Media365
Schneider Electric, a French multinational energy technology company, established Hong Kong as one of its global hubs. From the city, it is helping integrate electrification, automation and digital intelligence across buildings, infrastructure and transport systems.
“Hong Kong’s location at the heart of Asia, combined with its advanced infrastructure, digital maturity and globally experienced talent pool, provides a strong foundation for a scalable innovation ecosystem,” says Jonathan Chiu, president of Schneider Electric Hong Kong. “The city’s commitment to smart and sustainable development aligns closely with our mission to drive efficiency and resilience across buildings, data centres, industries and infrastructure.”
This approach reflects Schneider Electric’s multi-hub model, which embeds innovation capabilities directly within key markets such as Hong Kong, allowing the company to respond faster and work more closely with local stakeholders.
A centrepiece of that effort is its innovation hub in Quarry Bay, where visitors can see how real-time data and automation are used to manage energy more efficiently in practice. The space showcases Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure platform, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered system that helps organisations monitor, control and optimise energy use from shop floors to multisite complexes.
EcoStruxure’s ability to unlock greater value from energy systems also underpins Schneider Electric’s impact across Hong Kong’s transport infrastructure. This includes supporting the government’s campaign to expand the city’s electric vehicles (EVs) charging network to meet rising demand as the number of EVs on Hong Kong’s roads has surged – up from 13,000 in 2019 to 149,000 by last December.
“To future-proof this transition, we need a robust and integrated charging ecosystem that thinks ahead,” Chiu says. “Our eMobility solutions do this by combining smart chargers with software that manages power use efficiently, making large-scale deployment possible across homes, offices, retail and industrial sites.”
He adds that the company is also exploring direct current microgrids that integrate renewable energy, battery storage and AI, which could help urban centres globally to reduce pressure on the grid and improve energy resilience.
These initiatives align with Hong Kong’s broader climate commitments. The city aims to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050 and has set an interim target to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2035, compared with 2005 levels.
Buildings are central to this transformation. Hong Kong’s 50,000 buildings account for 90 per cent of the city’s electricity consumption and more than half of its carbon emissions, according to the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development.
Chiu says that since 2019, Schneider Electric has supported Swire Properties in connecting its cloud-based energy management platform, EcoStruxure Energy Advisor, to data points across the property developer’s buildings in mainland China and Hong Kong, providing real-time monitoring and analysis of energy and operational performance.
Partnerships such as this are integral to the company’s strategy to make an impact in Hong Kong. “We collaborate across the ecosystem to co-create solutions that are locally relevant and globally scalable,” Chiu says.
Last September, Schneider Electric formalised its collaboration with Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), facilitated by InvestHK, the government agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and providing assistance to companies setting up or expanding in the city.
The initiative brings together HKUST and a consortium of French companies, including Schneider Electric, to explore retrofitting opportunities on the university’s campus. Schneider Electric says the pilot scheme is intended to support knowledge exchange that could inform future retrofitting across the city’s infrastructure.
“With less than 2 per cent of the global building stock being retrofitted annually, this initiative is a timely and strategic step towards decarbonising Hong Kong’s built environment,” Chiu says.
Behind these efforts is steady institutional support, including crucial backing from InvestHK. Chiu says the agency has been a valued long-term partner, supporting Schneider Electric through its growth in Hong Kong by helping it connect with the wider innovation ecosystem and maintain strong ties to stakeholders across industries.
Andy Wong, head of innovation and technology at InvestHK, says: “At InvestHK, our goal is for Hong Kong to provide a strong base for companies like Schneider Electric to develop and deploy advanced technologies.
“From its global hub in the city, Schneider Electric is expanding its business, collaborating with local enterprises and universities and showcasing technology applications intended to mitigate the impacts of climate change. We will continue to provide value-added support by leveraging Hong Kong’s business advantages and innovation ecosystem.”
As southern China’s Greater Bay Area deepens economic and technological integration, Schneider Electric views its Hong Kong base as increasingly important for regional growth.
“We see Hong Kong not just as a gateway, but as a platform for collaboration – enabling us to pilot new solutions, engage with regional partners and capture emerging opportunities,” Chiu says. “We’re excited to keep building momentum as we support the region’s transition towards a more digitalised and sustainable future.”
