Goal

• To develop Hong Kong into an international I&T centre, including technology industry research centre and pilot testing base.

Directions

• To further strengthen and enhance our advantages in basic scientific research; foster the development of the I&T industry; and promote the transformation, realisation and commercialisation of research and development (R&D) outcomes, thereby creating more industries and trades, developing new industries and strategic emerging new industries, enhancing the development of Hong Kong’s real economy, and providing more quality employment and business opportunities.

Models

• By capitalising on the distinctive advantages of “enjoying strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world”, Hong Kong can pool together global innovation resources, as well as attract enterprises, investments and talents.
• By actively integrating into the overall development of the country and joining hands with Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area), as well as consolidating our advantage as a cosmopolitan community, we will build Hong Kong into a global highland for technological innovation.

Industry facilitation policy

• Focus on strategic industries, including life and health technology, artificial intelligence and robotics, advanced manufacturing and new energy technology, to facilitate potential or leading I&T enterprises around the globe to develop in Hong Kong, thereby accelerating the development of new industrialisation.
• The Hong Kong Science Park formulates attractive special facilitation measures covering aspects such as land, tax and financial support that are applicable exclusively to potential or leading enterprises by making use of the HK$5 billion Strategic Tech Fund and provides multi-faceted support for enterprises and leading I&T talents around the globe to bring with them their business or R&D outcomes to Hong Kong, including tailor-made plans to facilitate the setting up of operations in Hong Kong and one-stop facilitation services to employees of these enterprises in areas such as visa application and education for their children.
• Cyberport has been dedicated to providing digital tech enterprises with precise landing and expansion packages and one-stop support, including lease negotiations, marketing initiatives, proof-of-concept testing, expansion of application use cases, advanced computing power and data storage facilities, and consultation services on corporate financing and compliance, etc. Moreover, Cyberport’s partnership networks also establish collaboration platforms for technical and professional services, enhancing the interaction of the landing enterprises with other I&T organisations and investors for market and fund matching, enabling enterprises to expand across local and overseas markets.
• Enhance Cyberport’s Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme to provide small and medium enterprises in food and beverage, retail, tourism and personal services sectors with subsidies on a matching basis, so as to empower enterprises to apply ready-to-use basic digital solutions in digital payment systems and shopfront sales, online promotion, customer management systems, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity categories, thereby facilitating the digital transformation and boosting their competitiveness.
• The government will launch the I&T Industry-Oriented Fund in 2026-27 to proactively channel market capital to invest in emerging and future industries of strategic importance, including life and health technology, artificial intelligence and robotics, semi-conductors and smart devices, advanced materials and new energy, etc. in an effort to accelerate the development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong and get past “the last mile” in the development of the I&T industry.
• The Hong Kong New Industrialisation Development Alliance is established to promote closer collaboration among the Government and the industry, academia, research and investment sectors, building a co-operative platform for new industrialisation in Hong Kong. This includes providing more financing opportunities and fostering I&T co-operation between newly-listed companies in Hong Kong and local universities.
• Proactively reach out to target enterprises and talents by setting up Dedicated Teams for Attracting Businesses and Talents in the Mainland Offices and overseas Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs).
• Establish the HK$30 billion Co-Investment Fund, managed by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited, for attracting enterprises to set up operations in Hong Kong and investing in their business, with a view to facilitating strategic growth enterprises to grow in Hong Kong.
• Set aside $6 billion to provide subsidies for universities and research institutes to set up thematic research centres with a view to enhancing support for the transformation of R&D outcomes as well as R&D activities related to life and health technology.
• Enhance Hong Kong’s listing regime with a view to fully realising and leveraging the advantages of the capital market by facilitating fundraising of advanced technology enterprises that have yet to meet the profit and trading record requirements. The Government is also planning to provide a more effective and diversified fundraising platform for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups.

