone for discussions centered on trade transformation, financial inclusion, and regional competitiveness, while Tolu Oyekan, Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group, will deliver insights on “Africa Trade Outlook 2026”, examining emerging macroeconomic trends, supply chain shifts, and growth opportunities across key sectors.  The CEO of Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, Mike Ogbalu, will be engaging the conference participants on the topic, “Building a Connected Africa Through Trade, Payments & Technology”, focusing on how payment interoperability and digital infrastructure can accelerate the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.

The calibre of speakers confirmed for this year’s conference underscores the urgency and opportunity before us

The conference will also host a High-Level Ministerial Panel that features Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness & Industry, Ghana; Tiroeaone Ntsima, Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Botswana; Mr. Florian Witt, Divisional Head, International & Corporate Banking Oddo-BHF, Ms. Nathalie Louat – Global Director, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Dr Isaiah Rathumba – Head of Department, Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism and Mr. Alfred Idialu – Chief Rep Officer, Deutsche Bank among other policymakers shaping trade policy across the continent.

Commenting on the announcement, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, said:
“The Africa Trade Conference reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing Africa’s economic transformation by creating a platform that brings together the leaders, institutions, and ideas shaping the future of trade. The calibre of speakers confirmed for this year’s conference underscores the urgency and opportunity before us. Africa is not only participating in global trade, it is helping to redefine it. Through this convening, we aim to catalyse partnerships, unlock new opportunities for businesses, and accelerate Africa’s integration into global value chains.”

“At Access Bank, we see ourselves not just as financiers, but as connectors of markets, ideas, and opportunities. Our role is to help African businesses move from ambition to impact, from local relevance to global competitiveness.”

With operations in 24 countries globally, including 16 across Africa, Access Bank’s expansive footprint places it in a unique position to facilitate cross-border trade, unlock regional value chains, and simplify the complexities of doing business across markets.

“Our presence across Africa and key global corridors gives us a front-row seat to the realities of trade. It also gives us the responsibility to design solutions that are inclusive, scalable, and future facing. ATC 2026 is part of that commitment, Ogbonna added.

ATC 2026 is expected to catalyze partnerships, enable policy dialogue, and provide actionable strategies for businesses operating within and beyond the continent.

The Access Bank Chief puts it thus, “Africa will not be a spectator in the remaking of global trade. We will be one of its architects. ATC 2026 is where those blueprints will be drawn.”

For more information and registration, please visit https://apo-opa.co/4sdXWF7

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Access Bank PLC.

 

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