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The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the Zhongguancun Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Innovation Centre have launched the Beijing-Hong Kong R&D Acceleration Centre during the Forum on Creating the Future Technology Innovation Cooperation in Beijing and Hong Kong. This event, part of the 27th Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium, underscores efforts to strengthen collaboration between Hong Kong and Beijing in the areas of research, development, and technology.
Located at the HKPC Building, the newly established centre aims to leverage the strengths of both HKPC and the Youth Innovation Centre to attract top-tier enterprises, research resources, and talent from across Beijing, Hong Kong, and Macao. The focus will be on promoting joint R&D initiatives in strategic fields, including smart living, aerospace technology, and life sciences. Through this centre, the HKPC seeks to drive innovation and commercialisation of research outputs, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of key industries in the region.
The Beijing-Hong Kong R&D Acceleration Centre also signed R&D cooperation agreements with four Zhongguancun-based startups, signalling the first concrete steps towards advancing research collaborations. These enterprises specialise in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous driving, commercial satellite applications, and healthcare. The partnerships are set to accelerate the development and application of R&D outcomes, expand market presence, and boost technological exchange between the Mainland and Hong Kong.
In addition to facilitating the exchange of expertise and resources, the centre aims to foster the industrial and supply chain transformation and upgrading of both cities. It is positioned to serve as a collaborative platform that integrates the unique strengths of Beijing and Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystems, contributing to the overall advancement of the national innovation and technology (I&T) landscape.
The Chairman of HKPC highlighted the role of the centre in supporting the country’s I&T ambitions and its focus on fostering “New Productive Forces.” He noted that HKPC has been proactively building a network of R&D collaborations with research institutions, both domestically and internationally, in support of emerging and traditional industries. The Chairman expressed confidence that the new centre will foster the practical application of advanced technologies in key fields and assist in transforming industrial supply chains, ultimately contributing to the nation’s goal of becoming a global leader in manufacturing.
The four companies involved in the initial agreements with the centre have expressed their intention to work closely with HKPC on existing R&D projects. By capitalising on HKPC’s established expertise in innovation, they aim to develop new services and products for both domestic and international markets. The partnerships will enable these companies to accelerate their R&D processes and expand their presence beyond the Chinese market.
The establishment of the R&D Acceleration Centre aligns with strategic development agreements, such as the “Cooperation Agreement on the Development of New Quality Productive Forces and the Promotion of New Industrialisation,” signed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The centre’s focus on technology transfer and international collaboration is expected to bolster Hong Kong’s position as an International Innovation and Technology Centre.
Moving forward, HKPC and Zhongguancun plan to deepen their cooperation to enhance the innovation capabilities and industrial competitiveness of enterprises in both Beijing and Hong Kong. The R&D Acceleration Centre will play a pivotal role in providing comprehensive support to technology enterprises, covering advanced technology development, FutureSkills training, and government funding schemes.
