Next spotlight will be on cloud technology: Experts

Hong Kong is pushing forward cloud technology development and experts believe that the next stage of cloud development will see the ubiquity of cloud computerization and the internet of things (IoT).

Frank Cheung, chairman of Picowork (HK) Ltd, told the New Era of Cloud Computer Summit on Thursday the next core development of cloud technology is to popularize the usage of cloud computers and the IoT system.

However, he pointed out that just 1 percent of the population and 5 percent of institutions worldwide have the ability to develop cloud. In the past six years, Picowork have been working on the innovative cloud computer with the support of the SAR government.

Picowork is the first company in the world to launch the collaborative cloud computer and system in February this year, according to Cheung and, currently, they already have several clients using their service, including Chow Tai Fook. They would like to promote the product in Hong Kong and Taiwan first before stepping into the Chinese mainland market.

Justin Lin, chief technology officer of Picowork (HK) Ltd, said the key point of using the cloud platform to improve work efficiency is to

implement collaboration, along with the advent of big data and IoT.

The Hong Kong government has been pushing forward technology, having established the first government cloud platform in 2013, according to Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung.

Herman Lam Heungyeung, chief executive officer of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Co Ltd, said

Cyberport has formed a technology and innovation community of more than 900 enterprises with about 500 companies setting up offices in Cyberport. They include up to 400 startups and large corporations like Microsoft and IBM.

Last year, Hong Kong Cyberport Management launched an investment fund of HK$200 million to support innovative startups. The i ncubator has already

invested i n and nourished over 700 companies since.

Hong Kong Cyberport Management is wholly owned by the SAR government to manage the innovative digital community at Cyberport, focusing on building key clusters of digital technology, namely fintech, e-commerce, IoT and wearables, as well as big data and artificial i ntelligence, to turn Hong Kong into a “smart city”.