This document discusses opportunities for Italian startups in Hong Kong's innovation ecosystem. It outlines the strong economic ties between Hong Kong and Italy through trade statistics. Hong Kong is a gateway for Italian companies to access Asian and Chinese markets, which are growing faster than advanced economies. Hong Kong has a simple tax system and is focused on innovation. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) supports Italian companies through trade fairs, missions, and online marketplaces to help them explore opportunities in Hong Kong and Greater China.

1. Hong Kong, ecosistema
dell’innovazione
Opportunità per le startup italiane

2. Ciao!
Gianluca Mirante, Director Italy
HKTDC
Hong Kong Trade Development Council
2

3. Parole chiave
3

4. Di cosa parliamo oggi?
Hong Kong-Italia: i legami economici
Asia e Cina: i mercati delle opportunità
Perché Hong Kong
HKTDC a supporto delle aziende italiane
4

5. Forti legami economici Hong Kong-Italia:
Interscambio commerciale
5
Statistics include goods only
Source: Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department
0
10
20
201020122014 2015 2016 2017 2018
8.179.1710.15 9.26 9.41 9.40 9.50
Hong Kong-
Italy Total
Trade (US$b)

6. Forti legami economici Hong Kong-Italia:
Interscambio commerciale
6
0
5
10
2014 2015 2016 2017
2018
Export
Import
Statistics include goods only
Source: Hong Kong Census and Statistics
Department

7. Forti legami economici Hong Kong-Italia:
Interscambio commerciale 2018
Italy is HK’s 18th largest trading partner
Italy is HK’s 6th European largest trading partner
(after D,UK,F,CH,NL)
Bilateral Trade: USD 10.3 billion
HK’s total exports to Italy: USD 3.6 billion
HK’s total import from Italy: USD 6.7 billion
9,5%

8. Presenza italiana a Hong Kong
Accordo contro la doppia tassazione
Hong Kong escluso dalla black list
italiana
Presenza di oltre 300 aziende
italiane a Hong Kong
Oltre 4.900 buyer e 490 espositori
italiani alle fiere di HKTDC 2018

9. Presenza italiana a Hong Kong

10. Opportunità in Asia e in Cina - Lo scenario economico
Cina e Asia crescono più velocemente dei paesi avanzati e
della media mondiale
Real GDP % Growth Estimates/Projections (IMF)
Economies 2017 2018 2019
Emerging & Developing
Asia^
6.5 6.5 6.5
China 6.9 6.6 6.4
Advanced Economies * 2.4 2.4 2.2
World 3.7 3.9 3.9
^Including China , India, ASEAN nations except Singapore, etc
• Including US, Canada, Euro area, UK, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark,
Czech Republic, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Singapore,
Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc
(Source: IMF World Economic Outlook , July 2018)

11. Opportunità in Asia e in Cina – ASEAN in rapida crescita
GDP ASEAN (ADB, aprile 2018): 2017: +5.2%;
2018: 5.2%
Classe media: 150 milioni, 25% della popolazione
Mercato sempre più importante per i beni consumo
*Asian Development Bank estimate

12. La Cina – 13° Five Year Plan
L’innovazione è il principale driver
Spesa in R&D in crescita :
2.1% del GDP (RMB1.4 trillion) nel 2015
2.5% of GDP(RMB34.9 billion in 1995) entro il 2020
Miglioramento della velocità della rete e espansione dell’ economia online
Penetrazione banda larga: fissa 70% e mobile: 85% entro il 2020
15,46 milioni di imprese private: richiesta di tecnologia e servizi

13. Perchè Hong Kong?
Identificare partner
commerciali corretti
Semplificare la burocrazia

14. Perché Hong Kong – Tassazione semplice e contenuta
Factors:
Total tax &
contribution rate
Time taken to
comply with
obligations
No. of payments
Post-filing
procedures
Ease of Paying Taxes Rankings 2019 (PwC + World Bank)
Country Ranking
Hong Kong 1
UAE 2*
Qatar 2*
Ireland 4
Bahrain 5
Singapore 8
Korea 24
Thailand 59
Malaysia 72
Japan 97
Indonesia 112
Mainland China 114
India 121
• Qatar and UAE are tied at No.2

