Southern Finance 南方财经全媒体

In the public perception, surgeons are often seen as calm and rational. However, Prof. Philip Chiu, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, who has been immersed in traditional Chinese painting since his childhood, possesses a deeply sentimental and romantic character. His imagination was ignited by Star Trek, a classic science-fiction series, with his youthful aspirations set on boldly going "where no one has gone before". Echoing the words of Pablo Picasso, he believes that "Everything you can imagine is real". "Overall, in the field of surgery, minimally invasive and robotic surgery are undoubtedly the most important directions for development. I have also observed an increasing trend towards early diagnosis and treatment, such as colorectal cancer screening being carried out in Hong Kong. The future direction will definitely require more effort in the treatment of early-stage cancer. Therefore, flexible robots may become the most important direction for development in the next 10 to 20 years," he said . Regarding the future of surgical robots, Prof. Chiu said that AI systems will be able to provide doctors with precise auxiliary diagnosis and surgical advice, forming an "Iron Man" style of human-robot collaboration. "By collecting a vast amount of surgical imagery and engaging in deep learning, AI can take on the role of a doctor with decades of rich surgical experience, providing surgical advice to younger doctors. For instance, AI can analyze in real time the most suitable position for making an incision, thereby enhancing the safety of the surgery," he told us. Read: https://lnkd.in/eVEyqkhC CUHK Medicine

"An SDM(Structural Diagnostic Method）study from a year and a half ago showed that for many emerging markets, it is crucial to start with reforms that prioritize the removal of the most binding constraints on growth. Things like governance, business regulation, external sector reform, and competition reforms all have significant effects and can help pave the way for other reforms to boost growth," Jean-Marc Natal, deputy chief of the World Economic Studies Division at International Monetary Fund's Research Department stated in the interview with us. "So first comes stabilization, and in parallel, structural reforms will boost growth in these economies." When talking about China's economic outlook, Jean-Marc Natal emphasized that China has performed well in exports, but to achieve sustained economic growth, it still needs to further activate domestic demand and boost the real estate market. Read： https://lnkd.in/g_G5uqdK

Hong Kong boasts a sound legal and regulatory framework that is continually evolving, not only for financial technology itself but also for venture capital investments in fintech and other startups. Jochen Biedermann, Managing Director of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC), said in an interview with us during the rencent Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024. "I think the environment is doing good for fintech development," Bidderman stressed. In response to certain criticisms regarding Hong Kong's position as an international financial hub, Biedermann, a frequent visitor to the region, strongly endorsed Hong Kong's distinctive advantages. He asserted that the role of an international financial center is a longstanding tradition for Hong Kong, acting as a gateway to the mainland by facilitating the influx of international capital and assisting in its investment in the mainland through mechanisms such as stock and bond connect programs, investment funds, and direct investments, among others.   Looking forward, he believes Hong Kong should leverage its established fintech ecosystem to enhance the growth of fintech enterprises and promote the expansion of unicorns in the fintech sector into mainland and international markets. Finoverse #HFTW24

“It is very obvious that the launch of Jakarta-Bandung high speed train  (or known as WHOOSH) has been successfully accelerating mobility  and tourism in Indonesia. ” Ben Perkasa Drajat, Ph.D., Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Guangzhou, said in an interview with us. On October 17, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, a hallmark of China-Indonesia collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative, officially celebrated its first year of operation. This railway marks the inaugural deployment of China's high-speed rail system in its entirety, encompassing all components and the complete industrial chain, beyond its borders. It stands as the first high-speed railway in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Over the past year, the passenger traffic on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail has demonstrated a robust growth trajectory, garnering acclaim from various stakeholders. Ben Perkasa Drajat also noted that within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, the two nations have partnered and executed various projects, including the aforementioned Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway. He anticipates further collaboration between China and Indonesia in additional sectors for mutual advantage. Looking ahead, there are numerous potential areas to explore and foster cooperation in the digital and green economies, as both countries have distinct priorities to pursue. Read: https://lnkd.in/gv5jPJdW

UNESCO held the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona, Spain in April. Prior to the conference, approximately 6,000 ocean scientists submitted applications, but only 1,500 spots were available. "It was such an indication of the level of interest now that exists around ocean science, thanks to the UN Decade of Ocean Science," Peter Thomson, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean, told us. He believes that there is more finance and more attention now being given to ocean science than ever before in human history, yet knowledge about the ocean is very deficient. Therefore, there is an increased need for support from various public communication media and platforms. One of the most anticipated events in the global "ocean community" is undoubtedly the 2025 (third session) UN Ocean Conference, which will be held in Nice, France. Thomson noted that the blue economy and finance will also be one of the important topics at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. "A lot of work is being put in new ways of funding all this work that we need to do around the ocean, not just on the marine protection side, but also on the economic development." UN Ocean Decade

