Rise Returns to Hong Kong in 2022

RISE Tech Conference Returns to Hong Kong

RISE, a prominent technology conference in Asia, is scheduled to be held in Hong Kong once again in March 2022 as a live, in-person gathering. The event’s organizer, Web Summit, has confirmed a commitment to hosting RISE in Hong Kong for a minimum of five years.

Shift in Location

Previously, Web Summit indicated that RISE would relocate to Kuala Lumpur. However, the decision to return to Hong Kong signifies that the conference will no longer be staged in the Malaysian capital. A spokesperson for TechCrunch was informed that Web Summit intends to organize alternative events within Malaysia in the future.

Event Details

The 2022 edition of RISE will be hosted at the AsiaWorld-Expo from March 14th to March 17th.

Past Disruptions

In November 2019, amidst significant pro-democracy protests, Web Summit initially announced a postponement of RISE until 2021. Subsequently, in December 2020, the 2021 event was cancelled altogether, with plans made to resume the conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2022.

Reasons for the Change

According to a statement provided to TechCrunch, a RISE representative clarified that the political climate in Hong Kong did not influence the initial consideration of Kuala Lumpur as a potential host city. The original plan was for RISE 2022 to occur in Kuala Lumpur, but this proved unworkable.

The spokesperson expressed gratitude to the MDEC for their invitation to host RISE in Kuala Lumpur, and highlighted the conference’s successful five-year run in Hong Kong since its inception in 2015. This established relationship with the city facilitated the decision to remain there.

Statements from Leaders

Paddy Cosgrove, co-founder and CEO of Web Summit, stated, “We are extremely grateful for the support the city of Hong Kong has given RISE over the last five years, and we couldn’t be more excited to return in-person in 2022.”

Edward Yau, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, also released a statement, saying, “I’m very excited that RISE, the world-renowned tech event, has chosen to return to Hong Kong and stay here in the coming five years.”