Sun Dong: Anchoring the national "AI+" strategy, exploring the "AI+ manufacturing" industry ecosystem with multiple approaches.

On March 25th, Professor Sun Dong, Director of the Hong Kong Innovation Technology Bureau, replied to questions from legislators, stating that the country has proposed the comprehensive implementation of the "AI+" initiative to promote the extensive integration of artificial intelligence with various industries and sectors of the economy and society. The Hong Kong Innovation Technology Bureau is actively aligning with the national "AI+" initiative to drive the application of artificial intelligence and the industrialization and integration of AI into industries. The Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research Institute will commence operations in the second half of 2026, serving as a bridge to promote upstream research and development of artificial intelligence, transformation of mid-to-downstream results, and exploration of application scenarios. This includes promoting the application of AI technology in the industry to help companies upgrade and transform. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will also establish the "AI+ and Industrial Development Strategy Committee" to formulate strategies to drive industrial transformation and development through AI, creating favorable conditions, and inviting experts, scholars, businesses, and park companies to participate, with an initial focus on healthcare and smart technologies. Under the "Innovation and Technology Fund," initiatives such as the "New Industrialization Funding Programme," the "Industrial Acceleration Programme," and the "Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Pioneer Programme" support companies in adopting digital and intelligent technologies in new or existing production lines/facilities, including data collection and analysis in the manufacturing process. Furthermore, the Hong Kong government has been promoting an open data policy where decision-making departments/agencies are required to open their data to the public for free use on the "Open Data Platform" website unless there are valid reasons (such as privacy concerns). Currently, the Open Data Platform provides data sets from over 110 departments/agencies and public/private institutions, with over 5,700 open data sets and 2,500 APIs available for free use. The Hong Kong Innovation Technology Bureau will continue to open up government data and encourage public/private institutions to open up more data for innovative applications. As of the end of February 2026, the Hong Kong Innovation Technology Bureau has supported nearly 620 promising or pioneering innovation and technology companies interested in developing, establishing, or expanding operations in Hong Kong. These companies cover various strategic industries, including equipment manufacturers, technology service providers, and solution providers in artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing, among others, which will help drive related industries to Hong Kong and promote the vibrant development of the innovation and technology ecosystem. The bureau will continue to use various channels to promote how Hong Kong can assist mainland tech companies in expanding into overseas markets and strengthening international cooperation, highlighting the development and policies of the innovation and technology industry in Hong Kong. Under the "Talent List," the Hong Kong government has included professional workers in innovation and technology fields, such as "senior artificial intelligence experts," to facilitate the entry of qualified foreign talents through various schemes for talent admission. Additionally, the government has introduced new channels under its general employment policy and talent admission scheme for professionals meeting the requirements of the "Technology Talent List" to apply for entry to engage in eight critically short labor sectors, including new industrial technologists. Moreover, the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Bureau has created a specific category under the "Technology Talent Admission Scheme" for strategic industries participating in the "Industrial Acceleration Programme," such as artificial intelligence and data science. This allows enterprises to flexibly hire non-local technical personnel with the necessary skills and experience to set up new intelligent production facilities in Hong Kong, meeting the talent needs of companies establishing new smart production facilities in the city. In terms of employee training, the "New Industrialization and Technology Training Programme" subsidizes local enterprises in a 1:1 matched funding program to provide high-end technology training for their employees, particularly in areas related to new industrialization. Additionally, the "Industrial Acceleration Programme" and "New Industrialization Funding Programme" not only support manufacturers in setting up new intelligent production lines but also provide training for employees on operating these intelligent production lines. The Hong Kong Productivity Council also strives to offer skills enhancement training for employees in intelligently-managed manufacturing enterprises, assisting them in acquiring expertise in various fields, including artificial intelligence. In higher education, the Hong Kong government has launched a three-year strategic talent development policy guideline for the period 2025-28 under the University Grants Committee. It has established a Higher Education Talent Development Strategy Platform to assist universities in designing new courses in response to government policies, market demands, and industry trends to cultivate relevant talent to meet the needs of Hong Kong's development. Additionally, the Hong Kong Education Bureau has always provided tuition assistance through the "Designated Professions/Sectors Programme" to encourage the establishment of courses in selected fields that meet social needs. Starting from the 2027/28 academic year, courses related to artificial intelligence will be given priority under this programme. The Vocational Training Council's Advanced Diploma courses mandatory information technology units will cover the application of artificial intelligence and continuously adapt to the suggestions made by its 25 Industry Training Advisory Committees to develop professionals tailored to market needs. The relevant policy bureaus and departments will continue to work on multiple fronts, expanding and deepening the application scenarios and industrial ecosystems of "AI+ manufacturing," attracting relevant talents worldwide to Hong Kong, and providing more high-quality development opportunities through training and education to support the Hong Kong manufacturing industry in seizing opportunities in a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, accelerating the intelligent and high-quality development of Hong Kong.