Strive to develop the advanced manufacturing industry

• Provide high-specification space for advanced manufacturing by developing the Microelectronic Centre and exploring the construction of the second Advanced Manufacturing Centre.
• Establish the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute which is committed to spearheading collaboration among universities, R&D centres and the industry on the R&D of third‑generation semi‑conductor core technology and leveraging the GBA’s well‑developed manufacturing industry chain and enormous market.
• Launched the New Industrialisation Funding Scheme which aims to subsidise manufacturers up to HK$15 million for each production line fulfilling the "smart manufacturing" criteria in Hong Kong on a matching basis.
• Launched a $10 billion New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme to provide financial assistance for enterprises in the fields of life and health technologies, AI and data science, advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies. These include providing funding support for the set‑up of new production facilities in Hong Kong on a matching basis, with a maximum of $200 million funding.
• Enterprises under the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme may employ non‑local technical personnel more flexibly, and enjoy relaxed restrictions for engaging subsidised research talents.
• Launched the Pilot Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Support Scheme to provide funds to local manufacturers on a matching basis, encouraging them to adopt smart production technologies and upgrade their production lines.
• Establish the third InnoHK cluster focusing on advanced manufacturing, materials, energy and sustainable development.

Promote artificial intelligence industry development

• The Cyberport’s Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Centre (AISC) supports the local demand for advanced computing power, enhancing Hong Kong’s R&D capabilities in various technological research and application fields, and promoting industry development of AI.
• Implement a $3 billion AI Subsidy Scheme to subsidise eligible users of Cyberport’s AISC.
• To prepare for the establishment of the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute, which will spearhead and support Hong Kong’s innovative R&D and industry applications of AI, focusing on facilitating upstream R&D, midstream and downstream transformation of R&D outcomes, and expanding application scenarios.
• Implemented the facilitation measure of the “Standard Contract for the Cross-boundary Flow of Personal Information within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Mainland, Hong Kong)” with a view to facilitating the cross-boundary flow of personal information from the Mainland cities in the GBA to Hong Kong and streamlining the relevant arrangements, to continuously fuel the development of AI and digital economy.

Trawl for talents and facilitate their coming and stay in Hong Kong

• Through providing special facilitation measures in a targeted manner, attract leading I&T talents around the globe to bring with them their business or R&D outcomes to Hong Kong.
• Established the Talents Service Unit which will provide one-stop online service for talents.
• Established physical office of the Hong Kong Talent Engage to provide support for incoming talents and follow up with their development and needs after arrival.
• Organised a “Global Talent Summit cum Guangdong‑Hong Kong‑Macao Greater Bay Area High‑quality Talent Development Conference” to promote regional exchange and co‑operation in talent attraction.
• Introduced the Top Talent Pass Scheme to attract top talents with rich work experience and good academic qualifications from all over the world to explore opportunities in Hong Kong. These top talents include high-income talents and graduates from the world’s top universities.
• Introduced a new channel under the General Employment Policy and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals to allow outside individuals to apply for entry into Hong Kong to join skilled trades facing acute manpower shortage. Applicants are required to be non-degree professionals meeting the relevant qualifications as specified in the Technical Professional List.
• Introduced the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme to attract highly skilled or talented persons to settle in Hong Kong in order to enhance Hong Kong's economic competitiveness.
• Enhanced the Technology Talent Admission Scheme to provide a fast-track arrangement for eligible companies to admit overseas and Mainland technology talent to undertake R&D work.
• Enhanced the Research Talent Hub Scheme by increasing the subsidies provided for research institutions and I&T enterprises for employing research talents to conduct R&D. The maximum monthly allowance for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree holders is HK$20,000, HK$23,000 and HK$35,000 respectively. Research talents with a doctoral degree are further provided with a living allowance.
• Launched the New Industrialisation and Technology Training Programme to fund local enterprises on a matching basis to train their staff in advanced technologies, especially those related to "New Industrialisation".
• Implemented a $3 billion Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme to assist the eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee in attracting international top-notch scientific research talents to Hong Kong to conduct research in frontier technology fields.
• Build accommodation facilities for I&T talents, including exploring the possibility of increasing the planning flexibility of the I&T land of the San Tin Technopole (including the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP)) to dovetail with the development of the area by providing more accommodation facilities for I&T talents.

