Deeper industrial collaboration between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong is creating a powerful two-way growth engine for startups, participants at the Global Innovation Summit said on Tuesday.

The mainland’s lower costs and mature supply chains can help Hong Kong’s budding firms grow rapidly, while Hong Kong’s capital, common law system and international connectivity can support the Chinese mainland companies’ overseas expansion, the guest speakers said.

The 2025 Global Innovation Show and Global Innovation Summit, which featured China’s technological innovations and promoting global industrial cooperation —brought together pioneering startups from major innovation hubs from all over the world, alongside Fortune 500 companies, unicorns and industry leaders. The two-day event ended on Tuesday.

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Mbrainet Intelligent Technology Co, based in Shanghai, demonstrated its vision-based product designed to help older adults manage chronic diseases. The device can estimate metrics such as blood pressure and heart rate by detecting information from facial blood vessels.

Zhang Liyuan, the firm’s co-founder and CEO, told China Daily that against the backdrop of a rapidly aging global population, Hong Kong’s strengths in international connectivity can help the company expand markets in regions with higher aging rates, such as Japan, South Korea, Europe, and the United States.

Qingyuan Zhixin (Shenzhen) Biotechnology Co, which specializes in 3D-organoid “miniature organs”, aims to acquire more capital support from Hong Kong. The company uses 3D printing to create organoids such as tumors and hearts, helping patients test different medication plans externally. The company hopes to secure funding support from Hong Kong, an international financial center, through this exhibition, founder Chen Jianwei said.

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He said that Hong Kong serves as a gateway for mainland companies to expand globally, especially in the field of organoids, in which the Europe and the US have already begun to advance with supportive policies. Hong Kong can help their business better connect with overseas markets to adapt to policies from Europe and the US, he added.

Dikka Environment & Technology (Shanghai) Co also recognizes Hong Kong’s advantages in connecting mainland enterprises with international markets and facilitating financing. Dikka is a company that remanufactures products such as bags and earrings from recycled materials like discarded tires. Dikka founder Zhao Rongmin said the company aims to attract more investment through this exhibition. At the same time, Hong Kong’s mature plastic-reduction ecosystem could help attract many overseas clients seeking related products, providing Dikka with an excellent platform, Zhao said.

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Meanwhile, the mainland is fueling the rapid growth of Hong Kong startups with its low costs and mature supply chains. A standout case is Stellerus Technology, a Hong Kong-based startup that provides wind monitoring systems to assist enterprises and institutions in weather forecasting, wind-power generation, and the development of the low-altitude economy.

Stellerus products require launching a large number of supporting satellites, which would cost about $700 million in the US. Spencer Ling, Stellerus’ head of Business Development and Operations, said that through the Chinese mainland domestic supply chain, company expenses can be reduced to one-twentieth of that amount, and without the mainland’s mature industrial ecosystem, the company’s commercialization would not be possible. He said that the company has already set up three offices in Shanghai with the aim of further tapping into the mainland market, and that they have already received some preferential policies and subsidies from mainland authorities.

Contact the writer at akirawang@chinadailyhk.com