On 4 January 2024, the Asia-Pacific Institute of Business (APIB) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School commenced the second term of its esteemed Corporate Innovation Index (CII) project. An Open Forum and Pilot Study were organized to disseminate our preliminary results on the corporate innovation framework and solicit feedback from industry practitioners for the further development of the CII. The primary objective of this year’s project is to foster innovation among large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Prof. Waiman Cheung of CUHK, Mr. Patrick Yeung of HKGCC, CII Research Team members, Steering Committee members of the CII Project and our speakers posed for a group photo in the Open Forum and Pilot Study of Corporate Innovation Index.
As the second year funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Government under the General Support Programme, CUHK Business School’s Asia-Pacific Institute of Business (APIB) has taken the lead in the CII project again to cultivate a culture of innovation.
Prof. Waiman Cheung, the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) and Executive Director of APIB at CUHK Business School, introduced the development of the conceptual framework for the CII. This framework was constructed based on a comprehensive literature review, consultations with industry experts, and a thorough gap analysis. Additionally, Prof. Cheung shared the preliminary results of our research on the corporate innovation framework.
Prof. Waiman Cheung, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) and Executive Director of APIB at CUHK Business School
Ms. Angel CHIA – Chair of Family Office Association Hong Kong delivered a keynote speech via Zoom widely respected for her insights into the realm of innovation.
The open forum also included a panel discussion about “Corporate Innovation: The ‘Death Valley’ of a SME / start-up”. The “Death Valley” refers to the time between the time a company is born but there is not enough revenue and the time the company becomes financially self-sustainable. If a SME / start-up fails to walk out from “Death Valley”, they will not survive. We aim to gain insights into the challenges faced during this critical period and identify strategies for successfully navigating the “Death Valley” to enhance the prospects of SMEs and start-ups.
Leaders representing large corporations, start-ups, and SMEs in the forum delved into these topics and generously shared their experiences with the participants.
The open forum also included a panel discussion about “Corporate Innovation: The ‘Death Valley’ of a SME / start-up”. The “Death Valley” refers to the time between the time a company is born but there is not enough revenue and the time the company becomes financially self-sustainable. If a SME / start-up fails to walk out from “Death Valley”, they will not survive. We aim to gain insights into the challenges faced during this critical period and identify strategies for successfully navigating the “Death Valley” to enhance the prospects of SMEs and start-ups.
Leaders representing large corporations, start-ups, and SMEs in the forum delved into these topics and generously shared their experiences with the participants.
From left to right: Mr. Patrick LEE – Honorary Institute Fellow, The Asia-Pacific Institute of Business, CUHK, Mr. Calvin CHENG – Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Wizpresso, Ms. Queenie SO – Founder & CEO, SyZyGy Limited, Prof. Dominic CHAN – Associate Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship, CUHK
During the pilot study discussion session, participants were organized into smaller groups to express their viewpoints and opinions on the measurements of the Corporate Innovation Index. By involving industry practitioners early on in the development of the CII framework, the project aims to foster greater recognition and acceptance of the research results. Following the discussion, the questionnaire measurements and questions will be further refined and fine-tuned.
