# Interview questions (Prof. Martin Wong)

## Background

### 1. Can you briefly talk about your background and your research focus?

-

### 2. Are you currently collaborating with any overseas corporates or startups on innovation or R&D projects? If yes, could you explain further?

- Currently, we are collaborating with many overseas companies such as Cadence, Synopsys, and TSMC.

## Emerging trends and focus areas for Hong Kong

### 3. In your opinion, what are the emerging trends or technologies in the microelectronics/semiconductor industry? Is there any particular sub-sector or area that Hong Kong is strong in?

- 3D IC, quantum computer, hardware cores for emerging AI algorithms (AI semiconductor).
- cloud
- safety-related electronics systems (e.g. for automotive)

### 4. What are the biggest strengths and shortcomings of Hong Kong along the microelectronics/semiconductor value chain? (E.g. materials, design, manufacturing, assembly, application)

- Strength:
- Hong Kong’s electronics industry is the territory’s largest merchandise export earner, accounting for 71.8% of total exports in 2020.
- Hong Kong is an important trading hub for electronic parts and components in Asia‑Pacific.
- Hong Kong’s chip design capabilities will likely be in high demand as the Greater Bay Area further develops smart infrastructure and as the city positions itself as a hub for innovation and technology, according to a leading Hong Kong research engineer.
- an international city, briding China and oversea.

- Shortcoming:
- The global semiconductor value chain is highly specialized today, with different countries focusing on different segments based on their comparative advantages. If many countries attempt to establish their domestic semiconductor supply chain encompassing all segments, it could result in lower efficiency and higher costs in the long run.
- Most Hong Kong manufacturers have relocated their production facilities to mainland China to reduce cost. Their setups in Hong Kong are largely classified as non‑manufacturing establishments statistically, despite the fact that they have manufacturing activities across the border.

### 5. What are some of the strong academic or R&D achievement that Hong Kong has realised in the microelectronics/semiconductor sector?

- Hong Kong has a long research history on semiconductor design automation from traditional physical implementation algorithm development to emerging AI-aided EDA. Hong Kong has many piorneering insistutes that bring AI technologies to chip design automation, resulting in many publication in prestigious venues. A tremendous amount of Hong Kong research outcomes have been prototyped and deployed in industry.

## Attracting overseas microelectronics/semiconductor companies to set up business in Hong Kong

### 6. Ingeneral, how would you comment on the trend of foreign companies or startups setting up office / R&D base in Hong Kong the past few years? What is the key driver behind this trend?

- Under the wave of digital transformation, the business is craved for technology to increase efficiency and reduce costs. The top priorities for Hong Kong enterprise are driving operational efficiencies and improving customer experience. In order to achieve their goal, the enterprise is willing to try and adopt new technologies from startup which in turn provide startup companies plenty of opportunity to grow.

### 7. What are the biggest attractiveness and shortcomings of Hong Kong as a destination for foreign companies or startups setting up office / R&D base in Hong Kong? What are the key hurdles for them?

- attractiveness
- The advantage of Hong Kong has in enabling startups to access overseas markets. Hong Kong’s advantage in market accessibility gives us a vital foundation for business development and scalability.

- Hong Kong government also have put effort in increasing resources for R&D, pooling together technology talent, providing investment funding, providing technological research infrastructure.

- hurdles
- switching cost: companies value stability

- high labor cost: increasing job opportunities and slow population growth -> higher labor cost

### 8. How has Hong Kong been supporting foreign companies or startups setting up innovation & technology business or R&D activities in Hong Kong? (e.g. policy, funding, infrastructure such as R&D facilities)

- Government’s strong commitment to Innovation and Technology indeed sets a good foundation and environment, via different policies and funding schemes. And there are many organizations such as HKSTP that provide supports to startups throughout the journey through many programs, from idealization to commercialization and expansion so as to bring our technology to the market and scale our business.

### 9. In order to attract more foreign companies or startups setting up office/R&D base in Hong Kong, what kind of support and resource do you think Hong Kong should provide to them?

- Entering or expanding to a new market always takes courage, commitment and strategic planning. Essential knowledge and services for business and R&D base setup as well as incentives would be of great help. It is also helpful for those companies and startups to know in advance where and how they can get connected with the local T&D talents, facilities and partners out there so they can have more confidence in the readiness and sustainability of building their development and growth in HK.

### 10. In your opinion, what could be done further to flourish the Hong Kong I&T ecosystem?

- More incentives to motivate local young R&D talents to choose a career path in I&T, as well as to attract talents globally so that we have the talent pool ready for more companies to choose HK as their R&D hub