Hang Seng Index Company and Cyberport jointly launched the "Thematic Index Exploration Program" to promote index innovation driven by artificial intelligence.

Hang Seng Index Company and Cyberport announced the launch of the "Theme Index Exploration Program" on June 30, 2026, to accelerate the design process of theme indexes by jointly developing artificial intelligence solutions with tech companies. This program is the second phase of the "Index Innovation Lab" project. Established in 2024 by Hang Seng Index Company and Cyberport, the lab aims to explore the use of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence to support the index operations of Hang Seng Index Company and provide index solutions that better meet market demands. The first phase of the project was completed in 2025, during which a highly scalable generative artificial intelligence solution developed jointly by Hang Seng Index Company and Cyberport community members was successfully applied to calculate the Hang Seng index series. Building on the success of the first phase, the second phase will focus on the rapidly developing theme investment sectors in Mainland China and Hong Kong. With the increasing demand from investors for allocations to emerging growth sectors, the demand for theme indexes is also rising, driving the market to develop more theme indexes faster and on a larger scale. To meet the growing market demand, the program aims to develop artificial intelligence solutions to assist in speeding up the design process of theme indexes and shorten the overall cycle from theme identification to index launch. With more efficient processes in place, Hang Seng Index Company can help investors capture market opportunities earlier while maintaining robust and uniform index operations standards. Deputy Director of the Innovation and Technology Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mandy Cheung, said: "'Theme Index Exploration Program' is not only a platform that brings together tech talents and financial professionals, but also marks an important step forward for Hong Kong in promoting the integration of 'finance + technology' and 'artificial intelligence + industry' development. This competition focuses on AI technology and uses more refined and evidence-based classification models to more effectively identify trends in emerging industries, accurately match listed companies to the Hang Seng industry classification system and various thematic categories, and discover potential companies to support the development of theme indexes and investment decisions. This is not only a technical challenge, but also an important exploration to promote innovation in financial data applications. In recent years, the SAR government has been promoting AI in areas such as finance and healthcare, and actively improving related data governance and ethical frameworks to promote safe, reliable, and responsible AI development. At the same time, through various innovation and technology parks including Cyberport, we continue to cultivate the local startup ecosystem and leverage local technologies to promote industrialization of AI and AI in industries." CEO of Hang Seng Index Company, Li Wenlong, said, "The generative AI solution developed in the first phase of the 'Index Innovation Lab' is now being used to calculate the shareholding proportions of over 2,600 publicly traded companies in Hong Kong, covering all listed companies in the Hong Kong market, shortening the time required for calculations by two-thirds. Building on the success of the first phase, we look forward to further enhancing our index operations through the 'Theme Index Exploration Program' and providing more suitable index solutions for the market. Hang Seng Index Company will continue to work closely with long-term partners Cyberport and more tech community members to accelerate innovation in financial services and help consolidate Hong Kong's position as an international financial center and tech hub." Chairman of Cyberport, Joe Chan said, "Cyberport is pleased to once again collaborate with Hang Seng Index Company to promote the practical application of artificial intelligence in financial markets through the 'Theme Index Exploration Program.' By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to accelerate the construction of theme indexes, the program aims to shorten the entire cycle from theme identification to index launch, allowing investors to capture emerging opportunities earlier. Combining Hang Seng Index Company's professional data advantage with Cyberport's artificial intelligence ecosystem, we look forward to discovering more innovative solutions with market value, accelerating the development of theme investments, and promoting startups from concept validation to commercial implementation, further strengthening Hong Kong's position as an international financial and tech hub."