Leverage the plentiful opportunities arising from the rapid developments in Chinese Mainland and fully utilise Hong Kong's unique advantages

• Leverage the plentiful opportunities arising from the rapid development of our country. There will be more policies in the future to foster and leverage the comprehensive industry chain, supply chain and logistic chain in the Greater Bay Area to facilitate the development of Hong Kong as an international I&T centre.
• We are pressing ahead the development of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Co-operation Zone (Co-operation Zone) with the Shenzhen Municipal Government to establish “one zone, two parks” at “one river, two banks” under the auspices of “one country, two systems”. We will continue to proactively explore with the Shenzhen Municipal Government and relevant Mainland authorities policy measures to promote efficient cross-boundary flow of innovation elements in the Hetao Co-operation Zone on a pilot basis, so as to foster the synergistic development of the Shenzhen Park and the Hong Kong Park within the Co-operation Zone.
• The HSITP is under full speed development and will leverage market forces to enhance the speed and efficiency in taking forward the development of the Hong Kong Park. We will also actively take forward the arrangements for attracting businesses and investment to the HSITP.
• Build the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Boundary Control Points Economic Belt and develop the San Tin area in the San Tin Technopole of the Northern Metropolis as the strategic key for the I&T industry planning and the base for developing new quality productive forces of Hong Kong in the future. The Government promulgated the Conceptual Outline of the Development Plan for the Innovation and Technology Industry in the San Tin Technopole (Conceptual Outline) in November 2025. The Conceptual Outline provides a top-level design for the 210 hectares of new I&T land in the San Tin Technopole in terms of development vision, objectives and positioning, industrial spatial layout, and development model, thereby setting a clear development strategy for the San Tin Technopole, to support Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T centre under the new industry pattern of “South-North dual engine (finance-I&T)”.

Hong Kong’s unique business and strategic geographical advantages provide the ideal environment for overseas I&T enterprises to venture into the Mainland market. At the same time, it is also the ideal gateway for Mainland I&T enterprises to go to the international market.

Business environment

• Tried and trusted legal, financial, investment and tax systems, providing a safe, reliable and convenient business environment.
• Level playing field.
• World-class infrastructure facilities.
• A robust intellectual property protection regime.
• Pursue a free trade policy and do not maintain barriers on trade. No tariff is charged on import or export of goods. Hong Kong is renowned for its customs clearance efficiency.
• Comprehensive measures supporting development of enterprises.

I&T

• Possess strong capabilities in scientific research, including 5 world top-70 universities, 2 world top-40 top-notch medical schools, 16 State Key Laboratories and 6 Hong Kong Branches of Chinese National Engineering Research Centres.
• Possess Asia's world-class I&T parks like Science Park, Cyberport and five R&D centres.
• To develop Hong Kong as the hub for global research collaboration, the Government has set up the InnoHK Research Cluster in Science Park , namely 14 Health@InnoHK research centres, focusing on healthcare technologies, and 14 AIR@InnoHK research centres, focusing on artificial intelligence and robotics technologies.
• The Innovation Hub@HK website showcases the R&D outcomes of universities and research institutes of Hong Kong and provides a one-stop platform to connect universities, research institutes and the industry to facilitate the technology transfer and commercialisation of R&D outcomes.

Industry chain

• Made in Hong Kong: Advantages in international marketing, sales and clientele.
• I&T industry cluster in the Greater Bay Area with a comprehensive industry chain.

