Innovation and Technology Bureau: A new development pattern of "three major innovation and technology parks and five major research and development institutions" has been basically formed

The Acting Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Zhang Manli, mentioned at a Legislative Council meeting that the authorities have basically formed a new development pattern centered on "three major innovation and technology parks and five major research and development institutions." In the midstream and upstream sectors, the two pilot lines of the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research Institute are expected to be operational within this year, while the establishment of the Life and Health Research Institute and the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research Institute will also be completed within this year.

In addition, the third "InnoHK Innovation Hong Kong Research Platform," focusing on sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing, and materials, will see its research centers established gradually in the first half of this year. The authorities will also continue to effectively utilize the HKD 10 billion "Industry-Academia-Research 1+ Plan" to further incentivize more collaboration between industry, academia, and research, as well as industrial development.

To accelerate the development of new industrialization in the downstream sector, the authorities have specifically strengthened "scenario-based investment attraction" and lowered the application threshold for the "New Industrialization Acceleration Program" in November last year, reducing the minimum total project cost requirement from HKD 300 million to HKD 150 million, and providing matching grants for hiring relevant technical personnel. At the same time, a special "Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Support Program" has been launched to provide funding to enterprises operating production lines in Hong Kong. The authorities will also initiate the "Innovation and Technology Industry Guidance Fund" in the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year and continue to implement the "Cooperation Agreement on Developing New Quality Productive Forces to Promote New Industrialization" signed with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China.

In terms of supporting startups and gathering innovation and technology talent, the authorities are about to launch a HKD 180 million "Innovation and Technology Accelerator Pilot Program" to attract professional service organizations to establish accelerator bases in Hong Kong, thereby supporting more startups. The authorities also launched a HKD 3 billion "Frontier Technology Research Support Program" in September last year to promote the integrated development of education technology talent.

Zhang Manli also mentioned that the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park officially opened in December last year, with over 60 tenants gradually moving into the first two completed buildings. The park company has selected specific plots of land for the first phase to solicit market development intentions, and the development planning layout work for the second phase has been completed, with a total floor area of 2 million square meters available for both phases.

She stated that the government is actively studying specific implementation details with the Shenzhen Municipal Government and relevant ministries to strive for early trials allowing the flow of mainland data and samples to the Hong Kong park for research purposes. In addition, the project for the western connecting bridge linking the two parks in Shenzhen and Hong Kong has officially started, which will facilitate the exchange of researchers between the two parks upon completion