As escalating tax and regulatory requirements make the developed markets less viable, many Chinese Mainland e-commerce companies have increasingly high hopes of finding success in Africa.

Shanghai-based Flexiv Technology Company (Flexiv), a business with its own independent and controllable full-stack technology, full-scenario product matrix and global industrial layout. At present, it is focusing on further integrating into Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem, while looking to place the city at the heart of its international development strategy.

In its early stages, Shanghai-based Jidou Technology Limited (Jidou) developed AI and digital solutions for intelligent automotive cockpits. Through its full-chain service capabilities, Jidou has expanded into a number of new areas, including integrated vehicle AI control centres and embodied AI. It also provides multi-domain vertical models and agent-centric AI solutions. Concurrently, it is accelerating its global business deployment programme, which sees it using Shanghai as a base and Hong Kong as a springboard.

Deep Robotics, as a company with world-leading quadruped robot technology and commercialisation capabilities, is highly compatible with Hong Kong’s “AI+ real-world application” strategy. The company plans to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages, participate actively in local development and use Hong Kong as a springboard to expand into international markets.

Currently, “brain-computer interface” has already surged to the forefront of the global technological race. Seven government departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly issued in August 2025 the Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Innovative Development of the Brain-Computer Interface Industry, establishing a development blueprint at the national level.

Horizon Robotics is a market-leading company in the field of intelligent driving technologies. By offering solutions that integrate cutting-edge algorithms, dedicated software and advanced processing hardware, it provides core technologies for intelligent vehicles.

Shanghai Westwell Technology (Westwell Technology) is a Chinese Mainland ‘unicorn’ founded just over 10 years ago. With a focus on AI and autonomous driving technology, it has come to be seen as a pioneer in the holistic smart port solutions sector.

A spate of AI companies from the Yangtze River Delta region (YRD) have expanded into Hong Kong in recent years. To learn more about their operations and ambitions, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce jointly interviewed several of these companies in Hangzhou and Shanghai. Visits were also paid to related government departments and industrial parks in the two cities to better understand the development of the YRD’s AI industry and how Hong Kong can leverage its advantages to help YRD AI companies expand into international markets (“go global”).

In recent years, the artificial intelligence (AI) industry in the Yangtze River Delta region (YRD) has developed significantly. In a complementary move, a comprehensive related industrial ecosystem – complete with foundations, model frameworks and industry applications – has also been established.

Hong Kong’s electronics industry is the territory’s largest merchandise export earner, accounting for 74.8% of the city’s total exports in 2025. A substantial portion of this business, largely re-exports, are regarded as high-tech products, especially those related to telecommunications equipment, semiconductors and computer items.