Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) have formed a strategic collaboration that will seek to develop a strong Innovation and Technology (I&T) system in Hong Kong.

The firms will launch a suite of programs focused on four key pillars: Research and Development, Technology Simulation, Co-incubation, and Talent and Culture Cultivation.

“HKSTP and AWS have been working closely for years in supporting high potential tech ventures to innovate, succeed and grow faster,” said HKSTP chief executive Albert Wong.

“We have witnessed the surging demand from businesses on cloud computing knowledge and innovation technologies.

“This partnership combines the scale and technology expertise of AWS, the undisputed cloud innovation leader, as well as HKSTP’s R&D, incubation and commercialisation capabilities accumulated over the past 20 years, to accelerate the development of Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem while firmly establishing the city’s status as a global innovation hub.”

The partnership will allow HKSTP to join the AWS Open Data Sponsorship Program in support of local research teams to share and analyse datasets from around the world, while improving efficiency and saving costs and time.

The collaboration will also see continued support for start-ups, particularly in the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) space, and will provide technical training in biotechnology and AI for “homegrown” IT businesses such as InnoHK clusters and enterprises.

AWS and HKSTP will also create a ‘train-the-trainer’ program using AWS’s Robomaker to assist developers in testing robotics solutions with efficient simulations in virtual 3D environments.

“AWS is always committed to supporting the digital transformation of enterprises of all scales in Hong Kong,” said Robert Wang, managing director of AWS Hong Kong & Taiwan.

“Since 2014, AWS and HKSTP have been working together on a number of cloud programs and [training]. We are pleased to deepen our relationship with HKSTP and jointly address the various challenges the city faces in terms of talent, innovation, and technology commercialisation.”