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(10 September 2026, Hong Kong) During the distinguished Belt and Road Summit 2026 in Hong Kong, Templewater and Oman Investment Authority (“OIA”), the sovereign wealth fund of the Sultanate of Oman, announced that OIA has received in-principle approval to invest up to HK$250 million in the Templewater Innovation Fund, subject to completion of definitive legal documentation. The Templewater Innovation Fund is being established by Templewater under the Hong Kong Government’s Innovation and Technology Venture Fund (“ITVF”) Enhanced Scheme and targets a fund size of HK$1 billion.
The announcement marks a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between Templewater and OIA and demonstrates OIA’s support and confidence in Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong and Oman hold unique values with their respective vibrant innovation and technology ecosystems, strong government support and unrivaled accesses to regional and global markets. The collaboration via Templewater Innovation Fund aims to bridge Hong Kong and Oman’s technology development and commercialization, and to support high-quality tech start-ups with the strength of Hong Kong and Oman while promoting their growth and contribution in both regions. The collaboration also reflects the parties’ shared ambition to strengthen investment, innovation and commercial connectivity between Oman and Greater China, with Hong Kong serving as a super-connector and super-valuer-adder between the two markets.
The ITVF is a HK$2 billion programme established by the Hong Kong Government under the Innovation and Technology Fund and administered by the Innovation and Technology Commission (“ITC”), with the objective of mobilising private capital into Hong Kong’s innovation and technology start-up ecosystem. Key areas of focus include advanced manufacturing and new energy, artificial intelligence and data science, and life and health technology.
Following Templewater’s in-principle selection as a fund manager under the ITVF Enhanced Scheme, Templewater is establishing the Templewater Innovation Fund to invest in and support high-potential innovation and technology companies connected with Hong Kong. OIA’s proposed investment represents the first Middle Eastern sovereign investment under the ITVF Enhanced Scheme and an important institutional investment into Hong Kong through this framework and reinforces Hong Kong’s role as an international capital-raising, innovation and investment hub.
The Templewater Innovation Fund will leverage the firm’s investment expertise, sector knowledge, established institutional relationships and broad industry networks to identify, support and nurture high-potential innovation and technology companies as they scale, strengthen their capabilities and translate technological potential into sustainable commercial growth.
Beyond the investment itself, the collaboration will seek to create stronger links among companies, investors, institutions and innovation ecosystems across Hong Kong, Greater China and Oman. Through Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector, Templewater and OIA intend to facilitate the exchange of capital, technology, industry expertise and market access, while creating opportunities for innovative businesses to expand between Greater China and Oman.
The ceremony was witnessed by the His Excellency Muneer Ali Al Muneeri, Deputy President for Operations of OIA, Honorary Joseph Chan, JP, Under Secretary of the Financial Services and Treasury Bureau of the HKSAR Government, Honorary Lillian Cheong, JP, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, and Mr. Nicholas Ho, Commissioner for Belt and Road of the HKSAR Government.
His Excellency Muneer Ali Al Muneeri, Deputy President for Operations of OIA, commented:
“OIA’s in-principle approval to invest in the Templewater Innovation Fund reflects our ambition to bridge the Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem and Oman’s while connecting Greater China with international markets. The fund opens wider opportunities for companies and ventures from both countries; we look forward to supporting high-potential companies while creating new pathways for long-term cooperation between our respective markets.”
Honorary Joseph Chan, JP, Under Secretary of the Financial Services and Treasury Bureau of the HKSAR Government, said:
“We warmly welcome the Oman Investment Authority’s in-principle investment in the Templewater Innovation Fund under the ITVF Enhanced Scheme. As the first Middle Eastern sovereign capital commitment within this framework, it marks a key milestone in deepening financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Oman under the Belt and Road Initiative. This investment underscores global institutional confidence in Hong Kong's deep capital markets, robust private equity landscape, and unique role as a 'super-connector' and 'super-value-adder' bringing together international capital and cutting-edge innovations from China.”
Honorary Lillian Cheong, JP, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, said:
“The Hong Kong Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into a world class innovation and technology centre. Through the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund Enhanced Scheme, we aim to attract more market capital and professional investment expertise to our innovation ecosystem and support promising start-ups in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence and data science, life and health technology, advanced manufacturing and new energy. OIA’s proposed investment in the Templewater Innovation Fund, which is established under the Government’s enhanced ITVF scheme, is a welcome demonstration of international institutional confidence in Hong Kong’s rising technology and thriving technology investment landscape. It also underscores Hong Kong’s unique role as a super-connector, a super value-adder and a global innovation powerhouse.”
Mr. Cliff Zhang, Chairman and CEO of Templewater, said:
“We are honoured that OIA has received in-principle approval to invest in the Templewater Innovation Fund. This is more than a proposed investment; it is a strong vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem and its unique role as a super-connector between Greater China, Oman and the wider Middle East.
In the spirit of the Belt and Road Initiative, Templewater and OIA share along-term ambition to connect capital, innovation, industry expertise and market opportunities across these regions. We look forward to working with OIA, the Hong Kong Government and the broader ecosystem to support innovative companies, facilitate their expansion into new markets and create sustainable long-term value.”
Dr. Yufeng Wan, Partner and Head of Technology Investment at Templewater, added:
“We see significant opportunities emerging at the intersection of artificial intelligence, new energy, advanced manufacturing and life sciences. Through the Templewater Innovation Fund, we will work closely with founders and entrepreneurs to strengthen operating and data foundations, accelerate technology-to-market execution and build the networks required for sustainable growth.
By combining Hong Kong’s strengths in capital formation, innovation and access to Greater China with Oman’s strategic position and growing technology ecosystem, we believe this collaboration can create meaningful opportunities for companies seeking to expand between Asia and the Middle East.”
Templewater welcomes OIA’s in-principle approval to invest in the Templewater Innovation Fund, and the opportunity to work alongside ITC and the broader innovation and technology ecosystem. The collaboration represents a substantive step towards mobilising international institutional capital into Hong Kong and supporting high-potential companies across priority innovation and technology sectors.
It also establishes a platform for broader and deeper cooperation between Oman and Greater China, with Hong Kong acting as a super-connector for capital, technology, businesses and markets under the Belt and Road Initiative.
About Oman Investment Authority (OIA)
Oman Investment Authority (OIA) is the investment arm of the Sultanate of Oman. It is mandated with managing, investing, and growing the Sultanate’s assets locally and internationally. Its investment funds are geographically diverse, with investments on every continent, and cover a wide range of sectors, including food and fisheries, energy, logistics, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), public services, financial and investment services, tourism, mining, manufacturing, and aviation. It plays a key role in driving sustainable economic development and achieving Oman’s vision of becoming a more attractive investment destination.
For Further information:
OIA Press Office
+968 9227 8104
media@oia.gov.om
www.oia.gov.om
About Templewater
Templewater is a leading pan-Asia alternative asset manager founded in 2018. The firm manages capital on behalf of global institutions, sovereign entities, family offices, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, with a focus on building high-quality businesses that create long-term value for Asia. Templewater operates three core pan-Asia strategies: Mid-Market Buyout Private Equity, Technology Investment, and Real Estate; each designed to capture structural growth opportunities across the region.
Guided by a disciplined, purpose-driven investment philosophy, Templewater provides its portfolio companies with financial and human capital, operational expertise, institutional governance, and a culture anchored in integrity and partnership. The firm’s mission is to transform high-potential companies into industry leaders with durable impact across Asia.
To learn more about Templewater, please visit www.templewater.com and follow Templewater on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/templewater.
For Further information:
Templewater Investor Relations
ir@templewater.com
+852 3187 5000
