Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has reinforced its commitment to strengthening the city’s innovation and technology talent pipeline with the successful conclusion of the “Reimagine AI+” Career Fair 2026—an event where ambitious young talent, visionary startup founders, and industry leaders converged under one roof with artificial intelligence as a shared focus.
Alongside the fair, HKSTP unveiled Talent Foundry 2.0, an expanded talent development programme that reaches beyond students to early‑career professionals, following strong positive feedback from both corporations and soon-to-graduate students. “Most working professionals possess foundational skills but face challenges when transitioning into the innovation and technology (I&T) sector.” said Ms. Fanny Wong, Chief Talent Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) at the event. The initiative offers industry aligned development activities ranging from hard skills upgrade to entrepreneurship exposure to strengthen workplace readiness. “We are also looking for collaboration with corporations from the Greater Bay Area and beyond.”
The career-readiness bootcamp of Talent Foundry provides participants with intensive, industry-focused activities that bridge the gap between learning and practice. Through structured bootcamp activities and engagement with leading technology enterprises, students gain concrete exposure to industry tools and workflows to diversify their I&T career options. A recent graduate Matthew Li’s experience highlights the programme’s impact: “I completed 100 bootcamp hours with trainers, mentors and technology giants. A two day workshop with industry leaders was the most memorable—I gained in depth insight into current industry trends and machine learning, and developed both technical and soft skills needed to work effectively.” Matthew’s proactivity and keen participation in the bootcamp have led him to a full-time job at MMSTAR Technologies. His story underscores how the comprehensive bootcamp translates into workplace relevant competencies.
The "Reimagine AI+" career fair attracted more than 3,000 visits, featured over 80 companies and startups from HKSTP’s community, and showcased over 1,000 job openings across four strategic industry pillars: Life and Health Technology, AI and Smart Technology, Advanced Manufacturing and Microelectronics, and Green Technology. The AI+ theme reinforced the city’s strategic push toward AI industrialisation and cross border collaboration.
A newly introduced activity at this year's event, “Career Hack & Match” offers employers a dynamic new way to understand candidates’ practical skills. The sessions placed applicants alongside 20 park companies to address short, company specific challenges in a more creative and interactive environment. Applicants were provided with a platform to showcase their problem solving, communication and teamwork abilities—alongside a valuable opportunity to experience startup culture firsthand. By observing candidates working on real tasks, employers gained immediate insight into qualities that résumés alone cannot convey. These hands on challenges accelerate hiring decisions and generate tangible outcomes for both parties.
By aligning targeted training, mentorship, and direct employer engagement, HKSTP is helping shorten the time it takes for new hires to become productive, while supporting startups in scaling with vetted talent. Initiatives such as the “Reimagine AI+” Career Fair and the Talent Foundry programme also contribute to broader policy goals around AI industrialisation. HKSTP leadership views these efforts as foundational steps toward building a global talent network, with outreach extending to the Greater Bay Area and beyond to create wider placement opportunities.
For the innovation and technology community, the benefits are clear: candidates gain relevant skills and visibility, while startups and corporations gain access to work-ready talent and practical solutions. Together, these initiatives mark meaningful progress toward AI industrialization and stronger cross-border innovation ties, offering effective stepping stones into the region’s rapidly growing I&T landscape.
