Response to the 2019 Policy Address from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), with the mission of driving Hong Kong’s Innovation and Technology (I&T) development, welcomes the various initiatives outlined in the 2019 Policy Address to foster continued I&T progress in Hong Kong.

In regard to the announcement of the Phase II expansion programme of Hong Kong Science Park, HKSTP will explore both on-site and off-site development options at Science Park, the Industrial Estates as well as other premises, with an aim of providing better support facilities and value-added services for our I&T community. Addressing the growing needs of technology companies and research and development (R&D) institutions, the Science Park Expansion Stage 1 (SPX1), completed by mid-2019, will provide an increased capacity for R&D and enable sustained growth of the ecosystem. 

Health@InnoHK and AIR@InnoHK, the two research clusters promoting global R&D collaborations, are about to be launched at the Science Park. We believe that the plan to examine the setting up of the third InnoHK research cluster will further enhance the development of different technology fields and promote collaboration across different stakeholders, as well as strengthening Hong Kong’s R&D capabilities and accelerating commercialisation of innovation. 

With healthcare and artificial intelligence and robotics (AIR) being two major technology focuses for HKSTP, the Robotics Catalysing Centre 2.0 and AI Plug@HKSTP will be inaugurated within the year, and Biobank and Health Informatics are also in the pipeline for technology companies and R&D institutions.

Extending the coverage of the Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS), the Researcher Programme and Postdoctoral Hub will attract I&T talent to the local ecosystem. Since the introduction of TechTAS, Science Park companies have been granted over 200 quotas to recruit more I&T talent. In addition, Science Park’s first on-site accommodation project, InnoCell, will be completed by late 2020 to provide around 500 units for residential use for I&T talent at the Science Park.

As Hong Kong’s leading tech startup incubator, HKSTP is committed to nurturing talent through different programmes. We have introduced the Science and Technology Entrepreneur Programme (STEP), which aims to help early-stage startups turn innovative ideas into reality. We have also enhanced our services and funding support for Incubation Programmes and Leading Enterprises Acceleration Programme (LEAP). Currently, we are serving a total of 380 startups. 

As the Smart Region Living Lab designated in the Smart City Blueprint, the Science Park provides a platform for trials of about 30 smart city solutions, such as autonomous self- driving vehicles, 5G applications, the RobEx Centre (a fully automated smart warehouse) and an unmanned retail shop. We look forward to the official release of the “Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0”, and the additional government support for promoting Smart Mobility in alignment with the smart city vision to deliver higher quality of living to the general public.

HKSTP is fully committed to driving Hong Kong’s I&T development. We will continue working closely with our stakeholders to leverage I&T as an enabler for building a diversified economy. We will prudently manage the resources from the government and create opportunities for the tech startups, strengthen our innovation prowess and sharpen Hong Kong’s competitive edge, in a bid to deliver greater social and economic benefits.