HKUST Fully Supports the Northern Metropolis Development

Prof. Nancy IP, President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), thanked the Chief Executive and the HKSAR Government for charting a clear roadmap for Hong Kong's future economic transformation and high-quality development. She welcomed the Government's commitment to expediting the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town and building an international university town that brings together talent cultivation, scientific research, technology transfer, and industrial development. President Ip said that HKUST stands ready to fully support the implementation of Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and the initiatives outlined in the 2026 Policy Address, contributing to a new chapter of medium- to long-term socioeconomic development for Hong Kong.

She commended the Five-Year Plan’s proactive alignment with the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which will establish a closer and more institutionalized mechanism for coordinating Hong Kong’s development with national development strategies. Such alignment will enable Hong Kong to better leverage its unique strengths in serving the country’s needs. 

President Ip noted that the Five-Year Plan focuses on several key areas, including the development of the Northern Metropolis, innovation and technology (I&T) and industrial development, the internationalization of higher education, as well as collaboration among academia, industry, and research sectors, and the translation of research outcomes. The forward-looking initiatives outlined in the Plan will help drive Hong Kong’s economic transformation and upgrading, foster new quality productive forces, and enable the city to better integrate into the nation’s overall development agenda. 

She especially welcomed the Government’s continued efforts to advance the planning of the Northern Metropolis University Town. She stated that, through streamlined administrative workflows and enhanced transport and community infrastructure, the initiative will accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis that is conducive to living, working, and innovation.

Participating in the Development of the Northern Metropolis University Town and Promoting Industry-Academia-Research Collaboration

Regarding the Five-Year Plan’s proposal to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis and its three university towns, President Ip expressed her support and agreed that the Northern Metropolis University Town would serve as an important hub for talent development, research and innovation, and the commercialization of research outcomes. She pointed out that the Northern Metropolis University Town is being planned under the concept of "One Town, Five Elements," integrating education, technology, talent, industry, and urban development. This holistic approach will help create a high-quality university community that is ideal for teaching, research, innovation, and living.

President Ip stated that Hong Kong's greatest strength lies in its international character, and that the Northern Metropolis University Town will serve as a crucial vehicle for further amplifying this advantage. She revealed that HKUST has actively promoted the vision of the Northern Metropolis University Town to leading overseas universities in recent years and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Many institutions have expressed strong interest in participating in the Northern Metropolis University Town’s development through collaborative initiatives such as joint research, talent development, and the establishment of international campuses. She believes that the University Town will become a premier platform for attracting global innovation resources, world-class talent, and leading academic institutions, further strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international hub for post-secondary education and a global center for innovation.

President Ip remarked: "HKUST is poised to support the implementation of the Plan and advance the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town. We welcome the Government’s efforts to expedite the development of the university towns in San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu, and Ta Kwu Ling, and support increasing the supply of land for education, research, and innovation and technology purposes within the Northern Metropolis. HKUST will closely examine the relevant arrangements and actively explore various opportunities to participate in the development of the Northern Metropolis. 

“HKUST possesses strong capabilities in life and health technologies, medical innovation, artificial intelligence, and microelectronics, all of which align closely with the University Town’s development priorities. We look forward to playing a more active role in the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town and will actively participate in the Hung Shui Kiu University Town tender process commencing this month. 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, injecting new momentum into the development of the Northern Metropolis and the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,” she added.

President Ip also said that, in today’s knowledge-based economy, the role of universities must extend beyond traditional teaching and research to include the commercialization of research outcomes and the advancement of industry, thereby supporting the entire innovation journey from breakthrough discovery to large-scale application. In line with this vision, HKUST is actively developing the HKUST Innovation Corridor. Under this framework, the Clear Water Bay campus serves as a hub for frontier research and global talent attraction; the Northern Metropolis campus focuses on technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and medical innovation; and the Greater Bay Area provides a platform for scaling up research outcomes and accelerating industrialization. Together, these three pillars will create a connected innovation ecosystem that fosters collaboration across academia, industry, and government, driving innovation-led growth and sustainable development.

