Hong Kong’s leading inno-tech figures have called for a strategic shift in the city’s innovation efforts, urging the government to look beyond current successes and focus on emerging fields such as clean energy, aerospace, quantum computing, and optical communications — potentially through leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate progress.
Their cautionary remarks came as Hong Kong’s innovation sector celebrated its best-ever performance at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva last week, securing nearly 300 awards, including a record 12 special prizes. The haul spanned the city’s top universities, research institutes, governmental bodies, and even schools, demonstrating remarkable depth across the ecosystem.
This achievement also injects confidence into the city’s lofty goals of becoming a global talent highland and innovation hub, as outlined in the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).
Duncan Chiu, lawmaker for the technology and innovation sector, expressed his delight at the Geneva results, and said he believes the government’s bureaus and departments should study the blueprint thoroughly to formulate pertinent policies. Chiu also called for more training and opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to learn about “new quality productive forces”.
Noting that universities and public institutions are dedicating more resources to research, Chiu said that the ultimate goal is to transform these inventions into tangible enterprises and products, helping Hong Kong tech companies penetrate international markets.
He advocated for a more focused approach, pointing to a growing consensus that Hong Kong holds a competitive edge in areas like life sciences, financial technology, and artificial intelligence. He also highlighted the potential in emerging deep-tech fields like aerospace, quantum computing, and optical communications.
To foster growth in these high-risk, high-reward sectors, Chiu stressed the need for evolving the funding model. “We need to encourage more ‘patient capital’,” he said.
He also added that providing sufficient incentives for global tech talent to stay remains a critical issue that requires urgent attention.
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Wong Kam-fai, a legislator and advisor to the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation, hailed the Geneva achievements as a testament to Hong Kong’s efficiency and advanced capabilities.
He said that the successes not only showcased groundbreaking inventions but also demonstrated the robust capabilities of both the Hong Kong SAR government and its research institutions.
Wong identified technology transfer as the critical next step, calling for intensified efforts to commercialize outcomes and actively cultivate and attract top-tier talent.
Looking ahead, Wong highlighted the ongoing global geopolitical challenges. “Hong Kong should focus on developing clean energy and new energy sources, to avoid over-reliance on fossil fuels,” he said, linking the city’s research and development agenda to pressing issues like the fuel crises stemming from tensions in the Middle East.
Joe Ngai, chairman of Greater China at McKinsey and Company, emphasized that the rapid advancement of technology, particularly in AI, has fundamentally altered the innovation landscape.
Ngai said AI has turned many previous major bottlenecks into challenges that can be overcome.
“With this great leveler, which can provide unprecedented access to models, resources, and cutting-edge ideas from anywhere in the world, the real question is how we use them — and whether we have the ambition to develop truly breakthrough ideas,” Ngai said.
