HKEX Insight

In a leap that has the potential to reshape cancer care as we know it, a leading biotech firm has developed a treatment to both identify cancer cells and help the body fight them better. This dual-mechanism therapy targets tumours long considered untreatable, and early clinical data shows promising results across multiple cancer types. Now, trials of this treatment are expanding across continents, advancing the field of immuno-oncology in the process.

As the global appetite for AI accelerates, so does the strain on the infrastructure powering it. A Chinese tech company is rising to meet this challenge with compact and liquid-cooled server clusters designed for AI workloads. These systems improve energy efficiency, but are pitched at an entry-level price point that sets them apart from other options on the market today, making them accessible for small businesses, remote sites and industrial environments that need AI capabilities but don’t have the budget or space for large, expensive data centre hardware.

Sandstorms can blur vision in the Qatari desert, but that’s no problem for the autonomous luggage vehicles now gliding across the tarmac of Hamad International Airport. Developed by a Beijing-based tech startup, these vehicles mark a milestone in AI-powered mobility: a system that sees, thinks and acts without human intervention, even in the harshest conditions. This innovation can boost automation, increase operational efficiency and enhance safety, paving the way for a future where intelligent machines are a larger part of everyday life.

As EVs gain traction worldwide, innovation under the hood is also accelerating. The latest leap in engineering recently emerged from a leading EV firm in China, which created an integrated electric drive unit that boosts energy efficiency by 15% and cuts system weight by 20%. Developing an electric drive unit isn’t new, but this kind of lighter, cleaner and stronger unit puts this company in the top tier of the world’s fast-growing, fiercely competitive EV market.

In the race to accelerate pharmaceutical research and development, a new AI-powered platform is rewriting the rules of drug discovery. This breakthrough is a world-first because it makes it possible to predict the structures of complex proteins directly from genetic data using AI, then develop them using autonomous robotic systems before testing them rapidly for efficacy. This advancement is not just a win for science; it is a hopeful signal for patients worldwide awaiting faster, more targeted treatments.

Lithium’s supremacy as an EV battery component has gone unchallenged – until now. A new kind of sodium-ion battery recently released by a Chinese tech firm offers a scalable, fast-charging and mass-market-ready alternative built from more abundant and accessible materials. It reaches an 80% charge in just 14 minutes, slashes fire risk and dramatically reduces reliance on scarce resources.

Streaming no longer has to stall. In 2025, a Chinese tech firm launched a groundbreaking AI-powered video compression technology that shrinks files without compromising quality. This solution is highly scalable, meaning smoother streams and lower costs for users, and reduced transmission and storage expenses for platforms. It’s also a win for the planet, as this technology reduces energy demands from streaming.

These advances are reshaping narratives, disrupting industries and creating technology breakthroughs that hold a wealth of possibilities.

In this exciting era with new generations of companies in the forefront, HKEX’s progressive listing regime, comprehensive fundraising capabilities and extensive product ecosystem have a crucial role to play in connecting capital with ideas, and powering even more waves of innovation in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Asia and the world.

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