A delegation of 18 innovative tech startups led by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation actively sought partnerships and investors at VivaTech 2025, promoting the city’s strengths as a global hub with a prime location and international talent pool.
China’s newly appointed ambassador to France and Monaco, Deng Li, visited the Hong Kong pavilion at the exhibition in Paris, Europe’s largest startup and tech show, and praised its vibrant atmosphere while expressing confidence in Hong Kong’s bright future.
A startup in the exhibition was PointFit, which has developed a sweat sensor that detects muscle fatigue levels. Users simply need to attach an ultra-thin antibacterial nanofilm to their arm for monitoring. Paired with a mobile app, it provides real-time tracking of muscle fatigue and stress levels, helping athletes avoid overtraining while reducing the need for invasive blood tests.
Kenny Oktavius, co-founder and chief executive of PointFit, noted that approximately 5,400 marathon runners worldwide lose consciousness or even die during races each year, largely due to limitations in current continuous monitoring technologies that prevent athletes from getting real-time updates on their condition.
Currently, accurately assessing muscle fatigue requires blood tests, but PointFit’s sensor aims to solve this problem.
Oktavius said that while PointFit’s primary market is currently Asia, it plans to expand into Paris.
The company will sign a memorandum of understanding with Kinomap, an interactive indoor training app, enabling online fitness enthusiasts to monitor their physical condition – just like professional athletes – using PointFit’s product.
Additionally, the company connected with various professional sports teams during the exhibition, with the goal of having their technology adopted in marathons worldwide by 2027.
Ambassador Deng and his wife, Zhang Hua, toured the Hong Kong pavilion and engaged with the city’s innovators. Deng highlighted the growing collaboration between Hong Kong and France, believing it will even be more extensive in the future.
He stressed the need to help the French understand China and Hong Kong.
Roy Lim Long-hei, chief executive of Robocore Technology, demonstrated the company’s smart robot – temi – to Deng, who showed particular interest in its elderly care applications.
Lim explained how the robot assists seniors at home, including facilitating telemedicine services.
He noted that Deng praised the technology and hoped it could benefit not only China but also other aging societies with smaller populations.
Also joining the event were viAct, a Hong Kong born VR company specializing in AI-powered cloud-based monitoring platforms for construction site safety, as well as Orcauboat, a mainland provider of unmanned surface vessel systems from Shaanxi province.
Speaking at the city’s pavilion, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said he felt the vibrant energy of young entrepreneurs, the courage of startups, and the strong pursuit of innovation, describing this as the familiar spirit of Hong Kong.
(Staff reporter)
