Local start-ups are indispensable for business to take off

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Written by: Commentary Editing Room

2020-10-26 06:30

Last update date: 2020-10-26 06:30

To develop Hong Kong’s future innovation and technology, the government’s role in revising outdated laws and providing scientific research resources is irreplaceable. While start-ups that have the courage to explore new ideas are the vanguard, traditional companies also need to play an important role. In addition to borrowing In addition to investing in research and development, it is also necessary to be willing to cooperate and exchange technology with start-ups in order to promote the healthy development of the industry.

In recent months, local telecommunications companies and start-ups have cooperated with start-ups to bid for the real-time arrival information system contract of the green minibus route, which can be said to be a good example of this development model.

Yuan Luoheng (first from left), Xu Zhuoliang (middle) and Zeng Baijian (first from right) spent more than a year developing a real-time minibus arrival system.

(Photo by Luo Junhao)

College students use technology to help smart travel

In the 2018 Policy Address, the government proposed to launch a data collection system and mobile phone application for private minibuses in 2022 to help passengers obtain real-time arrival information, share and analyze data, and improve operators' operating standards.

In September of this year, the Transport Department announced that it had awarded a contract to Hong Kong Telecom for the purchase of a "Procurement and Management, Operation and Maintenance Dedicated Minibus Real-time Arrival Information System". The related work of the system will be under the jurisdiction of Hong Kong Telecom, Octopus Corporation and Science Park. Under the cooperation of SOCIF start-ups.

It is not surprising that large telecommunications companies and e-payment providers have won bids for government projects, but it is a big surprise that start-ups can participate.

As early as 2006 to 2008, the government tried to collect minibus driving data but failed. Later, the three founders of the University of Science and Technology decided to develop a real-time car information mobile program to complete the government, considering that a lot of time wasted waiting for minibuses in their studies. For tasks that are considered impossible, their aggressive mentality of using technology to solve problems in their own lives is undoubtedly worthy of praise.

The business community should provide more opportunities for experimentation

At this point, the participation of operators becomes very important, because the plan will be difficult to advance without practical case support.

Fortunately, the student team got in touch with one of the minibus operators through friends, and through the other party arranged one of the minibus lines to do a trial.

The management of this minibus operator supports them because they realize that the program is good for managing the fleet and will help expand the business in the long run.

Hong Kong is a modern cosmopolitan city, but the supporting facilities for smart cities seem to lag behind.

In this case, a large company did not choose to develop original technology on its own, but cooperated with a local start-up company, reflecting that the latter's technology and strength were mature and affirmed by it, and I believe it can lay a boost for other start-up companies.

At the same time, start-ups can also absorb the experience of implementing government projects from large enterprises, which will help them to undertake and promote more external projects in the future and to commercialize their own scientific research results.

Of course, if you want to promote the growth of start-ups, you still need the support of the entire science and innovation ecosystem.

SOCIF first obtained a small grant from the University Entrepreneurship Fund, and later became the incubation company of the Science Park. In addition to successfully ensuring a relatively inexpensive office, it also received assistance from the park in raising funds, R&D and marketing.

We often lament that the stagnation of Hong Kong's innovation and technology is due to the lack of talents, and the government only actively attracts elites. However, the real-time arrival information system of minibuses proves that there is no shortage of new blood that is willing to improve the lives of citizens through scientific research.

On the other hand, the technical support and vision of business, academia, and training institutions are also very important.

Without the help of minibus operators, telecommunications companies, universities and science parks at different times, this start-up might still be struggling to survive.

Maybe the ideas of start-up entrepreneurs can solve the long-term problems of traditional enterprises.

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