Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Bureau: Enhancing efficiency and accelerating the development of the HeSatep Deep Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, Hong Kong Park Construction

At the meeting of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, responded in writing to questions from Member Chan Siu-hung about promoting and coordinating the development of innovation and technology institutions. He stated that the Hong Kong SAR government is accelerating the construction of the Greater Bay Area Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, Hong Kong Park (GBA Hong Kong Park) on the basis of the existing two major innovation and technology parks. The GBA Hong Kong Park will be developed in two phases from west to east, focusing on the development of cutting-edge technologies such as life sciences, artificial intelligence, and data science. In addition, the government has allocated HK$60 billion from the HK$100 billion set aside for promoting the development of life sciences and health technologies to launch the "Establishment of Life Health Research Institute Funding Program" (Funding Program). Furthermore, the 2025-2026 Budget has also reserved HK$1 billion to establish the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research Institute. To accelerate the development 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, which formulates a systematic strategic plan for the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong. The government has been implementing policies and resource allocation in line with the direction and strategies proposed in the Blueprint over the past two years, making significant layouts for the construction of the innovation and technology system in Hong Kong, better aggregating international innovation and technology resources and talents, leading industrial innovation and diversification through technological innovation, and achieving high-quality development in Hong Kong. Building on the existing two major innovation and technology parks, the Hong Kong SAR government is accelerating the construction of the GBA Hong Kong Park in the Greater Bay Area Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (GBA Hong Kong Park). The GBA Hong Kong Park will be developed in two phases from west to east, focusing on the development of life sciences, artificial intelligence, data science, new technologies, and advanced manufacturing in the forefront of technology areas, mainly for research, trial and small-scale production. The first batch of eight buildings at the park is nearing completion, with the park set to officially enter the operational phase later this year. The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited, responsible for the development, operation, maintenance, and management of the GBA Hong Kong Park, is actively leasing space and promoting the construction of the remaining five buildings. With the official opening of the GBA Hong Kong Park, the layout of the "north-south-central" three major innovation and technology parks in Hong Kong is basically realized. The GBA Hong Kong Park in the north of Hong Kong, adjacent to Shenzhen and connected to the Nansha Technology City, will be a future center for research and trial transformation in Hong Kong, while the Science Park in central Hong Kong will continue to support the research and development of Shenzhen Kaifa Technology and nurture more local technology startups. As for Cyberport in the south of Hong Kong, it will continue to focus on promoting the development of the local digital technology and artificial intelligence ecosystem, nurturing more related startups and talent. In response to the development of technology and in line with the development strategies proposed in the Blueprint, the government will reshape the overall layout of Hong Kong's public research institutions around the key areas of frontier technology development in China and Hong Kong, including life sciences and health technology, artificial intelligence, Siasun Robot & Automation, and microelectronics technology. In addition to merging the existing Automotive Technology Research Center into the Productivity Council and merging ASTRI with the Hong Kong Research Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, the government established the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research Institute last year, focusing on supporting the R&D of core technologies in the third generation of semiconductors and actively setting up a pilot line for third-generation semiconductors (silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN)), aiming to start operation next year to promote the transformation of research results and industrial development. Furthermore, the government has allocated $60 billion from the $100 billion set aside for promoting the development of life sciences and health technology to launch the "Establishment of Life Health Research Institute Funding Program" (Funding Program), funding local universities to establish life health research institutes, and inviting schools to submit proposals for the funding program to promote cross-school and interdisciplinary cooperation. On the other hand, the 2025-2026 Budget has also announced the reservation of HK$1 billion to establish the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research Institute to guide and facilitate the innovation research and industrial application of artificial intelligence in Hong Kong, promote upstream research and development of artificial intelligence, middle and downstream transformation of outcomes, and explore application scenarios. The Policy Innovation Office is formulating a detailed plan for the establishment of the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, including outlining its public mission, implementing strategies, and working goals. After the basic completion of the construction of the new innovation system of "three major innovation and technology parks and five major research institutions", the government believes that it will provide important support for the construction of the Hong Kong International Innovation and Technology Center, creating a favorable conditions for Hong Kong to gather international innovation and technology resources and talents and leading to the high-quality development of the new economy in Hong Kong.