HSBC announced plans to establish a global AI & Emerging Technology Institute in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis during the Hong Kong Fintech Week 2026.

The bank shared that it is working with select academic and technology partners to build new and innovative technologies to deploy across HSBC’s operations.

The institute is set to begin operations in early 2027 and will be focusing on AI, including AI upskilling, AI safety and fraud detection, post-quantum cryptography and blockchain at first.

It is said to merge research capabilities with technology deployment teams in a bid to help move innovations from exploration into practical, scalable uses across the bank.

David Liao, the Co-Chief Executive, Asia Pacific and Middle East for HSBC, shared,

“Technology is reshaping financial services at remarkable speed. HSBC will explore the opportunities it creates thoughtfully and strategically, turning the most valuable innovations into better outcomes for our customers.”

The HSBC Hong Kong AI Institute also selected the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) as its anchor academic partner.

HKUST would be contributing scientific expertise, specialist research and access to connection and talent. Prof. Nancy Ip, President of HKUST, added,

“By combining HKUST’s strengths in pioneering research and innovation with HSBC’s deep industry expertise and international reach, we are creating a powerful platform to advance the development and responsible application of emerging technologies.”

The HSBC Hong Kong AI institute will aim to improve HSBC’s banking services and operations for customers while informing the bank’s engineering and technology strategies.

One such research and development is ensuring defensive preparedness against new attempts at fraud in the agentic AI era.

Additional technology partners may join the institute in the future.

Featured image edited by Fintech News Hong Kong based on an images by HKUST, David Liao on LinkedIn, and magnific on Magnific