HKPC Fully Supports the Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address Advancing Deep Integration of AI and Industry to Accelerate the Development of New Productive Forces

(Hong Kong, 16 September 2026) The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) fully supports the Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan (Five-Year Plan) and the 2026 Policy Address announced by the Chief Executive today. The Five-Year Plan sets out a clear blueprint for Hong Kong’s economic and social development over the next five years, aligning comprehensively with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. It places strong emphasis on innovation and technology (I&T), and industrial development while promoting AI-enabled economic and social advancement.

The Five-Year Plan embraces the principle of “leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths to contribute to the national needs. It seeks to consolidate and strengthen Hong Kong’s unique advantages as the “four centres and one hub,” while accelerating the development of the city into an international I&T centre and an international hub for high-calibre talent. The Five-Year Plan also proposes increasing investment in I&T, with a goal of raising the ratio of total domestic expenditure on innovation activities to GDP to 3% after 2030, underscoring Hong Kong’s commitment to innovation-driven, high-quality growth. As an action blueprint for Hong Kong’s transition from stability to prosperity, the Five-Year Plan will further strengthen the city’s international competitiveness and growth momentum, while reinforcing its role as both a “super connector” and “super value-adder” in the country’s high-level opening-up.

Hon Sunny TAN, BBS, Chairman of HKPC said, “This year marks the launch of the National 15th Five-Year Plan period. Amid a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation, AI is rapidly progressing from technological breakthroughs to large-scale industrial applications, fundamentally reshaping global industrial, supply and value chains. Over the next five years, competition will not only be about technological innovation, but also about the ability to commercialise technologies and translate research outcomes into industrial applications. Hong Kong enjoys the unique advantage of being backed by the Motherland and connected to the world, while benefiting from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)’s comprehensive industrial ecosystem and abundant application scenarios. These conditions position the city well to develop AI and strategic emerging industries. The key to future development lies in transforming scientific research achievements into industrial growth drivers and converting innovation strengths into economic value, while strengthening the local pipeline of technology talent. HKPC welcomes the expansion of the STEM Internship Scheme, which will help lay a solid foundation for Hong Kong's development as an international hub for high-calibre talent and an international I&T Centre. As an international R&D organisation dedicated to driving enterprise transformation and advancing new industrialisation, HKPC will proactively support the implementation of the Five-Year Plan, leveraging its strengths in applied R&D, technology commercialisation and industrial support, injecting new momentum into traditional industries, energise emerging sectors and promote synergistic development, contributing to Hong Kong’s high-quality development.”

He added that “Rooted in Hong Kong, leveraging the GBA, serving the nation and bridging the World” will remain a key strategic direction for HKPC’s future development. As a key growth engine driving Hong Kong’s innovation and industrial development, the Northern Metropolis will serve as a vital platform connecting national development strategies with global innovation resources. HKPC welcomes the Policy Address's support for establishing, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the first centre of excellence on global advanced manufacturing in the Asia-Pacific region. The Centre will focus on AI+ manufacturing, robotics, new energy and industrial design, bringing together national and international innovation resources to strengthen Hong Kong's position as a global resource hub for advanced manufacturing.”

Empowering Industrial Upgrading and SME Transformation through AI
HKPC has long supported the HKSAR Government’s AI and digital economy agenda, assisting businesses and society to accelerate digital transformation through the adoption of AI+ initiatives. Through its “AI with HKPC” initiatives, HKPC continues to drive the wider adoption of AI. Under the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme, HKPC’s business empowerment training enhances AI literacy among enterprises and the wider community, enabling inclusive digital transformation for all. To facilitate practical AI implementation, HKPC will further expand the capabilities of its Digital DIY (DDIY) platform, integrating AI-assisted advisory services for SMEs, and assisting enterprises in assessing and addressing cybersecurity risks, as well as adopting AI. HKPC also welcomes the Policy Address’s further support for implementing projects involving AI elements under the BUD Fund, encouraging more SMEs to adopt AI and cybersecurity solutions to accelerate their upgrading and transformation.

As AI and cybersecurity become increasingly interconnected, HKPC is actively promoting trusted and responsible AI adoption. Through the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) and its AI governance and testing services, HKPC provides enterprises with AI risk management, security testing, data privacy assessment and governance support, helping them establish safe and reliable AI application environments.

Advancing New Industrialisation and Fostering Emerging Industry Clusters 
HKPC welcomes the HKSAR Government's plan to release the medium-to long-term development plan for new industrialisation in Hong Kong later this year, setting out a new industrialisation development pathway centred on "high-technology, high value-added" activities, accelerating the growth of emerging industries and producer services of strategic value, laying the foundation for future industries. HKPC will continue promoting the commercialisation and industrial application of R&D outcomes while accelerating the development of globally competitive strategic emerging industries. In support of the Northern Metropolis, HKPC will further advance the development of emerging industries including AI, life and health technology, microelectronics, advanced manufacturing and the low-altitude economy, strengthening collaboration among industry, academia and research sectors, supporting Hong Kong to develop a more complete I&T industrial chain and a new industrial ecosystem.

Regarding the low-altitude economy, and in support of the Five-Year Plan’s vision of establishing Hong Kong as an Asia-Pacific hub for innovative low-altitude applications and promoting cross-boundary low-altitude logistics in the GBA, as the technical partner of the “Regulatory Sandbox,” HKPC will actively support technology testing and validation, standards and certification development, regulatory technology applications, talent development and cross-boundary scenario exploration, continue contributing to the development of a competitive low-altitude economy ecosystem.

Rooted in Hong Kong, Leveraging the GBA, Serving the Nation, Bridging the World
HKPC continues to expand its service network across the GBA and the Yangtze River Delta, with 11 service points and three Centres of Excellence currently in operation. Through its “The Cradle - Go Global Service Centre,” the “Hong Kong Productivity Council -Yangtze River Delta Centre,” and its GBA service network, HKPC has provided comprehensive “6 Tactics to Go Global” support services to numerous projects, assisting enterprises expand into Chinese Mainland and international markets.

Looking ahead, HKPC will continue to align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan, leveraging national and international innovation resources to accelerate the commercialisation of I&T outcomes. By extending Hong Kong's innovation strengths across the GBA and beyond to the national and global stage, HKPC will transform technological strengths into industrial and competitive advantages, injecting fresh momentum into Hong Kong’s high-quality development and long-term prosperity.

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Hon Sunny Tan, BBS, Chairman of HKPC said that, “rooted in Hong Kong, leveraging the GBA, serving the nation and bridging the World” will remain a key strategic direction for HKPC’s future development. As an international R&D organisation dedicated to driving enterprise transformation and advancing new industrialisation, HKPC will proactively support the implementation of the Five-Year Plan. Leveraging its strengths in applied R&D, technology commercialisation and industrial support, injecting new momentum into traditional industries, energise emerging sectors and promote synergistic development, contributing to Hong Kong’s high-quality development.

HKPC is a statutory body established in 1967, dedicated to enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of Hong Kong enterprises through world-class applied R&D, innovative technology services, and integrated manufacturing solutions. As a market-oriented, international R&D organisation, HKPC leverages its deep expertise and extensive industry experience in key areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, life and health technology, green technology and new energy to drive new industrialisation and support the growth of emerging and future industries.