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Cannix Yau

Hong Kong entrepreneur Terry Lam Wa-kit recalls that he had no clue how to reach out to mainland Chinese companies to tell them about a new green product from his company.
The 39-year-old director and co-founder of Envicome, a Singapore-based start-up, said he received the cold shoulder when he tried to approach prospective clients last year in the hope of breaking into the massive mainland market.
His company’s environmentally friendly product, Envi-Gel, was an insulation coating material made from recycled plastic bottles.
Describing what he learned from failing to connect with mainland businesses, he said: “No matter how good your product is, if nobody knows you, they don’t trust you.”
Hong Kong elderly health care scheme extended to HKU-Shenzhen hospital under new deal
Things changed dramatically after his firm joined Yuan Valley, a networking base for entrepreneurs set up at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Business School-Shenzhen Campus which opened last November.
The centre, which has room for 16 enterprises, aims to provide a full range of incubation services for hi-tech start-ups and help them commercialise their research and development (R&D) results with financing, marketing and networking support.
Lam’s company is one of 10 firms that have moved in so far.
“Since we joined the Valley, we have been taken care of and put in touch with mainland firms. Now their attitude has changed significantly and they have become willing to talk business, knowing we are from HKU,” Lam said.
“They trust HKU and its reputation, and we can capitalise on that to develop our business.”

With the HKU centre’s help, the start-ups hope to gain a foothold in the Greater Bay Area, Beijing’s ambitious plan to link nine cities in Guangdong province with Hong Kong and Macau to create an economic powerhouse by 2035.
The new campus is a partnership with the Futian government in Shenzhen and provides a place for HKU staff and alumni to carry out education, research and entrepreneurial activities under the model of “one university, two campuses”.
Under the partnership, both sides will work towards growing the campus into a first-class comprehensive research university with a global vision, rooted in Shenzhen.
Orange Ju Ziqian, director of the HKU Business School’s Shenzhen centre, said the Valley was an important incubation site for the mainland city, and HKU would help to seek funding support from authorities there for the start-ups.
“We will line up cooperation between our start-ups and Hong Kong corporations, such as the Science Park and Cyberport, and help them explore international markets,” she said.
Hong Kong hi-tech start-up’s faster, cheaper test to pinpoint cause of fevers
Two start-ups at the Valley said they hoped to grow their business by tapping HKU’s connections.
Tyler Lu Jiheng, CEO of Carrymen Dynamics (Shenzhen) Company Ltd, which produces a conveying system to transport small components such as smartphone parts and semiconductors, said the Valley helped him engage investors, generate new R&D ideas and market his products.
Huang Guobiao, CEO of Hong Kong Kairuipu Medical Technology, hoped his start-up would get more customers for its smart sleep monitor.
Costing HK$5,000 (US$640) per set, it can help prevent sudden heart failure by continuously monitoring patients’ vital signs, such as their heart and breathing rates. It is being used by Hong Kong’s Correctional Services Department and some hospitals in the city.
“By being in the Valley, our clinical reports will be sent by HKU to different medical institutions in Hong Kong and overseas and help tap the market in the Middle East and Europe,” Huang said.


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Hong Kong economy

Yuan Valley: Hong Kong tech start-ups break into mainland Chinese market with help from HKU Business School’s Shenzhen campus

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) Business School-Shenzhen Campus opened last November. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

The HKU business centre aims to provide a full range of incubation services for hi-tech start-ups. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong explores smoother cross-border travel with Shenzhen for I&T talent to spur growth of proposed San Tin Technopole

Land in San Tin has been earmarked for the creation of an I&T hub. Photo: Winson Wong

Secretary for Security Chris Tang has said that streamlining immigration procedures for I&T talent travelling between Hong Kong and Shenzhen could ‘greatly improve’ efficiency. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong’s top officials to take more day trips to Greater Bay Area to promote integration, John Lee says before visit to Guangzhou and Shenzhen

China’s Greater Bay Area boasts a sprawling population of 86 million. Photo: Martin Chan

Hong Kong leader John Lee is eyeing more overseas trips in the coming months to promote competitiveness and build business ties. Photo: Sam Tsang

The skyscrapers of Shenzhen across the border with Hong Kong. Photo: Shutterstock

The Merlion statue in Singapore. Hong Kong is seeking closer ties with the city state, as well as other countries in Southeast Asia. Photo: AP

News

Hong Kong

Yuan Valley centre at new campus provides entrepreneurs financing, marketing and networking support
Start-ups say the ‘HKU brand’ makes a difference, and they hope to gain a foothold in Greater Bay Area


Yuan Valley centre at new campus provides entrepreneurs financing, marketing and networking support


Greater Bay Area

Universities in Hong Kong

Hong Kong innovators

Yuan Valley: Hong Kong tech start-ups break into mainland Chinese market with help from HKU Business School’s Shenzhen campus

Yuan Valley centre at new campus provides entrepreneurs financing, marketing and networking support Start-ups say the ‘HKU brand’ makes a difference, and they hope to gain a foothold in Greater Bay Area

Yuan Valley centre at new campus provides entrepreneurs financing, marketing and networking support

Start-ups say the ‘HKU brand’ makes a difference, and they hope to gain a foothold in Greater Bay Area