"The rapid launch of the 'Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme 2.0' is undoubtedly a delightful surprise for the entire industry," Sally Wong, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association told us at an exclusive interview during the Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024 on October 29.   Sally Wong noted that the "Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme 2.0" has garnered immense popularity among investors since its inception, evidenced by a notable surge in participation within a brief time, underscoring the robust demand for overseas investments and asset allocation.   As the decade-long milestone of financial market interconnection between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong is marked, the market eagerly awaits further optimization measures. Sally Wong proposed the initiation of a pilot program that would allow practitioners from both regions to offer investment services, including product recommendations, in each other's markets.   Addressing the challenge of non-reciprocal licensing for personnel across the border, Sally Wong expressed optimism for potential limited advancements in the future. These could include the issuance of targeted licenses and the implementation of registration systems facilitated by industry institutions. Such measures would, to some extent, empower licensed Hong Kong agents in making recommendations in the Chinese mainland, while similarly enabling mainland products to be promoted in Hong Kong within a defined scope. Read: https://lnkd.in/gApCpAav Finoverse #HFTW24

"We want to see the railroad network developed and connected to the Air Silk Road. That connectivity is going to be very important for the future because I think there are already well-developed trade lanes that have been created in the field of shipping and aviation. The missing component now is the railway," said Tarek Sultan, CEO of Agility, a global integrated logistics provider, in an interview with the 21st Century Business Herald during the SuperBridge Summit 2024. In October, flights between China and Dubai operated by Emirates and Air China became exceptionally crowded, with business class often fully booked. The substantial influx of individuals and commercial activities drawn by the Canton Fair and Gitex Global, both commencing in October, played a crucial role. Additionally, the growing economic and trade relations between China and the Middle East have further enhanced the demand for these air routes. Tarek Sultan said that doing business in the Middle East requires cross-border transportation. Therefore, the Gulf Cooperation Council is modernizing customs regulations and actively promoting railway infrastructure development. He hopes the Middle East will focus on railway development and connect with China's Belt and Road Initiative. Read:https://lnkd.in/gYHmc6Fs

As the U.S. economy experiences steady but moderated growth, understanding the drivers of recent shifts is critical. Inflation is edging closer to the Federal Reserve's 2% target, and the latest GDP data for the third quarter shows a 2.8% growth rate, slightly below expectations. Meanwhile, the PCE price index, a key inflation measure, recorded a 2.1% increase year-over-year in September. October's employment report, impacted by recent hurricanes, showed the U.S. added just 12,000 jobs—the final snapshot of the labor market before election day—while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%. These indicators underscore a stable yet cautious economic outlook as the Fed considers future interest rate adjustments in a complex global context. In this interview with us, Dean Baker, Senior Economist and Co-Founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, shares insights into the prospects for inflation, GDP growth, and labor market dynamics leading into the election period. His analysis sheds light on how these economic indicators could shape the Fed’s approach and what may lie ahead for the U.S. economy. Full Interview: https://lnkd.in/gPHH-mQC

"Product capability is the most critical factor for Chinese robotics companies venturing abroad. In addition to product capability, these companies must also establish their brand advantages and distribution networks."Felix Zhang, founder of Pudu Robotics, told us in the latest episode of #HKTechInnoWave. On June 28, 2024, Pudu Robotics officially announced the establishment of its Global R&D Center and International Operation Headquarter in Hong Kong, to be located in the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP). The global R&D center will leverage local talent resources and focus on the integration of AI and diverse robotic forms including both humanoid and semi-humanoid. Zhang highlighted that the choice stemmed mainly from the area's abundant talent and research potential. Pudu can leverage its advantages alongside the industrial, academic, and research assets of the Hong Kong SAR. In light of the new industrialization trend in Hong Kong, the company seeks to promote continuous technological advancements and innovations in the service robotics field, thereby supporting the sustainable growth of the industry ecosystem. Zhang's entrepreneurial path has transitioned from offering dining support at Haidilao restaurants to emerging as a leader in the global robotics sector.In this episode,we will highlight how Pudu Robotics, leveraging Hong Kong's technological innovation strengths, is leading a surge of innovation in the global service robotics market. We will also explore how the company is redefining conventional limits to forge new directions in the service robotics industry. Read: https://lnkd.in/grvwas2t

人體改造一直是科學界研究的重點。 隨著馬斯克旗下的腦機介面公司首次將晶元植入到了人腦之中，這一話題再度被帶回公眾視野。 人造眼、人造鼻，機械義體、「缸中之腦」，這些富有哲學和科學的雙重思辨的概念，距離「科幻照進現實」還有多遠？ 本期播客我們邀請到香港科技大學的Zhiyong Fan教授，為我們帶來他的個人見解。 過去幾年，范志勇教授和他的團隊研發出了人造眼球以及人造鼻等多個仿生感官器件。 人造眼球將有可能為視障人士帶去光明的希望; 人造鼻甚至優於人類鼻子的靈敏度，能夠分辨人類所不能立即分辨的氣味。 范智勇教授於2010年加入香港科技大學，現為香港科技大學電子與計算機工程系以及生物和化學工程系教授，香港科大智慧感測器與環境技術中心創始主任。 2007~2010年任加州大學伯克利分校電氣工程和計算機科學系，2006年加州大學歐文分校交叉材料科學獲得博士學位。 其帶領團隊克服了製造電子眼由平面變曲面以至半球形的挑戰，該突破被業界稱為“過去幾十年來仿生眼開發的重要突破”。 仿生感官器件運用前景在哪裡？ 我們應該如何看待倫理層面的思辨？ 這些「天馬行空」的科技產品如何轉化為科創成果？ 我們離《賽博朋克2077》里的「賽博人」究竟還有多遠，本期節目，就讓我們對話范教授，一探究竟。 Read：https://lnkd.in/g2vqDcnY