Hong Kong: Strengthening the Position of an International Innovation and Technology Hub Based on Heung Yee Kuk and the San Tin Technopolis

On September 8, the World Intellectual Property Organization announced the top 100 innovation clusters in the "2026 Global Innovation Index," with the "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou" cluster ranking first in the world once again. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government warmly welcomed this and believes that the ranking reaffirms the outstanding innovation capability of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and its supportive financial ecosystem for innovative technologies. The HKSAR government pointed out that accelerating the development of innovation and technology is a key policy focus of the current government. The authorities have been dedicated to improving the innovation and technology ecosystem, and their efforts are beginning to show results. The number of startups rose from just over 1,500 in 2015 to over 5,200 last year. The two flagship innovation and technology hubs, Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport, have witnessed the emergence of about 20 unicorn companies to date. Additionally, the Hong Kong Park of the Lok Ma Chau Loop Technology and Innovation Cooperation Zone was officially opened in December last year, and currently, over 100 technology companies or institutions have signed leases and are moving in gradually. With the strong collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the Lok Ma Chau Hong Kong Park is set to become an important platform for fundamental research,, pilot production, and international innovation and technology cooperation in the Greater Bay Area, driving high-quality development. The San Tin Technological City Limited was also officially established in June 2026 to fully promote the development of 210 hectares of land for innovation and technology, forming an important link for coordinated development between the Lok Ma Chau Hong Kong Park. The HKSAR government also noted that the private equity market in Hong Kong is thriving, with an asset management scale nearing $250 billion, ranking second in Asia, following mainland China. Looking ahead, Hong Kong will proactively align itself with the national 14th Five-Year Plan, strengthen its strategic positioning as an international innovation and technology center, and further deepen cooperation with sister cities in the Greater Bay Area, contributing to the nation's efforts in building a modern industrial system and achieving a high level of technological self-reliance and strength. The Global Innovation Index cluster ranking identifies the concentration of world-class innovation activities in local areas through three core indicators: the number of international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the volume of scientific papers published, and the volume of venture capital transactions. In the 2026 ranking, the "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou" cluster achieved a patent application density of 2,259 per million people, a scientific paper publication density of 4,060 per million people, and a venture capital transaction density of 138 per million people over the past five years.