The IP Go-Global Business Matching Session, jointly organized by the Intellectual Property Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation (Guangdong Intellectual Property Administration), was held today at Science City in Guangzhou. The event, co-organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Intellectual Property Office of Guangzhou Development District, and supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, aimed to help Chinese mainland enterprises expand into international markets by leveraging Hong Kong as a launchpad.
The session featured approximately 50 one-to-one business matching meetings between Guangdong enterprises and Hong Kong IP service providers. It also included a networking luncheon and a thematic seminar, attracting more than 150 industry participants. This initiative builds on the success of the 15th Business of IP Asia Forum held in December 2025, where a dedicated "IP Go-Global Business Matching Session" was first hosted. The event serves as a key initiative under the Guangdong-Hong Kong cooperation framework, reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" in national development.
Peter Wong, HKTDC’s Regional Director of Southern China, highlighted the growing demand for internationally oriented IP services amid China's promotion of expansion and high-quality development under the 15th Five-Year Plan. "Enterprises in Guangdong are actively expanding into overseas markets, driving sustained demand for internationally oriented IP services—particularly in overseas IP protection and dispute resolution," he said. "Hong Kong’s legal and intellectual property system aligns with international standards, and with its well-established professional services sector, Hong Kong is positioned to provide value-added, comprehensive support to Mainland enterprises, enabling them to effectively protect their innovations, mitigate operational risks, enhance overall competitiveness, and achieve global expansion."
David Wong, Director of Intellectual Property of the HKSAR Government, noted that Hong Kong's global competitiveness has risen to second globally in the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026. He emphasized Hong Kong's unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle, including a sound common law system, an international business environment, and world-class professional services, making it an ideal platform for mainland enterprises expanding overseas.
The event brought together a delegation of around 20 representatives nominated by IP practitioner associations, including the Asian Patent Attorneys Association Hong Kong Group (APAA), the Hong Kong Chinese Patent Attorneys Association (HKCPAA), the Hong Kong Institute of Patent Practitioners Ltd (HIPP), the Hong Kong Institute of Trade Mark Practitioners (HKITMP), and The Law Society of Hong Kong (Intellectual Property Committee). Their participation highlighted Hong Kong's strengths in international legal and professional services and consolidated its role as a strategic platform for mainland enterprises seeking global expansion.
The business matching sessions focused on aligning with practical needs, promoting direct exchanges between Guangdong’s innovation, technology, and cultural enterprises and Hong Kong’s IP service providers. The initiative aims to better understand the key needs of Guangdong enterprises in their global expansion efforts and showcase Hong Kong’s diverse IP professional services. By establishing a regular exchange and matching platform, the collaboration is expected to strengthen cooperation between the two regions in IP protection, utilization, and services, promoting regional innovation and industrial upgrading.
The thematic seminar covered key issues related to global expansion, including IP risk management, cross-border dispute resolution, global patent portfolio strategies, and international development approaches. It also introduced Hong Kong’s favorable business environment and relevant support policies, providing forward-looking and practical insights to help enterprises achieve steady growth amid a complex global landscape.
The HKTDC will continue to work closely with stakeholders to promote more cross-border exchange and cooperation platforms, facilitate complementary advantages between Hong Kong and the mainland in professional services, further strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a regional IP trading center, and support enterprises in seizing opportunities and expanding internationally. For more information about HKTDC, visit www.hktdc.com/aboutus.
