How Hong Kong entices Europe’s young start-up talent

Hong Kong has emerged as an attractive destination for young technology start-ups from Europe, according to recent international surveys and the efforts of the Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE). The city has been ranked second among 70 economies worldwide in the International Institute for Management Development’s "World Competitiveness Ranking 2026" and is part of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster, which consistently ranks first globally in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s "Global Innovation Index 2026."

These rankings are based on the number of inventors, scientific authors, venture capitalists, patent filings, scientific publications, and start-up funding deals in each region.

Hong Kong's advantages for start-ups include its proximity to Southern China's manufacturing hubs and the government-supported funding schemes for research and development. The city's start-up ecosystem has expanded significantly, from over 1,500 start-ups in 2015 to more than 5,200 in 2023. To further promote its advantages and schemes, HKTE, an office under the Labour and Welfare Bureau, has been working diligently since its establishment in 2023.

One of HKTE's recent endeavors was co-hosting the HKTE x EuroTech Hackathon in Munich, Germany in June, attracting about 250 contestants from universities and start-ups across Europe.

HKTE invited the winners of the hackathon and representatives from the EuroTech Federation to visit Hong Kong and its neighboring cities to experience the region's rapidly developing I&T infrastructure. One of the winners, Cem Araz, whose team won the healthtech category, shared his thoughts on the trip. Araz, CEO and co-founder of Munich-based start-up Heal, which runs a preventive-health app, expressed his interest in potentially expanding his business to Hong Kong or another city within the bay area scheme in the future.

He believes that Hong Kong's investment opportunities, start-up support, and regulatory environment make it an ideal location for building an AI-enabled preventive-health business, especially considering the city's aging population.

During the five-day visit, Araz and the other hackathon winners had the opportunity to tour key I&T hubs in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, including Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, Cyberport, and Northern Metropolis in the northern New Territories. They also visited I&T organizations and enterprises specializing in industrial applications in AI, robotics, smart transport, and biotechnology in Qianhai, Shenzhen, and Nansha, Guangzhou.

Araz found the trip to be a valuable learning experience, gaining a clearer picture of how Hong Kong supports entrepreneurs and meeting local founders. He also learned about support programmes for early-stage companies, such as potential funding and office rental subsidies, as well as making useful business contacts. HKTE Director Felix Chan emphasized that the positive response to the hackathon and the winners' visit demonstrated the curiosity of young innovators in Europe about Hong Kong's technology start-up scene and the bay area scheme.

HKTE sees its role as providing comprehensive support for global talent and building lasting connections, helping turn interest in Hong Kong into real opportunities.