Financial considerations

• International financial and fundraising centre.
• One of the world’s leading fundraising hub for biotechnology enterprises.
• Simple tax system (two-tiered profits tax rates of 8.25% and 16.5%; salaries tax rate capped at 17%).
• Leveraging the Mainland market: The Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) creates optimal conditions for the industry to access the Mainland market, including enjoyment of zero tariff preference upon importation into the Mainland for goods of Hong Kong origin that fall within the scope of the “Product Specific Rules of Origin”, and easier access to the Mainland market for the service industry in Hong Kong (including foreign enterprises that meet the standards of Hong Kong Service Supplier).
• Engaging overseas markets: actively seeking to expand its free trade agreement (FTA) network in order to secure favourable conditions for Hong Kong’s goods and services to enter overseas markets. So far, Hong Kong has signed FTAs with New Zealand, the Member States of the European Free Trade Association, Chile, ASEAN, Georgia and Australia.
• Put in place a series of special concessionary measures to facilitate I&T enterprises’ setup and expansion of businesses in Hong Kong.

Land and space

• Proactively identify land to provide space for developing the I&T industry.
• Expedite the development of the San Tin Technopole in the Northern Metropolis, which will provide about 300 hectares of I&T land together with the 87-hectare HSITP.
• Phase 2 of the Science Park Expansion Programme and Cyberport 5 Expansion works are underway.
• Three InnoParks in Tai Po, Yuen Long and Tseung Kwan O.
Example: Establishing a R&D centre in Hong Kong



• The Enhanced Tax Deduction provides for expenditure incurred by enterprises on qualifying R&D activities. The deduction will be 300% for the first HK$2 million of “qualifying R&D expenditures” incurred by the enterprises, and 200% for the remaining amount. No cap on the amount of enhanced tax deduction. The deduction is applicable to all enterprises regardless of their sizes.
• Enterprise Support Scheme – provides dollar-for-dollar matching funding of up to HK$10 million for private companies to carry out in-house R&D projects. Intellectual Property Rights will be owned by the recipient company.
• Research Talent Hub Scheme – funds hiring of R&D talent by research institutions and technology companies to conduct R&D work. The maximum monthly allowance provided for research talents with a bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree is HK$20,000, HK$23,000 and HK$35,000. Research talents with a doctoral degree are further provided with a living allowance.
• Provide other support, e.g. rental subsidy, land and financial support, for selected enterprises.
Example: Conducting R&D for new products and setting up smart production lines in Hong Kong
• New Industrialisation Funding Scheme – the Government subsidises enterprises, on a 1 (Government) : 2 (company) matching basis, to set up new smart production lines in Hong Kong with a funding ceiling of one-third of the total project cost or HK$15 million per project, whichever is lower.
• New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme – the Government subsidises enterprises engaging in industries of strategic importance (i.e. life and health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, and advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies), on a 1 (Government) : 2 (company) matching basis, to set up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong. For each project, the minimum total project cost is $150 million. The enterprise has to contribute no less than $100 million and the Government will cover a maximum of one-third of the total approved project cost or $200 million, whichever is lower.
• Pilot Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Support Scheme– the Government subsidises enterprises carrying out manufacturing operations or running production lines in Hong Kong, on a 1 (Government) : 2 (company) matching basis, to formulate smart production strategies and introduce advanced technologies into their existing manufacturing operations or production lines with a funding ceiling of one-third of the total approved project cost or HK$250,000 per enterprise, whichever is lower.
• New Industrialisation and Technology Training Programmeto fund local enterprises on a 1 (Government) : 1 (Enterprise) matching basis for their staff to receive training in advanced technologies, especially those related to “New Industrialisation”.
• Enterprise Support Scheme – provides dollar-for-dollar matching funding of up to HK$10 million for private companies to carry out in-house R&D projects. Intellectual Property Rights will be owned by the recipient company.
• Research Talent Hub for Companies Subsidised under the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme (NIAS) – subsidises companies under the NIAS to recruit research talents to conduct R&D work and/or technical personnel required for setting up or operating smart production facilities under the NIAS. The maximum monthly allowance provided for research talents with a bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree is HK$20,000, HK$23,000 and HK$35,000. Research talents with a doctoral degree are further provided with a living allowance. Besides, an applicant company may further engage additional research talents and/or technical personnel for setting up or operating smart manufacturing facilities on a matching basis, with a maximum monthly salary allowance of HK$10,000.
• Provide other support, e.g. rental subsidy, land and financial support, for selected enterprises.