S for IT meets with start-ups in Science Park and Cyberport (with photos)
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As I&T flagships in Hong Kong, both the Science Park and Cyberport have flourished and achieved remarkable results in recent years. The Science Park is now home to about 900 technology enterprises and start‑ups in areas such as artificial intelligence, life and health, environmental technology, with four unicorns having been incubated therein so far. Cyberport, meanwhile, has accommodated about 700 technology enterprises and start‑ups, and incubated five unicorns, covering the areas of fintech, smart living and digital entertainment. Expansion for both the Science Park and Cyberport is under way, providing more space for technology enterprises and start-ups. The Science Park expansion is being carried out in full swing. The Cyberport 5 Project has commenced and is expected to be complete in 2025 at the earliest, increasing the gross floor area of Cyberport by more than 40 per cent.
To further drive development in I&T, the Policy Address proposes to revive the Ma Liu Shui reclamation project which, together with the land to be vacated by the relocation of the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works to caverns, will provide a total of 88 hectares of new land. The newly provided land should be mainly for I&T development so as to strengthen the development of the Eastern Corridor with I&T as a major economic function. The MTR Corporation Limited will also study the construction of a new station to improve the public transport service connection of the Science Park. The Government will also set aside about 5 hectares of land in Lau Fau Shan to build landmark I&T facilities with a scale comparable to that of Cyberport to facilitate the deepening co-operation with the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone and create more opportunities for Hong Kong. With a railway project proposed for Qianhai and Lau Fau Shan, Hong Kong can better integrate into the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and bring about mutual benefits.
Mr Sit said that I&T is the engine of our economic growth. The current-term Government has made unprecedented strides to promote I&T development by investing more than $130 billion over four years. With the support of the Government and industry, Hong Kong's I&T industry is flourishing at the moment. With the Central Government's support in developing Hong Kong into an international I&T hub and forward-looking I&T initiatives proposed in the Policy Address, Hong Kong has entered a golden era for I&T development. He encouraged start-ups to make good use of policy support, seize the opportunities and continue to shine.
Under the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Loop and the areas around Lok Ma Chau/San Tin will be consolidated to form the San Tin Technopole, where land for I&T-related uses is estimated to amount to about 240 hectares. This, together with the Shenzhen I&T Zone, will form the Shenzhen-Hong Kong I&T Co-operation Zone (Co-operation Zone) of approximately 540 hectares, and become an essential propeller for the development of an international I&T hub in the GBA.
To support our I&T talents and start-ups to seize the development opportunities in the GBA and explore the GBA and Mainland markets, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) will kick start the establishment of the Shenzhen branch of the Hong Kong Science Park in the Shenzhen I&T Zone, allowing institutes and enterprises that are interested in starting businesses in the GBA to first establish a presence in the Co-operation Zone. The HKSTPC will set up the GBA InnoAcademy in the Shenzhen branch of the Hong Kong Science Park as a resource centre, a training hub, and an exchange platform for talents. The HKSTPC will also set up the GBA InnoExpress to nurture start-ups and support Hong Kong and Mainland I&T enterprises in capitalising on Hong Kong's pivotal roles in attracting foreign investment and going global. The HKSTPC will work with the seven Hong Kong universities to establish incubator networks in their GBA campuses and nurture the next generation of I&T talents.
Ends/Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Issued at HKT 15:28
Issued at HKT 15:28
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