Hong Kong has always been a city that reinvents itself. From trading port to financial hub, each chapter has been written by those bold enough to see what comes next.
The HKSAR Government's 2026 Policy Address and its first-ever Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) mark another such turning point — a clear line from the city's storied past to a future built on innovation, talent, and high-value industries. It is a historic milestone, not only for long-term growth, but for deeper integration with the nation's development.
This is not unfamiliar territory for HKUST. The University's vision of integrating education, research, entrepreneurship, and industry has been shaping its work for years — and now it converges with the city's plan.
Northern Metropolis: The Opportunity of a Generation
If the Five-Year Plan has a beating heart, it is the Northern Metropolis — and within it, three university towns that could redefine Hong Kong's higher education landscape.
For HKUST, this isn't a new direction. It's the natural extension of a vision the University has pursued for years: bringing education, research, entrepreneurship, and industry together under one roof to drive innovation-led growth.
Prof. Nancy IP, President of HKUST, sees the University Town as far more than a construction project. She stated, "The Northern Metropolis University Town will serve as a major hub for talent development, research and innovation, and the commercialization of research outcomes. It will also serve as a crucial vehicle for further amplifying one of Hong Kong's greatest strengths: its international character."
That international character isn't just a talking point. HKUST has been making the case for the University Town vision to top universities overseas — and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. A number of institutions from around the world have expressed keen interest in collaborations spanning teaching, talent development, and research, as well as in bringing their partner enterprises to the University Town.
Turning Vision into Action
As Hong Kong advances its ambitions for innovation-led growth, HKUST is well positioned to contribute through its strengths in education, research and knowledge transfer. The University's capabilities in life and health technologies, medical innovation, artificial intelligence and microelectronics align closely with the strategic priorities of the Northern Metropolis University Town.
Prof. Ip welcomed the Government's efforts to expedite development in San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu and Ta Kwu Ling, together with plans to increase land supply for education, research and innovation purposes.
"HKUST will closely examine the relevant arrangements and actively explore various opportunities to participate in the development of the Northern Metropolis," Prof. Ip added.
Demonstrating this commitment, the University will participate in the Hung Shui Kiu University Town tender process commencing this month, taking an active role in helping shape a vibrant hub for talent, research and innovation.
Building an Innovation Ecosystem Across Hong Kong and Beyond
The Northern Metropolis is a key pillar of HKUST's broader vision to strengthen Hong Kong's innovation landscape. Through the development of the HKUST Innovation Corridor, the University is creating an interconnected network that brings together talent, research, entrepreneurship and industry partnerships across Hong Kong and the wider region.
Under this vision, the Clear Water Bay campus will continue to serve as a hub for frontier research and global talent attraction, while future developments in the Northern Metropolis will focus on technology transfer, entrepreneurship and medical innovation. Together with HKUST's expanding presence across the Greater Bay Area, these efforts are designed to accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to real-world application.
The University has already established six innovation and entrepreneurship platforms across Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Foshan, supporting technology transfer, business incubation and start-up development. Since its launch late last year, InnoBay, HKUST's deep-tech incubation platform at Clear Water Bay, has attracted more than 30 deep-tech start-ups. Meanwhile, the HKUST Shanghai Centre is extending its reach to other cities in the Yangtze River Delta and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, further strengthening a nationwide innovation and collaboration network.
As Prof. Ip noted, HKUST's vision extends beyond individual projects or locations. "By working in synergy with the Hetao Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, the San Tin Technopole, and innovation and technology partners across the region, we aim to foster deeper integration among talent, research, industry, and capital, and jointly build an innovation ecosystem with global impact."
Advancing Healthcare Innovation in the Northern Metropolis
As the Northern Metropolis takes shape as a center for innovation and technology, HKUST sees a unique opportunity to help advance the future of healthcare. By integrating medical education, cutting-edge research and technological innovation, HKUST aims to contribute to a dynamic ecosystem that accelerates discoveries from the laboratory to clinical and community settings.
A major milestone is the development of HKUST's School of Medicine and the Medical Education and Research Complex at Clear Water Bay, which is expected to be completed in 2028. Looking ahead, a future medical school in the San Tin University Town could further strengthen collaboration with nearby research and development facilities, creating new opportunities to advance medical research, clinical translation and healthcare innovation across the region.
As Prof. Ip explained, "HKUST is actively establishing its School of Medicine with a global vision and a strong emphasis on innovation. We will capitalize on the Northern Metropolis' strategic location and industrial strengths to develop an AI Foundry, supporting the research and development, testing, validation, and commercialization of medical artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced sensing technologies, and digital health solutions."
By bringing together expertise from academia, industry and the healthcare sector, HKUST aims to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into practical solutions, helping to shape a healthier and more innovative future for Hong Kong and beyond.
Powering the Industries of the Future
The Northern Metropolis is envisioned as a platform for nurturing emerging industries and driving innovation-led growth. Supporting this vision, HKUST continues to advance research and innovation across a wide range of strategic fields, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced materials, future energy, aerospace, quantum technology, and semiconductor and chip technologies.
Beyond generating new knowledge, the University is focused on translating research into real-world impact through close collaboration with industry partners, investors and entrepreneurs. By strengthening connections across the Greater Bay Area and beyond, HKUST aims to accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to practical application, helping to foster new industries and create opportunities for sustainable economic growth.
As Prof. Ip noted, "By integrating research platforms, industry partners, technology capital, and supply chain resources across the Greater Bay Area, we will accelerate the commercialization and real-world application of research outcomes, advance the development of emerging industries, and nurture more innovation and technology enterprises with global competitiveness."
A Gateway for Global Minds
The success of the Northern Metropolis will depend not only on infrastructure and investment, but also on its ability to attract, nurture and retain world-class talent. HKUST sees the Northern Metropolis University Town as a significant opportunity to deepen international collaboration and strengthen Hong Kong's appeal as a global destination for higher education and innovation. The University has already built a diverse and international learning environment, with non-local undergraduate students coming from more than 65 countries and regions, and international students accounting for nearly half of the undergraduate cohort this academic year.
As Prof. Ip noted, "With its unique advantage of being firmly connected to the Motherland while serving as a gateway to the world, Hong Kong is well positioned to attract and nurture global talent. Universities are vital platforms for fostering international collaboration and bringing together the brightest minds from across the globe."
The University's vision aligns closely with the Government's efforts to enhance the internationalization of Hong Kong's higher education sector and strengthen the "Study in Hong Kong" brand. Through partnerships with leading institutions worldwide and its participation in the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town, HKUST aims to help create a vibrant global community of talent, driving innovation, knowledge exchange and sustainable growth for Hong Kong and the wider region.
The Road Ahead
As Hong Kong embarks on its first Five-Year Plan, HKUST sees both an opportunity and a responsibility to contribute its strengths in research, innovation and talent development.
Through its participation in the Northern Metropolis, its expanding presence across the Greater Bay Area, and its commitment to fostering global partnerships, the University is poised to support Hong Kong's transformation into a leading international hub for innovation, education and high-value industries.
As the city charts its next chapter of development, HKUST looks forward to working alongside government, industry and academic partners to help turn the vision of the Five-Year Plan into lasting impact for Hong Kong, the nation and the wider region. The blueprint is drawn. The moment is now. And HKUST is ready.
