Launch“Science and Enterprise Line”, the introduction of a number of key science and Technology Enterprises, preparing to establish artificial intelligence research and Development Institute… … In recent years, with the comprehensive advantages of industrial agglomeration, basic R & D and Financial Center, giving full play to the traditional advantages of international trade center and Shipping Center, and the unique advantages of integrating with the world at the level of rules and standards, the booming science and technology innovation ecosystem in Hong Kong, with the rapid accumulation of capital, technology and talents, is injecting strong momentum for Hong Kong’s economic take-off and the overall improvement and prosperity.
Today, Hong Kong is striving to become an international innovation and Technology Center. As a“Super link” and“Super value-added person” connecting China and the world, the development of innovative technology industries in Hong Kong will not only foster new growth points for the local economy and society, it is also a key measure to serve the national strategy of Science and technology power.
New ideas bring new atmosphere
“Over the past few years, the HKSAR Government has launched a series of new policies and measures, behind which lies a change of mindset in guiding the development of the industry,” said Ark, Research Director at the Hong kong-based One Country, Two Systems research centre, the SAR government has shown a proactive attitude towards change, formulating the blueprint for the development of innovation and Technology in Hong Kong, promoting the“Industry-university-research 1 + Plan”, formulating and promulgating the outline for the development of the Hong Kong Park in the hetao Shenzhen-hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, etc. , a number of new initiatives have been launched to attract businesses and talent and improve the local science and technology innovation ecosystem.
Hong Kong’s TTI blueprint clearly proposes to focus on the development of technology clusters such as life and Health Technologies, artificial intelligence and data sciences, advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies. On this basis, the establishment of the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute, the opening of the Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Center, and the release of the first artificial intelligence large model, highlights continue.
The land-use proposal for the“Santian Science and Technology City”, published two years ago, is the first time that the SAR government has clearly stated that it will consider the use of land grant models other than open tenders to meet the needs of the development of the technology industry, in the course of land development in Hong Kong has a breakthrough.
The Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) provides direct grants to enterprises and highly educated people, including grants of up to HK $15 million for each smart production line under the new industrialization grant scheme, and funding all technology companies and institutions conducting or planning to conduct research and development activities in Hong Kong under the research talent pool.
Chen Shaobo, president of Hong Kong think tank Zhengsi Hong Kong and director of the National Association for Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said that the economic development logic of the SAR government is undergoing major changes, on the basis of efficient market, we should strive to explore the potential of the government. At the same time, on the basis of connecting the world, we should actively integrate into the overall situation of national development, serve national strategy and draw new momentum from national development. The dividends of these two shifts are being paid off.
Multiple advantages promote science and technology innovation
A few days ago, the Hong Kong Securities Regulatory Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange issued a joint announcement announcing the official launch of the“Science and Enterprise Hotline” to boost the applications of Twitter technology companies and biotechnology companies to go public, they will also be allowed to choose to submit their listing applications confidentially.
Industry insiders believe that the Hong Kong stock market significantly warmer in the background, “Science and enterprise line” launched, indicating that the Hong Kong stock market will be inclined to the depth of the technology sector. This measure is conducive to accurately solving the core pain points of special technology enterprises, and will effectively reduce the pressure of early information disclosure of planned IPO Enterprises.
Hong Kong’s financial markets have provided important support for technological and industrial innovation. At the same time, technological and industrial innovation has also added new impetus to Hong Kong stocks. Led by the strong performance of technology stocks, the Hong Kong stock market has performed well this year, with a more active IPO market. The market estimates that about HK $130 billion to HK $160 billion worth of new shares will be raised this year.
Chen Shaobo said that from the world’s second largest capital market for biotechnology financing to the cross-border R & D platform of the hetao shenzhen-hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, scientific and technological innovation is gradually becoming an important field for Hong Kong to give full play to its advantages and serve the country.
“Take the biotechnology track as an example, the momentum generated by the combination of Hong Kong’s multiple advantages is emerging,” he said, adding that the implementation of Chapter 18A of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s listing rules has attracted a large number of biotechnology start-ups to list in Hong Kong, this is the charm of Hong Kong as an international financial centre. The integration of Hong Kong and the mainland cities in the Guangdong-hong Kong-macao Greater Bay area has accelerated, and the agglomeration of biological industries has accelerated, forming a complete industrial chain upstream and downstream. Many universities in Hong Kong have established a large number of high-level platforms in the field of life science and technology, it has gathered a large number of high-level talents, which is an advantage that Hong Kong can use in the agglomeration of emerging industries and frontier basic research and development in the Greater Bay area.
With its free port policy, common law system and internationally competitive tax environment, Hong Kong continues to attract a global concentration of innovative elements, Ark said. Under the institutional advantage of“One Country, Two Systems”, Hong Kong can not only deeply integrate into the global city of the guangdong-hong Kong-macao Greater Bay area, but also maintain a seamless connection with the international innovation system, so as to play an irreplaceable role in the National Science and technology development layout.
“Building nests to attract phoenixes”
Several observers pointed out that in the future, Hong Kong should rely on its own advantages to focus on high value-added parts of the industrial chain. By giving priority to the introduction of leading technology enterprises settled, and then rely on settled enterprises to attract talents to Hong Kong. Only comprehensive optimization of education, industry, talent and other policies can better serve the national science and Technology Strategy.
Since 2022, Hong Kong has adopted various measures to speed up the implementation of the“Snatching Enterprises” policy. The 84 key enterprises introduced by the office for the introduction of key enterprises in the SAR government alone are expected to invest about HK $50 billion in Hong Kong in the next few years and create more than 20,000 jobs. These key enterprises are involved in advanced manufacturing and new energy technology, artificial intelligence and data science, financial technology and other fields.
Paul Chan, the Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, said that the key enterprises bring investment, jobs and technology to the city and support it in becoming an international innovation center, it also brings products and solutions that change lifestyles and spur innovation, which Hong Kong values.
In order to attract more high-tech Enterprises and talents to Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government will also introduce a series of new measures: set up a HK $10 billion“High-tech industry guidance fund”, to strengthen the guidance of market funds to invest in designated strategic emerging and future industries; to launch the HK $180 million“TTI accelerator pilot program” to attract domestic and foreign professional start-up business service agencies to set up accelerator bases in Hong Kong;. Set aside HK $1 billion to set up the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute, set aside HK $100 million to launch the“Manufacturing and production line ‘upgrade’ support pilot programme”…
“Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation has a promising future,” Chan said. Hong Kong is unleashing its creativity and vitality, and the road from governance to prosperity is getting wider and wider.