15. Perché Hong Kong – Hong Kong punta sull’innovazione

16. Perché Hong Kong
Un mercato internazionale per tecnologia e innovazione
Tech commercialisation
R&D capabilities
Overseas tech companies’
gateway to mainland market
Asia’s IP trading hub
World-class technology fair
Innovation oriented ecosystem

17. Perché Hong Kong – All’avanguardia per il co-working

18. Perché Hong Kong
Partnership e supporto di professionisti esperti
Angel and Venture Groups
Startups
Incubator and
Cowork Spaces
StartmeupHK
Startit.Asia
HK service provider

19. Perché Hong Kong
Greater Bay Area – Guangdong/Hong
Kong/Macao/
Hong Kong - Shenzhen Joint
Development ->maggiori possibilità per
I&T nell’area

20. Perché Hong Kong
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
Il ponte sull’acqua più lungo del mondo (55 Km)

21. HKTDC a supporto delle aziende italiane
Chi siamo?
Assists international companies and
investors to explore and enter new
markets on the Chinese mainland and
throughout Asia
Facilitates Chinese outbound
investment in both mature and
emerging markets
Connects businesses worldwide with
Hong Kong partners, including product
suppliers and services providers
Provides market intelligence
50 offices globally, including
1 office in Milan and 13 on the
Chinese mainland

22. HKTDC a supporto delle aziende italiane
Come operiamo?
Gennaio 2015, Fiera di Vicenza Ottobre 2016, ICE Febbraio 2018, MIDO/ANFAO
Settembre 2017, EMI/SMI Settembre 2019, VeronaFiere/Vinitaly

23. HKTDC a supporto delle aziende italiane
Le nostre opportunità
Delegazioni investitori e missioni M&A
Eventi dedicati a innovazione, tecnologia e business - SmartBiz Expo,
Business of IP, AFF
Programmi per Start-up
Sourcing: Marketplace
Informazioni di mercato sempre aggiornate

24. Missioni imprenditoriali in Italia

25. Missioni imprenditoriali a Hong Kong
ALMC 2017 Belt & Road Summit 2019

26. SmartBiz Expo – 4/6 dicembre 2019
Start-ups pitching sessions
and inventors & tech savvy
demonstrations
Business matching and
networking events.

27. Hong Kong Asia’s IP Business Hub
Un market place online

28. Business of IP Asia Forum – 5/6 dicembre 2019

29. Asian Financial Forum – 13/14 gennaio 2020

30. Asian Financial Forum – 13/14 gennaio 2020

31. Programmi specifici per startup
• Pitching co-organised with investor alliance
(e.g. Hong Kong Business Angel Network)
• Business matching
• Buyer guided tours
Connection
• Product launch stage
• Meeting with local and overseas journalists
• Media coverage (print & social)
Exposure
• Sharing session by entrepreneurs
• Practical tips by experts e.g. indiegogo
Mentorship

32. Programmi specifici per startup
Pitching Session

33. Programmi specifici per startup
Product Launch

34. Programmi specifici per startup
Tailor-made publicity

35. Aree dedicate alle fiere di Hong Kong

36. Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition)
Exhibitors: 4.300 – Visitors: 87.000
110 tech startups
Development stage
Conceptual / Prototype stage
Exhibits: IoT, VR, Robotics & Unmanned Tech,
Smart Tech and 3D Printing
Startups expect to meet:
Partners (e.g. manufacturer)
Buyers (e.g. agent/distributor)
Investors

37. Startup alle fiere – Admission Policy
• No more than 3 years of establishment
• A valid business registration
• Products/ ideas not yet commercialised
• Did not exhibit in the previous edition in
form of shell booth/ raw space
• Fulfill fair specific requirement (e.g.
Electronics Fair – tech related)
• Referrals by recognised institutions nurturing
startups preferred

38. hktdc.com – Online Marketplace
1.8M+ buyer registrati
Oltre 130.000
fornitori certificati
5M user mensili
24M+ contatti
generati annualmente

39. Informazioni di mercato sempre disponibili

41. HKTDC Milan Office
Via Orefici, 2
Tel: 02 865405
Email: milan.office@hktdc.org