Hub71 Launches Hong Kong Programme to Link Abu Dhabi with Global Tech
▼ Summary
– Hub71 launched its Startup Immersion Programme in Hong Kong to provide later-stage Hong Kong startups with access to Abu Dhabi’s tech ecosystem and regional expansion opportunities.
– The launch included signing MoUs with three Hong Kong innovation hubs: HSITPL, Hong Kong Cyberport, and MTR Lab, to foster startup pipelines and reciprocal knowledge exchange.
– The two-week programme offers founders direct access to regulators and investors, tailored mentorship, and opportunities for regional pilot projects, culminating in a Demo Day.
– This initiative is Hub71’s fourth cross-border programme in 2025, following similar engagements in New Jersey, Japan, and Ireland.
– The programme underscores Abu Dhabi’s ambition to act as a global launchpad for startups and to strengthen international economic partnerships through innovation.
Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s dynamic technology ecosystem, has introduced a new Startup Immersion Programme in Hong Kong, forging a vital bridge for established startups to enter the Middle Eastern market. Announced at the Investopia conference, this initiative is designed to provide Hong Kong-based companies with a direct route to Abu Dhabi’s flourishing tech scene, facilitating regional growth and international scaling opportunities. The program launch was significantly bolstered by the signing of memoranda of understanding with three major Hong Kong innovation centers.
These strategic partnerships were established with the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITPL), Hong Kong Cyberport, and MTR Lab. Each partner brings a distinct focus to the collaboration. HSITPL will concentrate on assisting startups from Mainland China and Hong Kong as they expand into Abu Dhabi and the broader Middle East region. Hong Kong Cyberport, a massive hub hosting more than 2,200 tech companies, will work to channel its community toward the Middle East while also attracting regional enterprises to set up operations in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, MTR Lab, with its specialization in mobility and smart city technologies, will connect its portfolio of companies with Hub71 to explore specific opportunities within the Gulf.
Ahmad Ali Alwan, the Deputy CEO of Hub71, emphasized the program’s strategic importance. He stated that the initiative is about linking ambitious ecosystems and creating tangible pathways for startups to grow beyond their domestic borders. The program is specifically engineered to empower Hong Kong startups, allowing them to leverage Abu Dhabi’s global connectivity to scale their operations internationally and develop solutions for worldwide challenges.
The program itself is structured as an intensive two-week experience. It begins with a virtual onboarding phase to equip participants with essential market-entry knowledge, followed by an in-person segment held in Abu Dhabi. During this immersive period, founders will receive direct access to regulators, investors, and corporate partners. They will benefit from personalized mentorship and carefully arranged networking sessions. A key component involves opportunities to engage in regional pilot projects and collaborate with both corporate and government entities. The program culminates in a Demo Day, where startups can present their innovations to a curated audience of Abu Dhabi-based investors during Hub71’s prominent Impact Event.
This Hong Kong programme represents Hub71’s fourth major international engagement in 2025, following successful launches in locations like New Jersey, Japan, and Ireland. This consistent global outreach underscores Abu Dhabi’s determined strategy to establish itself as a premier global launchpad for startup expansion and to deepen international economic partnerships through the powerful engine of technological innovation.
(Source: MEA Tech Watch)
