DUBAI, UAE, July 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT) region, and startup accelerator Techstars, announced a strategic partnership centred on a commercially-driven "Acceleration-to-Enterprise" model to integrate high-growth AI and FinTech innovations directly into the bank's regional ecosystem encompassing multiple markets.
Combining Techstars' global pipeline of over 11,000 founders with the bank's advanced analytics infrastructure, which currently manages over 50 active AI use cases, will deliver scalable, commercial pathways for agentic FinTech startups focusing on compliance, wealth management, SME banking and capital markets.
This initiative underscores Emirates NBD's commitment to the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to rank Dubai among the top four global financial centres by 2033.
Miguel Rio Tinto, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer at Emirates NBD, commented: "With Dubai now home to nearly 60% of GCC FinTech companies, we are pleased to partner with Techstars to tap into and capture FinTech's new wave of innovation in agentic finance. Leveraging Emirates NBD's regional footprint and digital capabilities, we are providing selected AI and FinTech startups with a direct pathway into enterprise banking, supporting solutions that can transform how we serve our nine million active customers."
Neeraj Makin, Group Head of Strategy, Analytics and Venture Capital at Emirates NBD, said: "The partnership with Techstars reflects Emirates NBD's continued focus on strengthening its innovation ecosystem and deepening engagement with global technology and startup networks. By combining access to emerging founders, market intelligence, and new technology trends, we aim to accelerate innovation opportunities that support the Group's long term strategic, digital and AI ambitions across the region."
This unique partnership helps AI startups pilot secure and personalised banking solutions using Emirates NBD's cloud-native infrastructure to drive real impact.
David Cohen, CEO of Techstars, stated: "Techstars has always been about helping founders go faster. By partnering with a proactive, AI-first institution like Emirates NBD, we are giving our FinTech and AI founders a front-row seat to one of the most dynamic financial markets in the world. The UAE's commitment to becoming a global hub for intelligent, data-driven innovation makes it the perfect launchpad for enterprise-grade solutions that will redefine the future of finance."
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Techstars and Emirates NBD partner to accelerate enterprise-grade AI and FinTech solutions across the MENAT region
Upgrading "Smart CityDrive" with C-V2X Technology to Enhance Driving Safety and Traffic Efficiency
HONG KONG, July 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and Citybus Limited (Citybus) jointly announced today the launch of the Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) pilot scheme in the Kai Tak Development Area. This initiative, integrated with Citybus's operational scenarios and led by ASTRI, marks the first time the C-V2X system has been connected to a franchised bus network to provide Bus Captains with real-time driving tips, enhancing both driving safety and traffic efficiency. This is not only a milestone in local smart mobility development but also lays a solid foundation for future autonomous bus pilot schemes.
As the major bus operator in the Kai Tak Development Area, Citybus operates multiple franchised routes traversing the former runway area. For the first time, ASTRI has installed C-V2X equipment on double-deck buses and integrated it with Citybus's onboard systems. This enables the buses to communicate in real-time with smart roadside units (RSUs) installed along Shing Fung Road and Muk On Street in Kai Tak, receiving instant information on road conditions and traffic signal status. With the enhanced "Smart CityDrive" system, Bus Captains will receive real-time driving tips and recommendations through the bus cabin tablet. Following prudent technical and road testing, the C-V2X system is now being applied in a passenger-carrying franchised bus operational environment as a pilot scheme. Upon project completion, ASTRI will use the findings to conduct further research exploring ways to enhance driving safety and efficiency.
Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, said, "ASTRI has been dedicated to the research, development, and implementation of C-V2X technologies, aiming to address urban traffic challenges through innovation. We are delighted to launch this pilot scheme with Citybus, applying cutting-edge communication technology to double-deck buses. This not only demonstrates how smart mobility can tangibly enhance road safety but also represents a significant step in Hong Kong's journey towards becoming a smart city. We look forward to applying innovative technologies to more public transport vehicles in the future to further enhance traffic efficiency and safety."
Mr Roger Ma, Operations Director of Citybus, said, "Citybus has been actively introducing innovative technologies to enhance operational efficiency and driving safety, and is committed to providing efficient and reliable bus services for all passengers in Hong Kong. This collaboration with ASTRI involves hardware and software upgrades to the 'Smart CityDrive' safe driving system on selected buses. By utilising C-V2X technologies, it empowers the system with more accurate road condition prediction capabilities, allowing Bus Captains to focus more on driving. This is a crucial step towards smart mobility."
Four Citybus double-deck buses equipped with ASTRI's C-V2X system are currently providing passenger services on routes including 22, 22D, 22M and 22X in the Kai Tak Development Area. Benefiting from the low latency and high reliability of the C-V2X system (5.9GHz dedicated spectrum band), Bus Captains can receive comprehensive visual, text, and voice safety alerts through the "Smart CityDrive" safe driving system, enabling them to grasp real-time traffic conditions, roadworks information, and junction driving recommendations.
- Real-time traffic signal data to assist Bus Captains in predicting road conditions: When a C-V2X-equipped bus approaches designated sections of Shing Fung Road and Muk On Street in Kai Tak, the system issues advance driving recommendations based on the real-time traffic signal status, reminding the Bus Captain to maintain speed or decelerate early under safe conditions.
- All-rounded real-time alerts to provide comprehensive safety support: The C-V2X system integrates real-time traffic information from the HKSAR Government's "DATA.GOV.HK" portal, enabling it to address road conditions beyond the line of sight. When there are roadworks or traffic incidents ahead, Bus Captains will have more time to respond to unexpected situations.
ASTRI and Citybus will continuously analyse the system's operational performance and collect feedback from Bus Captains to further optimise various functions. Both parties firmly believe that the application of C-V2X technology in smart mobility is a significant development and will drive the advancement of autonomous bus projects in the future.
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About ASTRI
Founded in 2000 by the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is the city's largest government-funded R&D centre. Committed to transforming high-impact research into practical innovations, ASTRI drives market-driven, interdisciplinary advancements across sectors, including Smart City, FinTech, Digital Health and Life Sciences, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Advanced Electronics, New Energy and Energy Storage, and Green and ESG Technologies. Following its merger with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, ASTRI has further strengthened its capabilities, with over 1,500 patents and 2,200 successful cases of technology transfer. Recognised with numerous international awards, ASTRI continues to nurture top I&T talent and foster collaborations among the I&T ecosystem, contributing to Hong Kong's high-value economic development. For further information, please visit www.astri.org.
About Citybus Limited
Established in 1979, through constant innovation and excellent service delivery, Citybus has grown to operate over 1,700 buses across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories and employs over 5,000 staff to serve over 1.1 million customers daily. We have an industry leading bus fleet with both electric and hydrogen buses, and the majority of buses operating at Euro5 emissions standard or above.
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ASTRI and Citybus Launch C-V2X Trial in Kai Tak
