The old Chinese idiom, “It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person”, is more relevant today than ever before. In an era increasingly defined by artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and technological competition, talent has become one of the world’s most valuable strategic resources.
Around the world, governments are reaching a similar conclusion. AI is transforming industries at remarkable speed. Semiconductor technologies have become a matter of national strategy. Green tech, biotech and advanced manufacturing are reshaping global competition. In this environment, countries are increasingly competing not only for markets or investment but also for talent.
One thing that often strikes me when speaking at conferences in different countries is that conversations about economic growth always end up returning to the same subject: talent. Whether discussing fintech in Hong Kong, AI in Shenzhen or digital finance in Europe, the conclusion is remarkably similar: technology matters, capital matters. But without skilled people capable of creating, improving and commercializing new ideas, neither can deliver its full potential.
This matters not only for the Chinese mainland but also for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, the city’s universities, research institutions and international outlook place it in a unique position to complement the mainland’s long-term talent strategy. As the nation strengthens investment in education and scientific research, as stipulated in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for Education Development, the SAR stands to benefit by attracting researchers, expanding academic collaboration and serving as an international platform connecting Chinese innovation with the rest of the world.
In this context, the SAR government has made it increasingly clear that education, innovation and technology are central pillars of Hong Kong’s long-term vision. The direction of travel goes well beyond student intake. Investment is increasingly being channeled into expanding capacity, strengthening research capabilities and fostering deeper collaboration between universities, industry and government
Indeed, the SAR has spent the past few years talking about AI, innovation, the Northern Metropolis and deeper integration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. However, I have always believed that infrastructure alone does not create innovation. Governments can build science parks. They can finance laboratories. They can develop technology clusters and provide generous incentives. All of these measures are important. But unless talented people fill those buildings with ideas, curiosity and creativity, they remain just buildings.
The real infrastructure of the 21st century is increasingly human rather than physical. This is one reason why Hong Kong’s universities are a key pillar of the city’s future development. In that regard, the results of the QS World University Rankings 2027 provide another illustration of that idea and offer encouraging news for Hong Kong. For the first time, the Chinese University of Hong Kong was ranked among the world’s top 20 universities, while the University of Hong Kong maintained its position at No 11; and Hong Kong has Asia’s most improved higher education system for a second consecutive year, with seven of its previously ranked universities improving, two maintaining their positions, and none declining, which is also a remarkable achievement indeed.
In the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2026, Hong Kong’s institutions also continued to perform strongly across multiple dimensions, including teaching, research, international outlook and industry collaboration. Taken together, these rankings show that Hong Kong is not only one of the world’s leading financial centers but also an international education hub capable of attracting talent, generating knowledge and providing opportunities for both local and overseas students. These results arrive at just the right time.
Hong Kong has recently launched public consultations for the city’s first five-year blueprint, which is to be aligned with the national 15th Five-Year Plan. Education, innovation and technology, talent development and economic diversification are expected to feature prominently in that road map. In this context, universities will play a crucial role in helping translate long-term ambitions into reality.
What makes a university strong is a combination of many factors, such as public funding and the right public policies, academic output, the quality of its researchers and professors, its degree of internationalization, and, of course, its location. From the standpoint of quality of life, the more attractive a city’s location, the easier it will be for a university situated there to attract more international talent, be it researchers or students. And this leads me to my main premise: What makes Hong Kong so interesting, unique and attractive?
Hong Kong ranks third globally in the Global Financial Centres Index and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster ranks first globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025; studying in such an important financial and innovation hub — which is also a gateway to the Chinese mainland — is an added value for the students.
In this context, the SAR government has made it increasingly clear that education, innovation and technology are central pillars of Hong Kong’s long-term vision. The direction of travel goes well beyond student intake. Investment is increasingly being channeled into expanding capacity, strengthening research capabilities and fostering deeper collaboration between universities, industry and government.
The planned Northern Metropolis University Town is one of the clearest examples of this ambition, illustrating how education is being embedded directly into Hong Kong’s broader innovation and technology (I&T) development, as well as its economic transformation and growth strategy. This approach is to be further reinforced by the city’s first comprehensive five-year development blueprint. Meanwhile, a stronger national talent pipeline to be built under the latest national education strategy can reinforce the city’s I&T ambitions. The national education strategy and Hong Kong’s I&T ambitions will mutually reinforce each other, proving to be one of the city’s greatest advantages in the years ahead.
The author is a fintech adviser, a researcher and a former business analyst for a Hong Kong publicly listed company.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
