Hong Kong is doubling down on outward business mobility, sending its largest technology delegation yet to Barcelona for Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026. In a joint statement issued on 24 February 2026, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) said they will showcase 21 startups and research institutes at the four-day expo, with a parallel presence at “4 Years From Now”, MWC’s innovation platform. The delegation covers med-tech, fintech, AI, robotics and sustainable-materials companies, many of which are eyeing European licensing deals or R&D partnerships. HKSTP CEO Albert Wong noted that the group will leverage Hong Kong Science Park’s new Shenzhen branch to offer prospective partners a “two-way springboard” into both the EU and the Greater Bay Area—an increasingly attractive proposition after China streamlined foreign-researcher entry rules last December.
![HKSTP and HKTDC lead 21-company delegation to Mobile World Congress 2026]()
Whether you’re a startup founder flying out with the delegation or a European executive planning a follow-up trip to Hong Kong, VisaHQ can cut through the red tape. The platform provides fast, end-to-end visa facilitation services and real-time updates on Hong Kong’s business-entry policies, all accessible at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
Beyond exhibitions, a Hong Kong-Spain investment forum and curated B2B meetings will give founders fast-track access to telecom carriers and venture funds. Participating firms are eligible for HKTDC’s buck-for-buck “GoGBA” travel grants, which cover 50 percent of airfare and freight costs; organisers say this financial support has expanded the pool of SMEs able to join global trade fairs post-pandemic. Industry observers point out that such outbound missions are pivotal to Hong Kong’s talent narrative. Showcasing innovators abroad helps convince overseas engineers that the city offers international exposure comparable to Singapore while retaining the advantage of frictionless cross-border commuting to Shenzhen’s manufacturing ecosystem. If the delegation lands anchor customers, it could translate into inward mobility as well: under the Technology Talent Admission Scheme, foreign specialists hired by HKSTP-incubated firms enjoy two-week visa processing and streamlined dependent passes, turning trade-fair leads into full-time relocation opportunities.
Whether you’re a startup founder flying out with the delegation or a European executive planning a follow-up trip to Hong Kong, VisaHQ can cut through the red tape. The platform provides fast, end-to-end visa facilitation services and real-time updates on Hong Kong’s business-entry policies, all accessible at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/
Beyond exhibitions, a Hong Kong-Spain investment forum and curated B2B meetings will give founders fast-track access to telecom carriers and venture funds. Participating firms are eligible for HKTDC’s buck-for-buck “GoGBA” travel grants, which cover 50 percent of airfare and freight costs; organisers say this financial support has expanded the pool of SMEs able to join global trade fairs post-pandemic. Industry observers point out that such outbound missions are pivotal to Hong Kong’s talent narrative. Showcasing innovators abroad helps convince overseas engineers that the city offers international exposure comparable to Singapore while retaining the advantage of frictionless cross-border commuting to Shenzhen’s manufacturing ecosystem. If the delegation lands anchor customers, it could translate into inward mobility as well: under the Technology Talent Admission Scheme, foreign specialists hired by HKSTP-incubated firms enjoy two-week visa processing and streamlined dependent passes, turning trade-fair leads into full-time relocation opportunities.
