The future of robotics is being plotted in this Hong Kong science park

This device by Rehab-robotics, based in the science park, helps injury victims get back to normal functioning.

Once upon a time, software was the in-thing that everyone believed would change the world. And it did. Like all other trends, however, it is slowly fading out of the consciousness of popular media. Rising to take its place is hardware and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Hong Kong, in particular, is alive to the possibilities that this industry holds, and is trying to build an ecosystem to nurture these technologies. At the center of all this activity is the Hong Kong Science & Technology Park (HKSTP), which recently organized and hosted the APAC Innovation Summit.

Andrew Young Meng-cheung, chief commercial officer of HKSTP, tells Tech in Asia that Hong Kong is so bullish about hardware and IoT because the city-state is in an advantageous position to succeed in these fields.

“We’re moving in three directions: robotics, healthy aging, and smart city,” he says. “In particular, robotics stands out as an industry that clearly mixes all the strengths of Hong Kong into future needs.”

What’s Hong Kong main strength? Cliche as it may sound, Young says that it is a “well-liked city” which gives Hong Kong the first pick of talent from abroad. He points to the then-ongoing APAC Innovation Summit event as an example.

“Here, there are at least 13 countries being represented, including the Italians, Americans, and Germans,” he says. Further, people “recognize that through Hong Kong, they can capture the market in China. China is our main advantage.”

It helps that China recently unveiled its intention of becoming a world manufacturing power by 2025, otherwise known as the “Made in China 2025” plan. Some of its goals involve achieving breakthroughs in sectors such as robotics and energy efficient equipment.

Because of this, talent is never an issue here. All that remains is to create a structure that supports and provides them with the resources they need, which is exactly what HKSTP was founded to do.

Creating an ecosystem

HKSTP is a public corporation that is housed in Hong Kong’s Science Park. “Our vision is not to run a park,” Young says. “Our vision is to create an ecosystem, consisting of innovators, partners, commercial companies, venture capitalists, government policy makers, and so on.”

By bringing everyone together, Young believes that people will naturally “mix around, pool what they want, and make things happen.” Already, HKSTP has facilitated the forming of a Robotic Alliance, which engages six universities, five R&D centers, and major industry associations like the Federation Hong Kong Industry.

The Science Park serves as a central meeting point for events. The Asian Innovation Summit is the corporation’s first “major push,” and already deals and handshakes are being made.

Young does, however, emphasize that HKSTP is a neutral body that doesn’t dish out funding – it only facilitates. So, the Science Park serves as a people connector for budding hardware startups. Companies residing at the park include Rehab-robotics, which builds devices to assist people in injury and stroke rehabilitation,  and Hanson Robotics, a creator of lifelike humanoid robots.

Here, they can build their prototypes, and immediately scope out possible investments from the corporations and venture capitalists who have a presence in the park. Shenzhen DJI Technology, arguably the world’s biggest maker of consumer and prosumer aerial drones, is one of these corporations – it has a 100-person lab there.