The new facility aims to drive technological breakthroughs and support national industrial planning by leveraging the city’s existing semiconductor sector.
Hong Kong to host first national manufacturing innovation centre outside the mainland
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Hong Kong is set to establish the first national manufacturing innovation centre outside the Chinese mainland, a senior official confirmed on Tuesday. The initiative, announced by Sun Dong, secretary for innovation, technology and industry, is designed to facilitate breakthroughs in key technologies, accelerate the commercialisation of technological achievements, and attract international talent, China Daily reports.
The project will align with national planning priorities for technology and industry. By drawing on the unique advantages of Hong Kong’s existing semiconductor sector, the manufacturing innovation centre aims to integrate into and serve the national industrial system.
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The agreement to establish the manufacturing innovation centre was signed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Vice-Minister Xiong Jijun of the MIIT joined Sun at the signing ceremony.
Beforehand, both sides held detailed discussions on how Hong Kong can better align with the national new industrialisation development plan and coordinate with Chinese mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Manufacturing innovation centre: key to integration
The new centre also dovetails with Beijing’s broader policy blueprint for Hong Kong, which explicitly backs the city’s development as an international innovation and technology hub and calls for better integration into the overall development of the country. Planners highlight platforms such as the GBA as key vehicles for cross‑border collaboration, positioning Hong Kong to host national‑level facilities that can serve both mainland industry and global capital.
Policy documents say that innovation centres like the one earmarked for Hong Kong are meant to focus on key technologies, strengthen industrial R&D and support the development and resilience of core manufacturing clusters. Situating the first such manufacturing innovation centre outside the mainland in Hong Kong signals Beijing’s confidence in the city’s role as a bridge between China’s industrial base and international technology, finance and talent.