At present, HKUST has established six innovation and entrepreneurship platforms across the Greater Bay Area, covering cities including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Foshan, to support technology transfer, business incubation, and innovation and entrepreneurial development. Since its launch at the end of last year, InnoBay, the deep-tech incubation platform located on the Clear Water Bay campus, has attracted more than 30 deep-tech start-ups. At the same time, HKUST established the HKUST Shanghai Center last year and plans to gradually expand its presence to other cities in the Yangtze River Delta and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, further strengthening its nationwide collaboration network.

Leveraging Strengths in Medical-Engineering Integration to Build an International Health and Medical Innovation Hub

President Ip emphasized that medical innovation and life and health technologies are among the key strategic priorities of the Northern Metropolis. HKUST is fully committed to the establishment of the third medical school. The Medical Education and Research Complex at the Clear Water Bay campus is expected to be completed by mid-2028 and will welcome its first cohort of medical students. HKUST also plans to use Kai Tak Hospital as its provisional teaching hospital and is actively discussing the relevant teaching arrangements with the HKSAR Government and the Hospital Authority.

She highlighted that, with HKUST's future medical school to be located in the San Tin University Town, together with the Government's plan to advance the development of medical school facilities and a comprehensive teaching, research, and clinical hospital, strong synergies will be created with the Hetao Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, the San Tin Technopole, and the University Town. These initiatives will jointly advance medical talent development, breakthroughs in frontier research, and the clinical translation of healthcare technologies, further reinforcing Hong Kong's position as an international hub for medical innovation and health technology.

President Ip said: "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. Through these efforts, we aim to foster deeper integration among industry, academia, and research, and accelerate the translation of innovation into real-world impact."

Strengthening the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem and Contributing to Nation’s Space Development

She welcomed the Government’s continued support for the development of strategic emerging industries and frontier technologies. She remarked: “For research outcomes to truly benefit society, it is essential to bridge the critical gap between laboratory discoveries and market applications. HKUST will continue to leverage its strengths in artificial intelligence and frontier technologies through interdisciplinary education and research, with strategic focuses on biotechnology and translational medicine, advanced materials science and future energy, aerospace, quantum technology, semiconductor and chip technologies, innovative business management and fintech, environmental sustainability, as well as arts technology and the humanities. At the same time, 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.”

President Ip also expressed support for the launch of a new round of the Innovation and Technology Support Programme Special Call on Aerospace Technology. Over the years, HKUST has actively participated in national space missions, including leading the development of Hong Kong's first payload, "MUSICO," leading the international collaboration project "Hong Kong Operational Robot" for the national lunar exploration program, and establishing the Hong Kong Space Robotics and Energy Center to continuously drive aerospace research and talent development in Hong Kong.

Attracting Global Top Talent and Building an International Hub for High-caliber Talent

She was encouraged by the Government’s initiatives to enhance the internationalization of higher education, promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, and strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international hub for post-secondary education. She stressed that talent is the driving force behind innovation and social progress, and that one of Hong Kong’s greatest advantages lies in its highly internationalized environment and unique position as a gateway connecting the world with China.

President Ip pointed out that HKUST has consistently supported Hong Kong’s development as a global hub for high-caliber talent by expanding its worldwide recruitment network, attracting outstanding students from around the world to pursue their studies in Hong Kong, and recruiting leading international scholars to engage in teaching and research. These efforts have continuously strengthened the University’s international profile and academic competitiveness.

HKUST is also committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive campus environment that encourages meaningful interaction among students from different cultural backgrounds. Through this vibrant multicultural community, the University aims to nurture future leaders equipped with a global outlook, strong cross-cultural communication skills, and an innovative mindset.

“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. We support the Government’s efforts to elevate the international profile of Hong Kong’s higher education sector, attract world-class students and scholars, and further strengthen the city’s position as a premier destination for global talent,” she added.

President Ip further noted that HKUST has continued to expand its international student community in recent years. In the current academic year, non-local undergraduate students enrolled at HKUST come from more than 65 countries and regions worldwide, with international students accounting for nearly half of the cohort. At the postgraduate level, she welcomed the HKSAR Government’s plan to gradually increase the annual quota of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme from 400 places to 550 beginning in the 2027/28 academic year and reaching full implementation by 2029/30. Over the past 17 academic years, HKUST has enrolled more than 1,000 HKPFS awardees, the highest number among local universities, reflecting its strong global reputation and ability to attract top academic talent.