HKSTP Supports Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and Policy Address Advancing Innovation, Cultivating High-Calibre Talent and Powering Hong Kong’s Rise as an International I&T Centre

(Hong Kong, 16 September 2025) – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) welcomes and fully supports the HKSAR Government’s announcement of its first Five-Year Plan, titled “The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026–2030)”. The Plan sets out forward-looking strategies and macro indicators, establishing a clear pathway for Hong Kong’s high-quality economic development.

The Policy Address released on the same day sets out a strategic vision for a bright new era, driving reform and boosting development. These measures give concrete effect to the development blueprint under the Five-Year Plan. HKSTP is greatly encouraged by the Government’s continued efforts to advance innovation and technology (I&T) development. In particular, HKSTP will fully and proactively support the Government in implementing relevant policies that pursue key objectives, including expediting the development of the Northern Metropolis, promoting AI+, advancing new industrialisation, and building an international hub for high-calibre talent. In doing so, HKSTP will contribute to Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T centre that is based in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area (the Greater Bay Area), serving the entire country and connected to the world.

Ms Cordelia Chung, Chairman of HKSTP, said, “Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan is of profound strategic importance and far-reaching significance. Fully aligned with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, it sets the direction for Hong Kong’s development over the coming five years. The Policy Address provides corresponding policy support and addresses the development needs of the I&T sector. As Hong Kong’s largest I&T flagship, managing Hong Kong Science Park, the three InnoParks, the InnoCentre and the Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch, comprising a total of 240 hectares of I&T land, HKSTP will fully support and actively advance the implementation of the Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address. We will continue to provide I&T enterprises with one-stop, end-to-end support services, enabling research outcomes to be translated into applications and put into practice. In doing so, we will further strengthen Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem, enhance value creation, deepen collaboration and translate macro-level targets into visible, tangible results. By leveraging HKSTP’s capabilities and harnessing Hong Kong’s distinctive strengths in service of the nation’s needs, we will work hand in hand with major I&T parks to promote the development of the I&T industry, support Hong Kong in accelerating its development into an international I&T centre and contribute to the nation’s efforts to achieve high-level technological self-reliance, as well as the development of new quality productive forces.

Building a New I&T Landscape and Achieving High-Quality Development

HKSTP is fully confident in the vision set out in the Five-Year Plan and strongly supports the Government in building a new paradigm of the Three Major I&T Parks and Five Key Research and Development (R&D) Institutions. As one of the three major I&T parks under the north, central and south spatial layout, HKSTP has long been advancing Hong Kong’s I&T development by providing I&T infrastructure facilities and other support measures for technology enterprises, and by nurturing I&T talent.

Under this new paradigm, the five key R&D institutions include the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute (MRDI). The MRDI is located at the Microelectronics Centre in Yuen Long InnoPark in the Northern Metropolis. It is equipped with pilot lines for R&D and trial production of semiconductors, supporting product development and trial production. Synergised development across the upstream, midstream and downstream is an important direction for advancing Hong Kong’s I&T industry. HKSTP welcomes the Government’s active efforts to press ahead with the establishment of Hong Kong’s first national manufacturing innovation centre, leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths to bring together overseas and Chinese Mainland resources and support the country in securing a leading position in the strategic field of power semiconductors.

HKSTP is also taking forward the Microelectronics Centre Expansion (MECX) at Yuen Long InnoPark to support capable enterprises in establishing semiconductor R&D and manufacturing bases, enabling businesses to extend from design and R&D to advanced manufacturing.

Driving Industry through I&T and Proactively Aligning with National Strategies

HKSTP fully supports the Government in setting clear targets for R&D investment in the I&T sector, and in continuing to increase investment in I&T. This includes striving to raise the ratio of Total Domestic Expenditure on Innovation Activities to GDP from 1.63% in 2024 to 3% after 2030, and to increase the ratio of the value added of Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries to GDP from 3.8% in 2024 to 5.5% after 2030.

HKSTP supports strengthening scientific research collaboration and advancing key technology breakthroughs between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, and consolidating, enhancing and fully leveraging the “dual base” strengths of the State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong and the InnoHK Research Clusters. HKSTP will give its full support to the development of the three InnoHK Research Clusters located at the Hong Kong Science Park, while continuing to expand global research collaboration through InnoHK and bring together international high-calibre talent.

