Speech by S for IT at Cyberport Smart-Space FinTech Opening (English only) (with photos)
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George (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Dr George Lam), directors, Herman (Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Herman Lam), friends, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. I am most delighted to join you all at the opening of Cyberport Smart-Space FinTech today. This opening brings the total area of Smart-Space at Cyberport dedicated for FinTech start-ups to over 47 000 square feet.
The opening today also brings me back to 2009, when I was CEO of Cyberport, and when I just opened Smart-Space I. At the time, we managed to squeeze a few rooms in Cyberport 1 to set up the first co-working space in Cyberport. Since then, the Smart-Spaces have expanded manyfold. Now, they are home to over 300 entrepreneurs and technology companies, including over 150 companies in the FinTech area.
Cyberport's support for the start-up community certainly goes beyond co-working space and office accommodation. Cyberport's incubation programme, which started back in 2005, was the first large-scale incubation programme for technology start-ups in Hong Kong. This was followed by the Cyberport Micro Fund in 2009 and the Accelerator Support Programme in 2014. All these programmes have achieved impressive successes to-date.
Following the establishment of the Innovation and Technology Bureau about a year ago, the Government has spared no effort in implementing the policy objective to develop a vibrant and sustainable innovation and technology ecosystem in Hong Kong. Cyberport has put forth a series of new initiatives to enhance its support in this regard. These include doubling the incubation intakes per year and launching the $200 million Cyberport Macro Fund. I am glad to see that the management of Cyberport are now busy processing the applications.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the Chairman, directors and all team members of Cyberport for their dedicated efforts in taking forward these initiatives in a timely manner. I have confidence that Cyberport will go from strength to strength as the digital technology flagship of Hong Kong.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. For those of you who have already joined the Cyberport community or are planning to be a member, I wish you every success in your future endeavours. When you do find success, please come back and share your experience and expertise with our future generation of entrepreneurs. I look forward to hearing from you more good news. Thank you.
Ends/Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:46
Issued at HKT 17:46
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