Hong Kong is actively pursuing its ambition to become a leading global innovation and technology (I&T) hub. In December 2022, the Hong Kong government unveiled the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint, outlining a comprehensive strategy for the city's I&T development over the next 5-10 years. (see this article by Colliers for a more indepth read).
The blueprint focuses on four key development directions:
- Enhancing the I&T ecosystem and promoting new industrialization
- Enlarging the I&T talent pool
- Promoting digital economy development and smart city initiatives
- Integrating with China's overall development while serving as a bridge between mainland China and the world
Contained within this blueprint is the San Tin Technopole.
San Tin Technopole
The San Tin Technopole is a planned innovation and technology (I&T) hub in Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis development. Spanning 600 hectares, approximately 300 hectares will be dedicated to I&T land use.
At the heart of this technopole is the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), which will occupy 87 hectares. The technopole aims to create synergy with the adjacent I&T zone in Shenzhen, forming part of the broader Shenzhen-Hong Kong I&T Co-operation Zone.
In addition to the I&T facilities, the San Tin development plans to provide around 50,000 public and private housing units in the San Tin Town Centre. The project will feature cross-boundary rail links, including the proposed Northern Link Spur Line, to improve connectivity.
Notably, the technopole also includes a 338-hectare wetland conservation park and has set a target of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050, highlighting the project's commitment to sustainability.
Overall, the San Tin Technopole is poised to become a major innovation and technology hub, leveraging its strategic location and cross-border collaboration to drive economic growth and technological advancement in the region.
About Ivan Theodoulou
Ivan Theodoulou is founder of Eight PR, a PR agency in Hong Kong that specializes in tech, law, and corporate PR. He first visited China in 1987 by train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou and has since traveled extensively on the mainland and in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Ivan passed his China driving test in March 2024 and now drives regularly in the GBA.