Continuing to Advance New Industrialisation

HKSTP has been proactively promoting new industrialisation and remains committed to attracting key enterprises to establish a presence in its parks. The Five-Year Plan takes forward the development strategy for new industrialisation. It also sets out to deepen the development of the Greater Bay Area, including building a “high end R&D advanced manufacturing modern services in depth collaboration model”. It further sets out, together with Shenzhen, the approach of “cooperation in R&D, collaborative transformation, and sharing the benefits of development”. These directions provide a clear pathway and strong support for building a new industrialisation system with Hong Kong characteristics.

HKSTP also welcomes the Government’s proposal in the Policy Address to announce the medium-to-long-term development plan for new industrialisation in Hong Kong within this year. We look forward to the plan accelerating the growth of emerging industries and producer services of strategic value, planning ahead for future industries, and injecting new momentum into Hong Kong’s economy.

Exploring the Establishment of the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Application Scenario Promotion Centre and Providing Application and Testing Opportunities

HKSTP has long provided a wide range of resources and one-stop support services to nurture and support enterprise development. These include the HKSTP TechXchange business matching and collaboration platform, which uses intelligent matching technology to match innovative solutions from park companies with potential clients.

In support of the Policy Address proposal to explore establishing the “Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Application Scenario Promotion Centre”, HKSTP will work with various I&T parks and R&D institutions to facilitate more scenario matching for the public and private sectors, so innovative solutions can be applied in reality.

We look forward to the Centre becoming a launch platform for innovative technologies by providing I&T enterprises with opportunities to apply and test their technologies in real-world settings, and help companies align with industry standards to obtain market certification and assist I&T enterprises in going global.

Nurturing Talent to Support Industry Development and Building an International Hub for High-Calibre Talent

Talent is a vital resource for I&T development. HKSTP currently brings together around 26,000 I&T professionals. In October 2025, we launched Talent Foundry, a new talent programme that provides local university students with industry and workplace skills training in microelectronics, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and green technology, among other areas. To further support young people in exploring and entering new I&T fields, HKSTP has expanded the Talent Foundry programme to provide training opportunities for local university students, researchers, early-career talent, and professionals.

HKSTP fully supports the Government’s expansion of places under the HYAB Youth Start-up Internship Programme, as well as more targeted international talent attraction efforts. InnoCell in Pak Shek Kok currently records an average occupancy rate of around 90%. HKSTP is pressing ahead with the adjoining InnoCell 2.0 project to ease accommodation pressure for I&T talent, reduce the costs of building a career in Hong Kong, and enable them to focus on R&D or entrepreneurship.

As key pillars for talent cultivation and I&T development, the university towns in the Northern Metropolis will drive integrated development across industry, academia, and research, as well as integrated development of education, technology, and talent. Leveraging the Hong Kong Science Park, InnoParks, and the Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch as key bases, HKSTP will enhance collaboration with the university towns and provide comprehensive support, including laboratories, advanced manufacturing facilities, investor and business networks, incubation programmes, and living amenities. This will enable researchers and entrepreneurs to establish a presence with a low barrier to entry and get started efficiently.

“AI+” Empowering All Sectors, with Stronger Governance and Regulation

AI is profoundly reshaping global economic development and scientific research. HKSTP fully supports Hong Kong in entering a new AI+ stage, focusing on broadening access to technology education and promoting both “industries for AI” and “AI for industries”. This will help traditional industries use AI to accelerate upgrading and transformation.

HKSTP is guided by the principle of “promoting technology with talents, leading industries with technology, and attracting talents with industries”. We also actively align with the Government’s inclusive direction of “AI for All”, with a focus on applied skills development. We support university students, young researchers and professionals in translating AI knowledge into practical capability and employability. This will accelerate the wider adoption and real-world implementation of AI in Hong Kong and further consolidate Hong Kong’s strategic position as an international I&T and AI hub.

Computing power is a key factor for AI development and also a form of strategic infrastructure. HKSTP supports the Government in taking a demand-based and steady approach to forward planning for computing infrastructure and related supporting facilities. We also support stronger collaboration with the Greater Bay Area, with a view to developing Hong Kong into a safe, reliable and internationally competitive hub for AI and intelligent computing services.

