HKSTP and CATL Sign MoU to Promote New Energy and Green Industry in Hong Kong Set up Innovation R&D Centre and Recruit 500-Staff R&D Team

(Hong Kong, 7 December, 2023) - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to establish a CATL R&D Centre at Hong Kong Science Park. CATL plans to invest no less than HK$ 1.2 billion and will recruit 500 R&D talent to promote new energy technology innovation, nurturing talent, and embark on market expansion, to further drive sustainable development in Hong Kong.

The collaboration between HKSTP and CATL is steered by Mr John Lee, Chief Executive and the HKSAR Government and aims to enhance the development of Hong Kong's new energy and sustainable development sectors. The MoU was signed by Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP and Mr Samuel Wang, CIO of CATL. The signing was witnessed by Mr Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government; Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Mr Philip Yung, Director-General of OASES; Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Dr Robin Zeng, Chairman and General Manager of CATL; Mr Tao Qu, Chairman Assistant and Co-Director of Corporate Planning Department of CATL; Mr Jianping Liu, Special Assistant to the Co-President of Research and Development of CATL and Ms Huilian Xiong, Director of Corporate Planning of CATL.

Published last year, the “Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint” highlighted the Government’s support for the development of the new energy technology sector to help the city cope with climate change and achieve carbon neutrality targets. This year's Policy Address also highlighted that every effort be made to promote the use of new energy in sea, land and air transport to spearhead the green transformation of relevant industries, and, at the same time, explore the development of the new energy industry chain to promote green economy.  

With CATL’s expertise in production, market, technology and talent development, HKSTP will fully support CATL in actively exploring business development and opportunities with Hong Kong’s major sectors including energy, transportation, industry and infrastructure.  This will include driving green, smart manufacturing of new energy products and the investment and development of renewable energy.  This will co-create a reliable and sustainable new energy storage system to achieve a greener and more sustainable energy future.

Mr Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, said, “The establishment of the CATL global headquarters and R&D Centre in Hong Kong is a smart and essential investment to promote the development of the I&T industry in the city. We hope I&T enterprises can have greater and better achievements as they use Hong Kong as a gateway to the international stage. The Policy Address recently announced by the Chief Executive has adopted an industry-oriented and multi-pronged approach to promote new industrialisation and support the development of representative strategic enterprises in Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government will provide comprehensive services and support to help businesses reach new heights.”

Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, said, “With a keen strategic vision, CATL has chosen Hong Kong as its global headquarters. This is not only a vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s development into an I&T hub, but will also enhance its status as an international financial centre. Hong Kong has the unique advantage of ‘enjoying strong support from the Motherland and being closely connected to the world’. I believe we can certainly support CATL in realising its grand vision of building its global industry domain.”

Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said, “The establishment of CATL at Hong Kong Science Park is a milestone in the development of new energy in Hong Kong. CATL will join hands with HKSTP to create a green tech ecosystem. With world-class facilities, an excellent R&D environment, innovative manufacturing and extensive talent pool, HKSTP will provide comprehensive support to CATL, and together we will promote the sustainable development of the new energy industry in Hong Kong and help develop it into an international green technology and finance centre.”

Dr Robin Zeng, Chairman and General Manager of CATL, said, “The establishment of the R&D Centre in Hong Kong is a strategic milestone of CATL’s new energy development plan. With its establishment in Hong Kong, we can fully leverage our expertise in the industry, market, technology and talent, accelerate the advancement and innovative applications of new energy technology, and make more contributions to global energy transformation and sustainable development.”

CATL is a global leader in new energy innovative technologies, committed to providing premier solutions and services for new energy applications worldwide. CATL uses high efficiency power systems with advanced battery and renewable energy such as wind, solar and hydro power to replace stationary and mobile fossil power system. With electrification and intelligence as the core, the company is achieving integrated innovation in market applications and accelerating the replacement process of new energy in different fields. Its products include battery systems and related battery materials. CATL is also involved in the R&D of electric vehicle (EV) batteries and energy storage batteries, their production and sales.

According to a report from market research company, SNE research, CATL accounted for 36.8% of the global market share of EV battery consumption between January to September this year, making it the only EV battery supplier in the world with a market share of more than 30%. In terms of electrochemical energy storage, CATL also ranks first for two consecutive years in energy storage battery shipments, accounting for 43.4% of global energy storage battery shipments in 2022.

As of June 2023, CATL has more than 18,000 R&D staff with five R&D centres and 13 production hubs around the world. CATL has also been recognised as one of Forbes China’s 50 Most Innovative Companies for six consecutive years. It is committed to the development of new battery technologies. In terms of energy storage technology, electrochemical energy storage systems have been widely adopted around the world to replace stationary petrochemical energy with renewable energy, and are used to optimise energy structures, improve power security, and reduce energy costs.

HKSTP is committed to advancing Hong Kong’s new industrialisation mission and cultivating a new energy and green tech ecosystem. Currently, there are more than 100 companies in the Science Park focusing on green tech, new energy and third-generation semiconductors. Five local universities are ranked among the top 100 in the world, and many of them are engaged in research related to new materials, power semiconductors and new energy. Recently, new energy vehicle technology enterprises such as NETA Auto, J² Semiconductor and Horizon Robotics have also joined Hong Kong Science Park. Together with CATL, the R&D of EVs and intelligent driving in Hong Kong forms a comprehensive value chain and a strong clustering effect to jointly promote the development of Hong Kong's microelectronics and intelligent vehicle ecosystem with HKSTP.