Li Zexiang, a professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, is working to establish innovation hubs across China to foster its tech startup boom.

Li is credited with nurturing some of China’s valuable tech startups, including a leading drone manufacturer, DJI. Often called the country’s start-up “godfather” and “billionaire maker,” he plays a pivotal role in shaping China’s tech ecosystem.

He believes that China’s vast population require multiple innovation hubs, beyond Shenzhen to foster tech growth like Silicon Valley.

Li is currently promoting his incubation model at the Songshan Lake XbotPark in Dongguan, which has supported various start-ups, helping them to grow and thrive in the tech industry.

Earlier this month, he led over 30 start-ups from his incubator to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas. There, he shared his model and manufacturing facilities with the global tech community.