Hong Kong Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau: Hong Kong to build an international innovation and technology center after 2030, striving for R&D expenditure to reach 3% of GDP by 2030.

Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of Hong Kong, attended the "2026 Technology + New Quality Productivity Summit Forum" hosted by the Hong Kong Chinese Friendship Association today (October 13), where he explained the innovation and technology development arrangements of the "First Five-Year Plan of Hong Kong" and laid out the timetable for building Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology center, with the goal of basically completing the establishment of an international innovation and technology center after 2030 that is rooted in the Greater Bay Area, radiates across the country, and connects to the world. The plan sets two core quantitative targets: striving for total local innovation activity expenditure to reach 3% of GDP by 2030 (1.63% in 2024); and raising the added value of manufacturing and new-type industrial industries to 5.5% of GDP after five years (3.8% in 2024). Both targets require annual growth of 10% or above, making them highly challenging. In terms of the innovation and technology system layout, Hong Kong will build a new pattern of "three major innovation and technology parks and five major research and development institutions." The three major parks include the Hetao Hong Kong Park, Cyberport, and the Science Park, forming a north-central-south layout; the five major research and development institutions cover the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, as well as the three newly established research institutes for microelectronics, artificial intelligence, and life and health. At the same time, Hong Kong will make good use of 15 national key laboratories and 38 InnoHK research center platforms, aim at national strategic science and technology fields such as aerospace and quantum, promote the industrialization of research achievements through the "Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme" and other initiatives, encourage central state-owned enterprises and others to set up research and development and achievement transformation platforms in Hong Kong, and open up the entire chain from research and development to testing to application. Regarding the Northern Metropolis, the plan is to build three university towns in San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu, and Ta Kwu Ling, adopting a "one town, five elements" model. The Hetao Institute for Research and Innovation Building No. 1, as a flagship project, will introduce the United Nations Industrial Development Organization's first Asia-Pacific Global Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing; the San Tin Technopole will undertake the landing of research achievements, focus on developing life and health, AI, Siasun Robot&Automation, microelectronics, and new energy and new materials, link with the industrial chains of the Greater Bay Area, and achieve upstream-downstream connectivity from research and development to pilot testing to mass production. In terms of new industrialization, Hong Kong is advancing in four directions: upgrading traditional industries, developing strategic emerging industries, laying out future industries, and strengthening producer services. At present, the "New Industrialization Funding Scheme" has supported more than 130 smart production lines; the first batch of 8 enterprises under the "New Industrialization Elite Enterprise Cultivation Scheme" has been announced. Within the year, the Hong Kong government will release the "Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan for Hong Kong's New Industrialization," promote the establishment of the first National Manufacturing Innovation Center in Hong Kong, and continue to implement the "AI+" action to improve the AI industry ecosystem. Sun Dong said that the government will adhere to combining a proactive government with an effective market and translate the plan's vision into development results.