Asia Pacific Region Innovation and Capacity Building Symposium 2023 Successfully Concluded

In the post-pandemic era, as global aviation regains momentum, Hong Kong is reclaiming its position as a leading international aviation hub. Leveraging its role as a super-conductor between the East and the West, the Civil Aviation Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) co-hosted the Asia Pacific Region Innovation & Capacity Building Symposium 2023 (APICS 2023) to foster innovation, technological development and capacity building of the civil aviation industry regionally and globally.

APICS 2023, an event co-hosted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD), and the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy, with support from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), successfully took place on December 14 and 15 at the AsiaWorld-Expo.

Under the theme “Uniting the Strength of Innovation for Building a Seamless Sky,” this flagship event attracted over 2,000 global aviation professionals from more than 35 states/administrations and regions. Among them were top leaders and experts from civil aviation authorities, air navigation service providers, airport operators, the aviation industry, as well as young talents.

With distinguished guests of honour officiating the opening ceremony, APICS 2023 marked the first collaboration in the region providing a platform for global aviation leaders to mutually reconnect, exchange ideas on innovation and capacity building for civil aviation, while also offering industry partners opportunities to brief their potential buyers, foster collaborations and expand their business networks. It also promoted interest of the young generation in the latest innovative technologies for civil aviation.

In the welcome speech, Deputy Financial Secretary of HKSARG Michael Wong Wai-lun, expressed his excitement for attending this prominent event. He highlighted the collaboration between AAHK and CAD in implementation of various smart digital initiatives at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). CAAC Deputy Administrator Cui Xiaofeng called for broader and deeper collaborations among various entities to seize the opportunities presented by the rapid development of technology. AAHK Chairman Jack So Chak-kwong pledged to maintain leadership positions of HKIA through various expansion and improvement projects, including the Three-Runway System, SkyCity and Premium Logistics Centre etc.

CAD Director-General of Civil Aviation, Victor Liu Chi-yung, in his keynote speech, encouraged participants to take full advantage of the event to strengthen collaborations, emphasizing the significance of global collaboration and innovation in building a “Seamless Sky” for civil aviation, aligning with the ICAO’s initiative of “No Country Left Behind”.
About 25 industry heavyweights gathered at APICS 2023 to share their insights in 15 thematic forums including three expert panels on topics, viz : “Innovation in Sky - Air Navigation Service”, “Innovation on Ground - Airport Operations,” and “Capacity Building for Civil Aviation Workforce.”

APICS 2023 provided an excellent forum for strengthening cooperation on innovative technologies and capacity building with more than 25 organisations and institutes exchanging their collaborative agreements on stage under the witness by guests of honour and participants. It also provided exhibition which featured participation from some 60 globally renowned exhibitors from Mainland China, local and overseas, showcasing the latest cutting-edge technologies to fast track development of the civil aviation industry.

Among the showcases, breakthrough in video analytics with artificial intelligence (VA-AI) are prominent and advanced technologies that could bring civil aviation to a new height. One representative application of such technologies is the Digital Apron and Tower Management System at HKIA, which won the 2023 Technology Innovation Awards of the Airports Council International. Local technology pioneering companies such as Golden Wealth Technology demonstrated their VA-AI algorithm that could greatly enhance efficiency and accuracy in detection of intrusion of foreign objects into the runway at HKIA.  Aerovision Technology showcased their patented VA-AI thermal detection system which would further enhance safety and reliability of cargo inspection, mitigating potential fire risks for transport of cargo, especially e-commence items, by air.

APICS 2023 was successfully concluded after two fruitful days.  Participants, exhibitors and speakers were highly satisfied with the event outcomes.  In particular, exhibitors have expressed that the event had far exceeded their expectation with abundant opportunities for collaborations and business matching.

The Managing Director of Chinney Alliance Engineering Limited, Mr KK Wong, said “APICS 2023 served an excellent forum for gathering top leaders to keep themselves abreast of the latest technological development and for companies to showcase their technologies. For Chinney, we are introducing a “flying car”, which is round the corner. Besides, many exhibitors are eager to join the upcoming event of such kind to be hosted in Hong Kong in the near future”.  The Global Sales Director of Air Traffic Management of Indra, Mr Enrique Castillo, said “I would like to congratulate APICS 2023. It has earned a great success.  It provided an excellent platform to demonstrate our innovative technologies and attracted our potential customers for business matching.  I look forward to supporting similar events in the future in Hong Kong.”

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