Hong Kong Science Park launched a new technological innovation service platform at its Shenzhen branch on Monday, aiming to further empower young entrepreneurs and innovators.
The Hetao-Hong Kong Youth Innovation Hub, based in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, will help startups better integrate into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area innovation ecosystem, tap the mainland market and expand access to international markets and resources.
The new hub will enable Hong Kong Science Park’s Shenzhen branch to provide enhanced services and resources to more outstanding tech companies and young entrepreneurs, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said at the launch ceremony in Shenzhen.
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Sun said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has spared no effort in driving the city’s innovation and technology development and has introduced multiple policies and measures.
As part of this drive, the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao cooperation zone, nestled in the Lok Ma Chau Loop near the Shenzhen-Hong Kong border, came into operation in December, with a first batch of over 60 tenants from life and health technology, new energy, artificial intelligence and other pillar industries moving in.
The government will continue to work with “a sense of urgency” to speed up the development of the Hong Kong Park through a "moving in while construction is underway" approach and under a public-private partnership model, Sun added.
Hong Kong’s commitment to I&T development was further underscored by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s latest Budget, delivered last week. The finance chief said he will seek HK$10 billion ($1.28 billion) in funding from the Legislative Council to fast-track the development of the Hong Kong Park. This includes leveraging market forces to speed up the development of the remaining sites in the first phase of the park, providing critical infrastructure, further enhancing support for startups and establishing venture capital funds.
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Sunny Chai Ngai-chiu, chairman of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, emphasized the importance of Shenzhen-Hong Kong collaboration in advancing the country’s vision of becoming a global tech powerhouse.
“Through the integrated model of ‘research in Hong Kong, manufacturing on the mainland, clinical trials in the Greater Bay Area’, we will achieve the ‘Greater Together’ vision,” he said.
As one of the major platforms for promoting technological collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, Hetao has made remarkable progress in attracting high-quality innovation resources. The cooperation zone has accumulated over 200 high-end research projects and attracted over 16,000 research professionals so far.
A number of Hong Kong universities, including the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Chinese University of Hong Kong have set up research institutes there.
To provide a legal guarantee for its development, Hetao’s Shenzhen Park formulated regulations covering personnel, goods, capital and data flow, which came into effect on Sunday.
Under the new rules, the cross-boundary movement of research-related goods and products between Hong Kong and Hetao will be streamlined, with designated personnel allowed to carry such items freely. Qualified overseas researchers will also enjoy visa-free entry to work in the Shenzhen Park.
Contact the writer at sally@chinadailyhk.com
