HKPC Welcomes the “Development Outline for Hong Kong Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone”

(Hong Kong, 20 November 2024) The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) welcomes the HKSAR Government’s announcement of the "Development Outline for the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone" (the Development Outline) today (20 November). HKPC fully supports and will align with the vision, strategies, and objectives set out in the Development Outline, to expedite Hong Kong's transformation into an International Innovation and Technology (I&T) Centre and achieve high-quality development.

Hon Sunny TAN, Chairman of the HKPC, said, "The ‘Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone’ (the Hetao Cooperation Zone) is one of the major cooperation platforms under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. The Development Outline marks a milestone, heralding a new stage of integrated development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and collaborative innovation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. As a crutial member in Hong Kong's I&T ecosystem, HKPC will continue to leverage its world-leading research and development (R&D) capabilities and extensive experience in connecting Hong Kong, Mainland, and global I&T and industrial stakeholders, to establish more international R&D collaboration platforms, and facilitate the implementation of the Development Outline. We will promote cross-boundary flow of innovation elements, provide high-end production service for enterprises from home and overseas, drive the development and commercialisation of key technologies, enhance intellectual property (IP) protection, to help build the Cooperation Zone as a world-class industry-academia-research platform and a key driver for high-quality development."

As a nationwide leader in innovative, market-driven R&D internationally, specialising in leading technologies and all-rounded manufacturing services, HKPC promotes new industrialisation in Hong Kong and the GBA and fosters the development of new productive forces. By leveraging advanced technologies, talent training, and Government funding schemes, HKPC supports SMEs, helping industries in the upgrade and transformation towards high-end, intelligent, and green development. Meanwhile, HKPC provides comprehensive support to enterprises in seizing new business opportunities in ASEAN and other countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative, helping them capitalise on Hong Kong's unique strengths to enhance international competitiveness.

HKPC will strive to expand its R&D collaboration network with local, Mainland, and international partners. By collaborating with top-tier I&T institutions such as RWTH Aachen University, the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (Fraunhofer IPT) in Germany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Tsinghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Zhongguancun, the Yangtze River Delta National Technology Innovation Center, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, and the Shenzhen Data Exchange, HKPC aims to accelerate the commercialisation of I&T achievements. This will help enterprises address production and technological challenges, reinforcing Hong Kong's position as a "multinational supply chain management centre", particularly in strategic industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), life and health technologies, advanced manufacturing, new energy, and the low-altitude economy.

Going forward, HKPC will continue to strengthen collaboration with the partners across government, industry, academia, research and investment sectors, to attract and cultivate R&D talent both locally and internationally. Together, we will support the high-quality development of the Hetao Cooperation Zone, and shape a new industrial development landscape within the GBA. HKPC is committed to leveraging its strengths to serve the country's needs, and contributing to the country’s pursuit to become a strong nation in science and technology.

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Hon Sunny TAN, Chairman of the HKPC, said, the “Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone” marks a milestone, heralding a new stage of integrated development in the GBA and collaborative innovation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. HKPC will continue to leverage its world-leading R&D capabilities and extensive experience in connecting Hong Kong, Mainland, and global I&T and industrial stakeholders, and facilitate the implementation of the Development Outline. We will promote cross-boundary flow of innovation elements, provide high-end production services for enterprises from home and overseas, drive the development and commercialisation of key technologies, enhance intellectual property (IP) protection, to help build the Cooperation Zone as a world-class industry-academia-research platform.