Hongqiao Tech Week lines up global tech leaders for Shanghai debut

Hongqiao Tech Week will debut in Shanghai from Nov. 20-22, 2026, with more than 200 speakers, six stages and a focus on AI, robotics, biotech and digital infrastructure. The event aims to connect international companies with China’s tech ecosystem and showcase the Yangtze River Delta as a hub for innovation and manufacturing.

Why it matters: - Hongqiao Tech Week is designed to give global business leaders direct access to China’s fast-growing technology ecosystem. - The event arrives as China’s AI models, robotics capacity and data-centre buildout are drawing more global attention. - Organizers say the conference can help international companies better understand the firms driving China’s tech growth.

What happened: - Informa announced a new wave of speakers for Hongqiao Tech Week ahead of its debut at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai from Nov. 20-22, 2026. - The event will feature speakers from AI, robotics, biotech, energy, infrastructure and enterprise technology. - New speakers include Ning Ning, vice president of international business and AI consulting at 01.AI. - Other newly announced participants include senior leaders from Roche, Sungrow, HUTCHMED, Zai Lab, XtalPi and COSCO Shipping Technology. - Yaning Wang, former director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Clinical Pharmacology, is also joining the program. - Previously announced speakers include senior executives from Baidu, Pony.ai, Hitachi Vantara, Siemens and Standard Chartered. - Senior Shanghai government officials will also take part, including Jiang Ge, Li Hong, Chen Xiqi, Yang Xubo and Celina Huang.

The details: - The AI stage will cover China’s approach to the AI sovereignty debate, AI-ready societies and next-generation industrial robotics. - Speakers on the AI stage include Ning Ning of 01.AI, Baoqiu Cui of Ruopan Technology, Dapeng Liu of AUBO Robotics, Dangyang Jie of Jodell Robotics, Zichao Zhang of RobotPhoenix, Yi Han of COSCO Shipping Technology, Feng Geng of CIMC Qingdao Refrigeration and Yong Gong of Arkema Group. - The biotech and drug-discovery program will focus on brain-computer interfaces and the use of AI and quantum computing in target discovery. - Speakers in that track include Harm-Jan Borgeld of Roche, Bin Yang of HUTCHMED, Lipeng Lai of XtalPi, James Yan of Zai Lab, Yaning Wang of Ruiningkang BioPharma, Peng Zhang of DP Technology and Yuchao Zhu of Hanz Bio. - The digital infrastructure and energy tracks will examine AI-related power demand, the global power transition and the infrastructure needed for AI growth. - Rystad Energy senior analyst Simeng Deng will speak on AI, data-centre demand and the power transition. - Simon Ninan, chief strategy officer at Hitachi Vantara, will discuss the infrastructure needed to support AI ambitions. - Other speakers on those stages include Teddy Zhang of Sungrow, Di Wang of StarCharge and Zhigang Xu of BAIC Automotive Research Institute. - The event will have six stages covering cloud, cybersecurity, energy and enterprise technology. - Additional speakers include Ben Ji of UCloud, Christoph Weber of AutoForm, Leslie Gyertson of METiS TechBio, Xiaosheng Tan of Genius CyberTech, Yuan Fan of DAS-Security, Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou of Tototheo Global and Mantas Mazeikis of HELM AG. - Hongqiao Tech Week will include a dedicated Yangtze River Delta Innovation Corridor exhibition area focused on research, manufacturing and commercialisation. - The first edition is expected to bring together 30,000 attendees, more than 200 speakers and more than 50,000 square metres of exhibition space. - The event is being produced by Tech Festivals and Informa Markets China, with backing from the Hongqiao government. - Hongqiao Tech Week is part of the Global Tech Festivals family alongside London Tech Week. - Registration is open at hongqiaotechweek.com. - Visitor passes required for entry are available through the registration portal.

Between the lines: - Shanghai and the Hongqiao district are trying to position themselves as a gateway for international companies seeking entry into China’s tech economy. - The speaker list mixes global multinationals, Chinese startups and government officials, signaling an effort to frame the event as a dealmaking and policy forum, not just a conference. - The focus on AI, robotics, biotech and digital infrastructure tracks the sectors where China is trying to prove global competitiveness. - The Yangtze River Delta remains a key selling point because it generates around a quarter of China’s GDP and has a dense industrial base. - Hongqiao’s technology-service revenue rose 15.8% year on year between January and July 2026.

What’s next: - Hongqiao Tech Week will take place Nov. 20-22, 2026, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. - Organizers say they want the event to become a globally recognized platform over the next three years. - The program will continue to expand around innovation, manufacturing and market access in the Yangtze River Delta.

The bottom line: - Hongqiao Tech Week is trying to turn Shanghai into a must-see meeting point for global tech companies seeking a better view of China’s innovation engine.