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The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) inaugurated the Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch, located in Futian. The Shenzhen Branch accommodated approximately 150 enterprises and facilitated the connection of innovation ecosystems between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. This initiative paved the way for technology ventures to access the Mainland market and expand globally.
In the preceding month, the Central Government introduced the “Development Plan for Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone” to promote high-quality development within the Greater Bay Area (GBA). With robust support from the Central and HKSAR Governments, HKSTP played an active role in assisting local and global enterprises in attracting inward investments and expanding outward, thereby fulfilling the mission of transforming the GBA into an international hub for innovation and technology (I&T).
The Shenzhen Branch, which is now open, provided technology ventures with a two-way gateway to the thriving innovation ecosystems of HKSTP and Shenzhen. Participating enterprises were able to leverage the collaboration opportunities between corporations and startups, gain access to a global talent pool, explore new markets, and connect with investors.
Covering a gross floor area of 31,000 square meters, the Shenzhen Branch offered co-working spaces, wet/dry laboratories, independent offices, and MICE venues. At that time, a total of 16 I&T companies had already relocated to support their global and regional expansion strategies. HKSTP aimed to attract enterprises from seven sectors, including healthcare, big data & artificial intelligence, robotics, new materials, microelectronics, fintech, and sustainability.
The Chairman of HKSTP stated that the inauguration of the Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch was a notable achievement in HKSTP’s endeavour to unlock the complete innovation potential within the Greater Bay Area (GBA) by merging with Shenzhen.
This achievement aligned with the national goal of positioning Hong Kong as a global hub for innovation and technology (I&T). The Shenzhen Branch acted as a conduit linking the two cities, facilitating the exchange of cross-border talents, knowledge exchange, collaborative efforts, incubation support, and market access for both local and international corporations and technology startups.
Situated at 32 Shihua Road, Futian District, the Shenzhen Branch comprises two six-storey buildings. Block A had a gross floor area of 21,000 square meters, primarily designed to support innovative enterprises in expanding into Mainland and international markets. Block B, spanning 10,000 square meters, was dedicated to incubation purposes to nurture talents and startups. The branch served as a platform for fostering exchange and collaboration across government, industry, academia, and research sectors, strengthening the innovation ecosystems of the two cities.
At that time, the Shenzhen Branch provided comprehensive services for I&T talents and enterprises, including:
- Talent Recruitment & Nurturing: The grooming of future tech leaders through the “Talents Resources Centre” training and exchange platform.
- Business Growth & Industrial Expansion: The facilitation of cooperation between startups and innovation enterprises to expand into Mainland and global markets.
- University Incubation Network: The development of a network with corresponding universities in the GBA to nurture talents and startups.
- Listing & Financing: The provision of assistance to enterprises in financing and growth.
- Technology Collaboration, Manufacturing & Supply Chain: The support for innovation enterprises throughout the entire process to seize opportunities within the GBA.
Starting from that day, companies of all sizes had the opportunity to join the Shenzhen Branch and benefit from scalable, efficient, and tailored infrastructure and services for developing their business in the GBA and beyond. According to the 2022 Global Innovation Index (GII), the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong technology cluster was the second largest in the world. The substantial growth potential was poised to propel the region into the largest “Bay Area” economy in the world.
