Hong Kong Innovation, Technology and Industry Council: Improving efficiency and promoting the construction of the Hong Kong Park in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone

The Zhitong Finance App learned that at the Hong Kong Legislative Council meeting, Professor Sun Dong, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, responded in writing to the questions of Hon Chan Siu-hung's promotion and coordination of innovation and technology development agencies. On the basis of the two existing major innovation and technology parks, the HKSAR Government is speeding up the construction of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone Hong Kong Park (Hetao Hong Kong Park). The Hetao Hong Kong Park is being developed in two phases from west to east, focusing on the development of cutting-edge technology fields such as life and health, artificial intelligence, and data science. In addition, the HKSAR Government has set aside HK$6 billion to launch the “Funding Scheme for Establishing Life and Health Research Institutes” (Funding Scheme) out of HK$10 billion set aside to promote the development of life and health technology. Meanwhile, the 2025-2026 Budget also announced that HK$1 billion will be set aside to establish the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute.

In order to accelerate the construction of the Hong Kong International Innovation and Technology Center, the current Hong Kong Government announced the “Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint” (“Blueprint”) at the end of 2022 to formulate a systematic strategic plan for Hong Kong's innovation and technology development. While consolidating the advantages of basic research upstream, the transformation of midstream research achievements and downstream industrialization, further improving the innovation and technology ecosystem, and promoting the development of Hong Kong's new real economy. Over the past two years, the current administration has followed the development direction and strategy proposed in the “Blueprint” and made thorough arrangements in terms of policies, measures and resource allocation. It has laid out an important layout for the construction of Hong Kong's I&T system, better pooled international I&T resources and talents, led industrial innovation and diversified development through scientific and technological innovation, and achieved high-quality development in Hong Kong.

Building on the existing two major innovation and technology parks, the HKSAR Government is speeding up the construction of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone Hong Kong Park (Hetao Hong Kong Park). The Hetao Hong Kong Park is being developed in two phases from west to east, focusing on the development of cutting-edge technology fields such as life and health, artificial intelligence and data science, as well as new technology and advanced manufacturing, mainly for scientific research, pilot testing and small-scale production. The first batch of the first phase of the park involves eight buildings. The first three buildings will soon be completed, and the park will officially enter operation later this year. The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited, which is responsible for the superstructure, operation, maintenance and management of the Hetao Hong Kong Park, is actively engaged in leasing work and is making every effort to promote the construction of the remaining five buildings. With the official opening of the Hetao Hong Kong Park, the layout of Hong Kong's three “Central and South” innovation parks has basically been implemented. The Hetao Hong Kong Park in northern Hong Kong is adjacent to Shenzhen and Xintian Science and Technology City to the south, and will become a major future center for research and pilot transformation in Hong Kong; the Science Park in central Hong Kong will continue to support the R&D of Shenzhen and nurture more local technology startups; as for the Cyberport in southern Hong Kong, it will continue to focus on promoting the development of the local digital technology and artificial intelligence ecosystem and cultivating more relevant startups and talents.

Furthermore, in response to the development of technology and in line with the development strategy proposed in the “Blueprint”, the Government will reshape the overall layout of Hong Kong's public research institutions around cutting-edge fields of key development in the country and Hong Kong, including life and health technology, artificial intelligence and robotics, and microelectronics technology. In addition to merging the existing automotive technology R&D center into the Productivity Bureau and merging the ASTRI with the Nano and Advanced Materials Research and Development Institute, the government just established the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute last year to focus on supporting the research and development of third-generation semiconductor core technology, and is making every effort to set up a third-generation semiconductor pilot line (silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN)) to be put into operation next year to promote the transformation of scientific research results and industrial development.

In addition, out of the HK$10 billion set aside to promote the development of life and health technology, the HK$6 billion has been allocated to launch the “Funding Scheme for Establishing Life and Health Research Institutes” (Funding Scheme) to fund local universities to establish life and health research institutes, and is inviting institutions to submit proposals on the funding scheme to promote cross-institutional and interdisciplinary cooperation.

On the other hand, the 2025-2026 “Budget” also announced that HK$1 billion will be set aside to establish the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute to guide and assist Hong Kong's innovative R&D and industrial application of artificial intelligence, and promote upstream AI R&D, transformation of midstream and downstream achievements, and explore application scenarios. The Digital Policy Office is formulating specific plans to establish the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute, including formulating its public mission, implementation strategy, and work goals.

After the construction of the new innovation and technology system of the “three major innovation parks and five major R&D institutions” is basically completed, the government believes that it will build an important platform and create favorable conditions for Hong Kong to gather international innovation and technology resources and talents, and provide important support for the construction of the Hong Kong International Innovation and Technology Center.