HKSTP also supports the Government in strengthening governance capacity to address AI risks. This includes studying enhancements to the relevant legal framework and establishing the post of Commissioner for AI to take forward related work, so as to promote the safe and orderly adoption of AI across sectors.

Promoting Life and Health Technology Education and the Translation of Research Outcomes

Life and health technology is one of Hong Kong’s distinct competitive strengths in I&T. Currently, the Hong Kong Science Park is home to approximately 400 life and health technology enterprises. We also maintain close collaboration with the two medical schools to promote the commercialisation of research outcomes.

We support the establishment of the third medical school to foster the clustering of medical education, R&D, clinical trials, and technology translation within the same innovation cluster.

In parallel, in support of the Hetao Shenzhen Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone’s Hong Kong Park and Shenzhen Park under the ‘one zone, two parks’ model, we are helping to develop Hong Kong into Asia’s premier early-phase clinical trial centre and a top-notch medical innovation translation base in the world. We also support aligning evaluation mechanisms for drugs and medical devices with international standards and deepening collaboration with the Greater Bay Area.

Supporting the Development of National Aerospace Technology

The aerospace economy has emerged as a new frontier in global technological and industrial competition. The Policy Address announced the launch of a new round of the Special Call on Aerospace Technology, focusing on supporting technology research related to national space missions, including satellite technologies and space exploration instruments to enhance Hong Kong’s capabilities in aerospace technology application R&D. Also, the HKEX will consider enhancements to Chapter 18C of the Listing Rules to attract enterprises in emerging industries such as aerospace to raise capital in Hong Kong. HKSTP fully supports the Government’s strong commitment to accelerating the aerospace economy.

Currently, more than 20 enterprises related to aerospace technology are within HKSTP’s ecosystem. Among them is Stellerus Technology Limited, founded by Professor Su Hui, Chair Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Global STEM Professor, and Co-Director of the Space Science and Technology Institute at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory (MUSICO), in whose development her team participated, was also the first Hong Kong scientific payload carried aboard China’s Tiangong space station.

We will continue to promote the development of aerospace technology in Hong Kong, the translation of research outcomes, and cross-regional collaboration, while encouraging park companies to actively participate in the Special Call on Aerospace Technology.

Continuing to Leverage Our Strength as a Two-way Gateway and Deepen Our Service to the Overall National Development

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster has once again ranked first among the top 100 innovation clusters in the Global Innovation Index 2026. This not only reaffirms the strong scientific research capabilities and innovation capacity of Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area, but also highlights the region’s distinctive achievements in integrating innovation resources, cross-boundary collaboration, and venture capital financing. It provides fresh impetus for Hong Kong’s continued development into an international I&T centre.

In March this year, HKSTP, together with industry and university partners, established the Guangzhou–Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Collaboration Platform and launched the Guangzhou–Hong Kong Technology and Industry Integration Innovation Centre (Hong Kong Centre). The platform’s Guangzhou Centre was also officially inaugurated in Nansha yesterday. The unified platform with two operation centres will promote the two-way flow of talent and innovation resources between the two places, bringing Hong Kong’s unique advantages to bear in support of the country’s new “dual circulation” development paradigm and the further deepening of reform and opening up.

For the past 25 years, HKSTP has been advancing I&T as an important engine of Hong Kong’s economic development. Under the strategic guidance of the Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address, HKSTP will take forward its work across four dimensions: Broad and Deep, Far Yet Near.

• Broad: building a diversified talent ecosystem and unlocking potential through technology;
• Deep: deepening the integration of technology and industry;
• Far: supporting park companies in expanding their global I&T footprint and bringing innovation outcomes to markets worldwide; and
• Near: taking practical steps to bring the future of I&T closer to the present.

We will continue to work in close and effective collaboration with the Government and different stakeholders, actively attract international I&T enterprises to establish a presence in Hong Kong, and at the same time support local and Mainland enterprises in tapping into international markets, so as to attract high-quality I&T enterprises and talent to Hong Kong, while helping local and Chinese Mainland enterprises expand globally.

We will proactively align with the targets set out in the Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address, and support Hong Kong’s development during the Plan period into an I&T centre with greater international influence, a global source of AI innovation, an engine for new quality productive forces, and an ideal platform for international I&T cooperation.