Hong Kong-listed Chinese app company Newborn Town will open a global headquarters and set up an artificial intelligence (AI) research centre in Hong Kong as a pivotal step in its overseas expansion strategy.

“The landing of the global headquarters in Hong Kong marks a new stage in the company’s globalisation strategy and an important milestone of our company’s development,” said chairman Liu Chunhe at an opening ceremony in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Newborn Town said it would focus on developing AI applications for social entertainment in its headquarters in the Hong Kong Science Park. It would also take advantage of the city’s international business environment, mature capital markets and top talent resources, Liu said.

Founded in 2009, Beijing-based Newborn started expanding offshore with its social-media apps Mico, Yoho, TopTop and Sugo in 2013.

Listed since 2019, it has more than 20 operational centres in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

“We will focus on two directions in Hong Kong,” said Song Pengliang, senior vice-president. “One is to explore the in-depth application of AI in different scenarios. And we will set up an AI research centre here, hoping to bring together talent from around the world.”