Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK 2026 concluded on November 6, 2026, bringing together over 48 000 visitors from more than 120 economies. The event featured presentations from financial executives, policymakers and technology leaders on artificial intelligence, digital assets and autonomous driving.
AI initiative plans
The Group Chief Executive Officer of HSBC, Mr Georges Elhedery, said the bank plans to establish a global AI and Emerging Technology Institute in Hong Kong in 2027. According to HSBC, the institute will develop capabilities and talent in AI, blockchain and quantum cryptography.
The President of the Bank of China, Mr Zhang Hui, said the bank plans to provide financing support of no less than RMB1 trillion for the AI industry over a five-year period. In addition, Professor Cao Liangliang of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University highlighted the growing role of AI agents in helping organisations manage information.
Regulation and digital assets
The Chair of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, Mr Ashley Alder, emphasised that trust and outcome-based regulation will be fundamental to supporting financial innovation as AI is embedded in finance. The Head of the BIS Innovation Hub at the Bank for International Settlements, Mr Tommaso Mancini-Griffoli, urged stress-testing of AI and avoiding over-reliance on a single model.
Standard Chartered Group Chief Executive Mr Bill Winters noted that as agentic commerce evolves, the market will need to unlock digital money and tokenisation, including stablecoins and tokenised deposits. Franklin Templeton Chief Executive Officer Ms Jenny Johnson cited Hong Kong's regulatory environment for testing tokenised financial products.
Event scale and start-up competition
Organised by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and InvestHK, the event featured over 1 100 speakers and 800 exhibitors. Hong Kong's fintech ecosystem now comprises more than 1 400 fintech companies.
The finale of Global Fast Track 2026 selected Canadian company PragmaClin as its winner for its Parkinson's Remote Interactive Management System, following over 700 applications from more than 120 economies.
Key facts and where they come from
- HSBC plans to establish an AI and Emerging Technology Institute in Hong Kong in 2027.
highlighting the bank's plans to establish a global AI and Emerging Technology Institute in Hong Kong in 2027 to develop capabilities and talent in AI, blockchain and quantum cryptography.
- Bank of China plans to provide RMB1 trillion in financing support for the AI sector.
the bank plans to provide financing support of no less than RMB1 trillion for the AI industry over a five-year period.
- The week-long Hong Kong FinTech Week event attracted over 48 000 visitors from more than 120 economies.
The week-long programme attracted more than 48 000 visitors from over 120 economies, featured over 1 100 speakers, 800 exhibitors, and welcomed more than 30 Chinese Mainland and international delegations.
- Canadian company PragmaClin won the Global Fast Track 2026 competition.
PragmaClin, a Canadian company with its flagship Parkinson's Remote Interactive Management System, was named the winner of Global Fast Track 2026.
