The President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Prof. Nancy IP, welcomed the 2025 Policy Address delivered by the Chief Executive, Mr. John LEE, today. She expressed great enthusiasm by its forward-looking initiatives and strategic blueprint. President Prof. Ip particularly highlighted key measures such as accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis, enhancing the strategic layout of innovation and technology infrastructure, boosting the integrated development of education, technology and talents, as well as promoting the "Study in Hong Kong" brand. She emphasized that these initiatives are not only pivotal in reinvigorating Hong Kong's long-term development but also serve as crucial strategies to drive economic upgrading and transformation, and to expand the top-tier talent pool. HKUST will actively support these measures and collaborate with all sectors to jointly advance Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub and a leading education centre.
Strengthening Hong Kong's I&T Ecosystem
Prof. Ip applauded the Policy Address's push for Hong Kong's I&T development across three key dimensions: policy innovation, industry development and talent cultivation. She emphasized, "I&T development must be talent-centric. Hong Kong needs to bring together international experts and local elites to continuously expand a diverse talent pool. Through policy innovation, we can foster a conducive environment for R&D and commercialization." "In terms of industry development," she added, "it is essential to build highly synergistic research ecosystems that facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration among industry, academia and research institutions."
HKUST currently leads five InnoHK research centres, covering cutting-edge fields such as neuroscience, intelligent chips and systems, artificial intelligence, as well as robotics technologies in aerospace engineering and smart manufacturing-all achieving internationally leading standards. The Low-altitude Economy Research Centre, established on campus earlier this year, has also been included in the first batch of pilot initiatives under the SAR government's "regulatory sandbox," reflecting strong policy support for emerging fields.
Looking ahead, HKUST will further strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and deepen research in critical areas including life and health technologies, artificial intelligence and data science, advanced materials, new energy, atmospheric and marine sciences, as well as aerospace technology. The University will also work closely with the government and various sectors to enhance the innovation and technology industry chain and high-end talent pool, actively aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, thereby facilitating new breakthroughs in Hong Kong's innovation and technology ecosystem.
To deepen the I&T ecosystem, Prof. Ip expressed strong support for the government's launch of the "Innovation and Technology Talents Exchange Scheme", describing it as a visionary move that aligns perfectly with HKUST's strategy to enhance industry-academia-research integration. She emphasized that HKUST is dedicated not only to providing cutting-edge research support and fostering an innovative culture for its faculty, students, and researchers, but also to actively building bridges with industry. Last year, the University established the "Redbird Innovation Fund (RIF)", proactively engaging market investment partners to jointly set up a HK$2 billion venture capital fund aimed at supporting early-stage deep tech ventures originating from HKUST. As of July 2025, HKUST members have founded more than 1,900 active start-ups, including 10 unicorns and 17 that have achieved successful exits.
Expanding International Talent and Promoting "Study in Hong Kong"
Talent serves as the fundamental driver of social progress. Prof. Ip highlighted that Hong Kong's rise to 4th globally and 1st in Asia in the IMD World Talent Ranking 2025 reflects its high-quality education system and internationally competitive talent landscape. She noted, "While Hong Kong's higher education sector faces certain challenges, it is also presented with significant opportunities. Amid increasingly intense global competition for talent, Hong Kong must continue to enhance its academic environment and research resources to strengthen its distinctive edge."
As an international metropolis, Hong Kong holds considerable advantages in building the "Study in Hong Kong" brand, thanks to its unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, world-class academic resources, and an internationally aligned curriculum. Prof. Ip emphasized, "Hong Kong is not only a key city within the Greater Bay Area (GBA), but also deeply connected to the global stage. Taking HKUST as an example-our students can engage in internships at leading enterprises within the GBA, while also having access to exchange programs with numerous prestigious institutions worldwide. This allows them to gain broad global perspectives while developing a nuanced understanding of the Chinese market."
Prof. Ip also underscored the importance of nurturing local talent and expressed support for the government's efforts to enhance AI and digital education, enabling young people to seize opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. She shared, "HKUST is at the forefront of AI education. We were the first university in Hong Kong to actively integrate generative AI into teaching and learning. Through the Von Neumann Institute, we have also launched an AI education program for secondary school students to improve AI literacy locally. The Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Centre (HKGAI), led by HKUST, has introduced its first large-scale AI model, HKGAI V1, which supports Cantonese, Putonghua, and English, and is tailored to Hong Kong's cultural and linguistic context."
The University also embraces the launch of the "Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme", which aims to attract world-leading researchers in AI and other fields to Hong Kong. Prof. Ip believes this initiative will serve as a catalyst for the city's comprehensive and sustained advancement in cutting-edge foundational research.
Seizing the Opportunities of the Northern Metropolis and Hetao to Build an International I&T Ecosystem
Prof. Ip affirmed the positioning of the Northern Metropolis as a strategic development base for development and stressed that HKUST highly values the strategic significance and growth potential of the Hetao Cooperation Zone. She revealed, "HKUST will deepen its engagement in the Hetao area, actively align with the government's Northern Metropolis development strategy, and strengthen collaboration with other cities in the Greater Bay Area. We place special emphasis on deep integration with the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster, fully leveraging HKUST's location within this world-class innovation and technology region to jointly advance cross-border research collaboration and high-end talent development."
Furthermore, Prof. Ip stated that HKUST pledges its full support for the Committee on the Development of the Northern Metropolis led by the Chief Executive. The University anticipates that the development of the University Town will synergize with the innovation and technology initiatives in the San Tin Technopole and the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, thereby driving progress in talent cultivation, technological innovation, and sustainable economic growth.
HKUST also thanks the government for its active efforts toward establishing a third medical school and sincerely hopes that the government will support the proposal for a medical school submitted earlier by HKUST. The successful establishment of the third medical school would promptly increase the number of doctors and accelerate Hong Kong's development into an international hub for medical innovation.
Conclusion: Walking in Step with Hong Kong and the Nation
President Ip concluded, "Guided by the philosophy of 'teaching and research as the core, innovation for impact,' HKUST is fully committed to supporting the implementation of the Policy Address and its goal of strengthening our nation through technology and education. We are confident that through educational internationalization, the industrialization of innovation and technology, and deeper regional collaboration, Hong Kong will solidify its role as an international I&T centre and a premier education hub-making significant contributions to the nation's high-quality development."
