In a significant development to enhance entrepreneurial ecosystem in Canada and Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Super Angel Network (HKU SAN), ventureLAB Innovation Centre of Canada, and the Smart City Consortium (SCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement formalises a commitment to resource sharing, expertise exchange, and cross-border collaboration to support startups and scale-ups in both regions
The signing ceremony took place on 5 December 2025 on the HKU campus, witnessed by Professor Alice Wong, Associate Vice-President (Research) of HKU; Mr Jovan Trajceski , Co-Chair of of Innovation Committee of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong; and Dr Winnie Tang, Founder and Honorary President of SCC. The MoU was signed by Mr Hugh Chow, Chief Executive Officer of ventureLAB; Dr Paul Wang, Director of HKU Techno-Entrepreneurship Core (TEC); and Mr Gary Yeung, President of SCC.
Dr Paul Wang, Director of HKU TEC said, “This collaboration is designed to advance cross-border innovation and entrepreneurship. We will focus on deepening resource sharing, talent exchange, and technology commercialisation, creating stronger conditions for the development of start-ups and research teams.”
“This partnership reflects our shared belief that innovation knows no borders. By uniting the strengths of Canada and Hong Kong, we are enabling founders to access new markets, exchange knowledge, and build globally competitive companies. ventureLAB looks forward to collaborating with HKU SAN and the Smart City Consortium to unlock new possibilities and empower the next generation of world-changing innovators,” said Mr Hugh Chow, Chief Executive Officer of ventureLAB.
“Hong Kong technology companies possess innovative products and solutions but often face challenges in accessing overseas markets, navigating regulations, and establishing trustworthy local partnerships. Conversely, Canadian companies are eager to enter the vast Hong Kong, Chinese mainland (especially the Greater Bay Area) and South Asian markets, yet they encounter barriers related to understanding local regulations, competition, and the need for connections and localization. Together with the HKU Super Angel Network and ventureLAB, we aim to tackle these challenges and create new opportunities, driving growth for companies in both regions while expanding their market reach,” said Mr Gary Yeung, President of SCC.
ventureLAB is a prominent global founder community based in Canada, dedicated to helping companies create jobs, raise capital, and generate revenue. HKU SAN is a collective of alumni and supporters from HKU, united by a shared vision of bolstering the startup ecosystem. SCC is a non-governmental organiation committed to connecting professionals from various innovation and technology sectors in Hong Kong, while providing expert insights to the government on transforming Hong Kong into a world-class smart city.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms Lee/Ms Au at Smart City Consortium Secretariat
Tel（852）3480 4230 ; Email: info@smartcity.org.hk
Mr Ho / Ms Tsang at HKU Super Angel Network Secretariat
Tel（852）3910 2495; Email: angelnetwork@hku.hk
Introduction of the Three Signing Parties
The HKU Super Angel Network (SAN)
The HKU Super Angel Network (SAN) is a premier collective of alumni and supporters united by the vision of fortifying the HKU start-up ecosystem. Through a commitment to collaboration, investment, and mentorship, SAN endeavours to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs. Launched in March 2025, the network’s mission encompasses several pivotal objectives: facilitating the creation, funding, and scaling of promising HKU start-ups; leveraging the expertise and skills of its members to foster entrepreneurial growth; and establishing a dynamic angel investment ecosystem within Hong Kong.
ventureLAB Innovation Centre
ventureLAB is a leading global founder community for hardware technology and enterprise software companies in Canada. Located at the heart of Ontario’s innovation corridor in York Region, ventureLAB is part of one of the biggest and most diverse tech communities in Canada. Our initiatives focused on raising capital, talent retention, commercializing technology and IP, and customer acquisition have enabled thousands of companies to create over 7,100 jobs and raise more than CAD$480 million in investment capital. ventureLAB is powering HardTech founders to build and scale globally competitive ventures that advance Canada’s knowledge-based economy.
Smart City Consortium (SCC)
Inaugurated in 2015, Smart City Consortium is a non-profit organization striving to connect professionals from diverse innovation and technology sectors across Hong Kong to offer expert insights to the government for building Hong Kong into a world-class smart city. We encourage worldwide collaboration with different stakeholders to create the right ecosystem which fosters innovation and sustainable economic growth for Hong Kong.
