Drone tech brings new opportunities

May 4, 2025

Innovative solutions:

Kun Li’s company is one of the participants in the first batch of low-altitude economy Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects and is working with a construction firm to apply drone inspections for site safety.

Opportunities ahead:

Mr Li says Hong Kong provides exceptional avenues for financing and a springboard for entering overseas markets.

Reaching businesses:

Invest Hong Kong Head of Innovation & Technology Andy Wong says it provides information and platforms for companies to explore business opportunities.

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Voiceover:

The rapid development of drone technology has led to broader applications in various industries. To unlock the low-altitude airspace as a new production factor for the development of Hong Kong economy, the Government has established the Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy to formulate development strategies and inter-departmental action plans regarding the trend.

Kun Li’s company is cashing in on the business opportunity as it set up a branch in Hong Kong, focusing primarily on the application of drone technology in areas such as urban management and inspection.

This self-docking and charging drone station is their flagship product. The company hopes it can be used by all kinds of drones in the future.

The company has also participated in the first batch of low-altitude economy Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects. It co-operates with a construction company to apply drone inspections for site safety.

Mr Li pointed out that Hong Kong’s rich natural landscape and high urban density offer a wide range of application scenarios for testing drone technology. In addition, he believes that as an international financial centre, the city provides some good avenues for financing and a springboard for promoting their products to overseas markets. Nonetheless, there are also challenges for drone technology development, including relevant policies and regulations.

Invest Hong Kong Head of Innovation & Technology Andy Wong believes that developing a low-altitude economy is beneficial to Hong Kong.

Invest Hong Kong Head of Innovation & Technology Andy Wong:

Definitely, it will help to increase our (development of) a Smart Hong Kong.

The second (benefit) is the logistics aspect. It can be for the goods. It can be for passengers. In particular for Hong Kong, we have many outlying islands and also, we are developing the Northern Metropolis. So that definitely will be a good application environment for using the drones for the delivery (purpose).

Hong Kong is developing into an international innovation and technology hub.

Hong Kong is very strong in artificial intelligence, strong in communication, strong in battery design, etc. So, we can make use (of) the low-altitude economy to further enhance our innovation and technology development in Hong Kong.

(The) last (benefit) is creating new jobs and also new business models.

Voiceover:

The Government has introduced a number of policies and measures to promote the development of a low-altitude economy. Invest Hong Kong, on the other hand, provides platforms for companies to explore business opportunities.

Invest Hong Kong Head of Innovation & Technology Andy Wong:

We provide all the information about Hong Kong’s regulations. And then by the time they set up their office in Hong Kong, we help them to promote the company and products.

For example, in the coming June, on the 27th, we will have a low-altitude economy seminar. The purpose for having this seminar is that we want to attract different ecosystem partners, to get together to have an up-to-date understanding about what is happening.

Voiceover:

Mr Wong also highlighted that Hong Kong has a rich talent pool and a robust and efficient financial market. He believes these are the key advantages that attract companies related to low-altitude economy to set up operations in Hong Kong.

As drone technology continues to advance, its application is expanding across various sectors, including logistics, aerial photography, industrial inspections and more.

In response to the growing potential of the low-altitude economy (LAE), the Government has established the Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy to formulate development strategies and inter-departmental action plans regarding the trend.

The Government announced the first batch of 38 low-altitude economy Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects earlier and some of them are commencing progressively. They cover various fields and application scenarios such as emergency and rescue, drone delivery, inspection and safety maintenance, surveillance and low-altitude infrastructure.

Business springboard

Kun Li’s company is one of the participants in the first batch of pilot projects. It set up a branch in Hong Kong last year, focusing primarily on the application of drone technology in areas such as urban management and inspection. Their flagship product is a self-docking and charging drone station. The company hopes it can be used by all kinds of drones in the future.

As part of the pilot project, the company joined forces with a construction company to apply drone inspections for site safety.

Mr Li pointed out that Hong Kong, with its unique combination of rich natural landscapes and high-density urban development, offers diverse scenarios for testing drone technology. He also believes Hong Kong’s status and function as an international financial centre, provides exceptional avenues for financing and a springboard for promoting their products to overseas markets.

Nonetheless, Mr Li acknowledged there are challenges for drone technology development in the city, including relevant policies and regulations.

Industry facilitation

Invest Hong Kong Head of Innovation & Technology Andy Wong believes that developing a low-altitude economy will bring significant benefits to Hong Kong's society and economy, including enhanced smart city management, and promoting innovation and technology development. He also noted that as an emerging industry, low-altitude economy-related business will create employment opportunities, such as for drone operators in the city.

In addition, Mr Wong highlighted that Hong Kong has a rich talent pool and a robust and efficient financial market which are the key advantages that attract low-altitude economy firms to set up operations in the city. Moreover, Invest Hong Kong has been providing platforms for companies to explore business opportunities.

Invest Hong Kong will hold a low-altitude economy seminar on June 27, inviting industry representatives and professionals to share their latest insights.