HKUST Welcomes the “Development Outline for the Hong Kong Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone” | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Prof. Nancy IP, President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), warmly welcomes the "Development Outline for the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone" (the Outline), announced by the HKSAR Government today. She believes the Outline presents a visionary strategic plan for the development of the Hong Kong Park, which will significantly boost Hong Kong's status as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub.

With measures, such as establishing a world-class industry-academia-research platform as well as a competitive R&D transformation and pilot production base for industries, Prof. Ip said the Outline would help create a thriving I&T ecosystem.  The Outline leverages Hong Kong's strengths as an international city to attract and consolidate global resources, and fully capitalizes on the strategic position of the cooperation zone to advance targeted institutional and policy innovations. This initiative aligns well with the “Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint” previously launched by the Government. Prof. Ip believes that this will optimize collaborations between Hong Kong and the Mainland, leading to new models and opportunities for partnership.

Prof. Ip added that HKUST aspires to be one of the first institutions to enter the Hong Kong Park, and fully supports its development. The Park’s key strategic directions in the life sciences, artificial intelligence and data science, and advanced manufacturing, closely align with HKUST's academic and research strengths, which are actively being developed. The Government has also proposed a series of policies in the Outline to advance Hong Kong’s development as a health and medical innovation hub. These include the establishment of life and health technology research institutes and InnoLife Healthtech Hub; attracting additional local and international life science research enterprises, pharmaceutical companies, and talent to Hong Kong for research and clinical trials; further enhancing the safe and orderly flow of biological samples and medical data from the mainland, as well as facilitating the coordination of clinical trials across borders to accelerate the development of new drugs and treatments.

HKUST places great importance on the strategic significance and development potential of the cooperation zone. As one of the first Hong Kong universities to establish a presence in the Shenzhen Park, by founding the HKUST Shenzhen-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation Research Institute in 2020, the University is actively exploring further development there. HKUST looks forward to its involvement in the Hong Kong Park with great enthusiasm. The University seeks to contribute to the creation of new models, systems, and policies for cooperation through the synergistic development of its initiatives at both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Parks, supporting Hong Kong and the country’s ambitions to become an international I&T center and a robust innovative nation, respectively.

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university committed to innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. Our holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach is recognized globally. HKUST placed 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, and 12 subjects ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024. Of these, "Data Science and Artificial Intelligence" ranked first in Hong Kong and 10th in the world. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently placing among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. Our research and entrepreneurship endeavors are also innovative and impactful. Over 80% of our work was rated “internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the latest Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of the Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of October 2024, HKUST members have founded over 1,800 active start-ups, including 10 Unicorns and 14 exits (IPO or M&A).