MTR Lab establishes an ecological partnership with Zhongguancun Science City Company

Focusing on smart cities, sustainable development, and artificial intelligence technology investment to support global growth

Beijing, March 18, 2026 /PR Newswire/ – MTR Lab Company Limited (referred to as “MTR Lab,” a wholly owned subsidiary of MTR Corporation) and Beijing Zhongguancun Science City Innovation Development Co., Ltd. (referred to as “Zhongguancun Science City”) announced the establishment of an ecological partnership. The two parties will focus on smart cities and sustainable development, promoting investments in cutting-edge technology companies in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, smart mobility, rail transit technology, retail technology, real estate technology, and construction technology, while also helping these companies expand overseas. This cooperation demonstrates cross-regional innovation collaboration between Hong Kong and Beijing, leveraging each other’s strengths to promote deep integration of technological and industrial innovation, actively aligning with the national strategy of developing “new quality productivity.”

In recent years, global advancements in artificial intelligence and related technologies have accelerated, becoming the main drivers of smart city and sustainable development. China’s innovation ecosystem has been particularly vibrant. According to data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, by September 2025, there will be over 5,300 domestic AI companies, accounting for about 15% of the global total; among them, Haidian District in Beijing, as a national AI innovation hub, hosts more than 35% of these companies and gathers numerous specialized, innovative, and unicorn enterprises. These trends align closely with MTR Lab’s investment focus on smart city and sustainable development technologies. Last year, proposals related to artificial intelligence and robotics among the global investment projects received by MTR Lab nearly doubled compared to 2024, with over 30% of investment proposals coming from mainland China.

As an international investor in innovative technology, MTR Lab plays an important role by creating strategic value through investments and ecosystem collaborations. This partnership with Zhongguancun Science City is another key ecological collaboration following the partnership with TUS Star, further deepening engagement with innovation ecosystem partners in mainland China. As the core area of Beijing’s international science and technology innovation center, Haidian District, as of January 2026, hosts over 2,950 specialized, innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and 49 unicorn companies, dedicated to high-quality technological innovation and industrial development. Through this cooperation, Zhongguancun Science City will recommend high-quality tech startups to MTR Lab, while leveraging MTR Lab’s experience in overseas startup markets and its collaborative platform resources to promote cross-border business cooperation, explore joint investment opportunities, and connect more innovative companies with global capital and overseas markets.