OASES drives growth in Hong Kong’s innovation landscape by guiding tech companies into the city
Gotion and Westwell Technology get support from the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises as they expand to Hong Kong and beyond
Hong Kong has long been recognised as a global financial hub, but in recent years, it has also rapidly emerged as an innovation and technology (I&T) centre. The unique combination of world-class research and development (R&D) facilities, government initiatives aimed at developing I&T-related industries, and strategic connectivity to both mainland China and the rest of the world positions the city as an ideal launch pad for companies specialising in fields such as green technology and smart logistics solutions.
The Hong Kong government is actively fostering an ecosystem tailored to grow the city’s I&T prowess. Last September, the Innovation and Technology Commission introduced a HK$10 billion (US$1.27 billion) funding programme, the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme (NIAS), for enterprises in the fields of life and health technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and data science, and advanced manufacturing and new energy technology that plan to set up smart production facilities in the city.
Besides funding, Hong Kong’s innovation infrastructure continues to expand, with facilities like the Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC) at Tseung Kwan O InnoPark offering cutting-edge prototyping and production capabilities. This complements existing I&T hubs, including Cyberport and the Hong Kong Science Park, to collectively reinforce the city’s commitment to hi-tech industrialisation.
The Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) serves as a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s I&T strategy. Established in 2022 following Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address, OASES focuses on attracting promising strategic enterprises from five industries, namely advanced manufacturing and new energy technology, AI and data science, financial technology, life and health technology, and cultural and creative.
As of April, the office has successfully attracted 84 strategic enterprises, which are expected to invest HK$50 billion and create over 20,000 jobs in Hong Kong in the next few years. OASES actively engages with these companies before they enter Hong Kong and also offers various types of support during and after their entry. Such support can range from connecting companies with potential clients and partners to help grow their businesses to providing insights on the latest market trends and relevant government policies.
Fourteen of these enterprises belong to the advanced manufacturing and new energy technology industry. Among them is Gotion, a company specialising in battery technology for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems. First established in 2006 in Hefei in eastern China’s Anhui province, Gotion has since expanded its operations to eight R&D centres worldwide, including in the United States, Singapore and Japan. It is one of the largest EV battery manufacturers in the world and ranks sixth in the industry in terms of market share.
Gotion first commenced its Hong Kong operations in 2022. After becoming one of OASES’ strategic enterprises in November last year, the company expanded its operation and set up a 700-square-metre (7,530-square-foot) office at the Hong Kong Science Park that will be able to accommodate about 100 staff.
“Gotion is first and foremost an R&D-focused company. Wherever we set up an office, our goal is to prioritise research and to leverage the local talent to enhance our capabilities,” says Dr Cheng Qian, senior vice-president of Gotion, president of its Asia-Pacific business unit and director of the Hong Kong office. “Setting up operations in Hong Kong allows us to work together with many top-notch universities, research institutions and tech companies to boost our R&D efforts.”
Cheng adds that Gotion’s Hong Kong office will also serve as the headquarters for the company’s Southeast Asian operations. In addition, he hopes that the city’s sophisticated financial system will be able to support the company’s future financing needs.
Since Gotion established its presence in Hong Kong, OASES has been sharing insights on industry trends and relevant policies to help the company optimise its localisation strategy. In addition, OASES played a pivotal role in helping Gotion to establish a partnership with the Hong Kong Quantum AI Lab (HKQAI) at the University of Hong Kong.
One of the projects which Gotion and HKQAI are jointly working on involves conducting experiments on materials for battery production. Using an AI-powered advanced modelling technique, the team is able to speed up the process and even enhance testing capabilities by creating simulations for testing the viability of the materials in extreme conditions. This was something Gotion was not able to re-create without HKQAI’s technological input.
Beyond research, Gotion has actively implemented some of its innovative solutions across Hong Kong. The company collaborated with local partners to replace diesel generators at construction sites with battery energy storage systems that help reduce noise, operational costs and carbon emissions. Gotion sees Hong Kong as a valuable testing ground for scaling and promoting similar sustainable technologies in international markets, including Germany and Australia.
“Hong Kong has a solid foundation for research and talent. R&D here does not just stay theoretical, it has real-world applications with proven results,” Cheng says. “Through OASES, we have identified many potential collaborators from all around the world. We look forward to cooperating with these partners to expand our business in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and internationally.”
Westwell Technology – a mainland company specialising in developing AI-driven logistics solutions including smart new-energy vehicles – has also identified many opportunities after setting up its operations in Hong Kong with the support and resources provided by OASES.
Founded in Shanghai in 2015, Westwell established its Hong Kong office in 2023. The company became an OASES strategic enterprise in March last year and set up an R&D centre at the Hong Kong Science Park shortly after. Today, Westwell employs more than 60 staff in the city. The Hong Kong office serves as its international headquarters, which oversees the company’s entire operations and portfolio with more than 200 clients in 28 countries and regions. It aims to leverage the city’s role as a global financial hub and logistics centre to further expand its operations.
Since 2020, Westwell has been working with a Hong Kong-based port operator to deploy its autonomous, battery-powered Q-Trucks as well as its E-Trucks – heavy-duty vehicles that can be driven both manually and autonomously – at Laem Chabang Port, Thailand’s largest deep-sea port. Meanwhile, a fleet of more than 100 Q-Trucks was introduced at the United Kingdom’s largest container port, the Port of Felixstowe, where they are helping reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 50 tons per unit per year. Westwell’s products are also powering the Middle East’s first fully AI-enabled terminal at Khalifa Port in the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi.
Since last year, the company has launched a series of projects in and near Hong Kong International Airport together with Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited and the Cainiao Smart Gateway logistics centre. These initiatives showcase the Q-Truck and the Q-Tractor P40, a new-energy autonomous tractor. The company’s Hong Kong R&D centre also developed the Well-Bot, an intelligent logistics robot that is engineered as a “last-metre” delivery solution in a fully automated logistics process.
Kay Yang, CEO of Westwell’s international headquarters, believes the city’s strategic strengths can propel the company’s global ambitions. “The city’s strong commitment to innovation, together with its status as the world’s busiest air cargo hub, provides an ideal testing ground for our autonomous logistics solutions,” she says. “We are leveraging Hong Kong to go global, and that has fuelled our determination to establish the headquarters for our international operations here.”
Along with expanding its business, Westwell has formed strategic partnerships with some of Hong Kong’s top universities to cultivate talent. It worked with and provided funding for Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to develop AI and autonomous driving technology. Westwell is also in the process of setting up a doctoral training programme at PolyU with an aim to recruit graduates into the company.
Yang also emphasises the pivotal role OASES has played in facilitating Westwell’s growth in Hong Kong and beyond. “From initial set-up to daily operations, OASES connected us with key government stakeholders, potential clients and strategic partners.
“At our signing ceremony last year, we engaged another OASES strategic enterprise, and the conversation led to ongoing business collaboration. It’s a great example of Hong Kong’s unique role as a ‘superconnector’.”
Cainiao is the logistics arm of Alibaba Group, which also owns the South China Morning Post.