青協「世界青年創業論壇2024」正式揭幕

由香港青年協會主辦，一連三站於香港、澳門及佛山順德舉行的旗艦活動「世界青年創業論壇2024」，今天（14日）假香港生產力大樓隆重揭幕。今年論壇以「AI 新浪潮·新契機」為主題，吸引超過300位世界各地的創業青年、天使投資者、行業專家及商界精英出席，與優秀創業家和社會領袖分享人工智能（AI）的新興趨勢、創新應用及傳統產業轉型等熱門議題，並促進跨界別合作，探討AI技術如何重塑各行各業，為青年創業家開啟嶄新機遇。

出席啟動儀式的嘉賓包括立法會議員黃錦輝教授、創新科技及工業局副數字政策專員（數字基建）張宜偉、民政及青年事務局首席助理秘書長（青年事務）賴雪芬、前海服務集團有限公司黨委書記、董事長陳衛、順德和創公益基金會秘書長葉韻琦、Bat-Orshikh Erdenebat, Chief Advisor, Development Solutions NGO，以及大橫琴股份（香港）有限公司綜合發展總監謝嘉恩等。

During the first session, which focused on the new business opportunities presented by AI, Ir Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, mentioned that the Hong Kong government has allocated HK$3 billion in usage fees to Cyberport to support research and development (R&D) and industry applications of AI, aiming to establish a robust AI ecosystem in the city. This initiative encourages participation from startups to leverage expertise in addressing social challenges.

Fred Sheu, National Technology Officer at Microsoft Hong Kong, underpinned the importance of AI governance in business, noting that while AI technologies have evolved, their integration into organizations remains critical. In recognition of this need, Microsoft actively collaborates with organizations such as the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Cyberport to assist businesses in applying AI technology effectively and mitigating associated risks. “We are thrilled to empower local startups engaged with these services to embed AI models into their operations to capitalize on new business opportunities,” he shared. Dr Leo Ma, Dean of the Deloitte AI Institute (Hong Kong), then further highlighted the necessity for companies to adopt AI technology and governance to ensure the proper use of AI/GenAI models and data, addressing potential bias and responsibility. This is vital for protecting the reputation of end users and companies.

In the second session titled ‘The Smart Future for Entrepreneurs,’ experts emphasized the critical role of leveraging AI for future success, noting that survival in the evolving business landscape increasingly depends on it. Panelists shared insights on effectively employing AI while ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations.

Michael Yung, Strategy advisor at Google Cloud, underscored Google’s commitment to assisting local startups and enterprises in implementing technologies to drive innovation. With the use of AI becoming ubiquitous, there is a stronger emphasis on developing solutions that tackle real-world challenges with AI technology. He noted that understanding how to effectively utilize AI—beyond basic applications like emails and presentations—is crucial for Hong Kong entrepreneurs. “Google offers structured learning programs like Google Career Certificates, covering diverse topics, from data analytics to AI and machine learning under the latest Google AI Essentials, equipping learners with in-demand skills for navigating today’s tech landscape. While many online resources exist, formal courses provide the foundational skills necessary to thrive in the tech-driven economy,” said Yung.

為鼓勵青年深入了解和學習數碼技能，Google與香港青年協會第三年合作推出「Google Career Certificates 智慧數碼人才計劃」，為 500 位有需要的青年和學生提供助學金，免費修讀 Google Career Certificates 專業證書課程，今年新增Google AI Essentials，冀培育更多本地數碼人才，幫助他們成就解鎖。

另外，論壇特設生成式AI工作坊，由Amazon Web Services提供實用技能、技術及概念，參與青年更可半價考取AWS Certified AI Practitioner 認證，增強個人競爭力。論壇另一項目「創投路演」，8支來自本地初創團隊將施展渾身解數，向世界各地的投資者及專家介紹自己的創業點子，展示香港的初創力量。

為期5天的論壇將移師至澳門（15至16日）及佛山順德（21至22日），讓青年創業家深入了解粵港澳大灣區的商業發展機遇。本港部分創業青年於第29屆澳門國際貿易投資展覽會，透過參與配對活動及一會兩地等形式，促進知識共享、商業合作和經濟發展。

青協於2014年首次舉辦「世界青年創業論壇」，超過33個國家及地區逾6,000位青年曾經參與活動，與全球青年建立聯繫。今年論壇由香港青年協會主辦；前海深港青年夢工場、順德和創公益基金會以及Youth Business Mongolia為主要贊助，活動內容可瀏覽網站sic.hkfyg.org.hk/gyef.