PolyU: PolyU’s new thinktank on innovation and technology policy draws leading minds on planning and land strategy for the Northern Metropolis in its inaugural forum

The Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology (PReCIT) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) launched its Innovation and Technology Forum Series today, pooling leading minds and experts from multiple disciplines to contribute to policy and strategy discussions about propelling Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub.

The Series debuted with a forum on the theme of “Planning, Land and Housing for Innovation and Technology Development in Hong Kong”. It attracted over 300 participants joining in person or online from different universities, research institutes and public organisations.

Founded in 2022, PReCIT is a university-level interdisciplinary policy research centre. The primary areas of its research include carbon-neutral cities, Greater Bay Area I&T development, and the Belt and Road Initiative development in Southeast Asia.

Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “The development of a vibrant innovation and technology industry is the key to fostering Hong Kong’s future success. For Hong Kong to succeed in the innovation and technology arena, many policy questions need to be addressed, including policies for the integration of Hong Kong into the national innovation ecosystem, and the talent policies that support the development of Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub. With the establishment of PReCIT, PolyU aspires to make significant contributions to the formulation of innovation and technology policies in Hong Kong.”

Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Director of PReCIT, said, “PReCIT aims at generating impactful and constructive innovation and technology strategies for the Government on societal issues. The Northern Metropolis has strong potential to support Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T hub featuring urban-rural integration and the co-existence of development and conservation. It is a mega project that deserves more discussion. The PReCIT I&T Forum provides a premier platform for experts in the city to exchange views for the betterment of society.”

At the forum, Dr Winnie TANG, Founder and Honorary President of the Smart City Consortium; Mr LING Kar-kan, Director of the Jockey Club Design Institute of Social Innovation (J.C.DISI) of PolyU; and Prof. H.C. MAN, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of PolyU, exchanged their insights and ideas about the development of the Northern Metropolis – a core strategy of the HKSAR Government to drive the city’s economic and I&T development, as well as cooperation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Dr Tang offered a roadmap on how the Northern Metropolis could become a smart city role model for other parts of Hong Kong, and help the public to make informed decisions regarding introducing smart city technologies in their neighbourhoods. She added that utilising the city’s spatial data effectively is critical for enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness.

Mr Ling, formerly the Director of Planning and Strategic Planning Advisor for Hong Kong/Shenzhen Cooperation of the HKSAR Government, said that the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy will bring enormous changes to residents along the bordering area with Shenzhen, as well as shifts in business models for the next 10 to 15 years. Therefore, collaboration among the government, business, academia, and professionals in planning and land usage deliberation is critical for the long-term synergy between Hong Kong and Shenzhen and their integration into the Greater Bay Area’s development.

Prof. Man, who is also the Director of the Research Institute for Advanced Manufacturing of PolyU, emphasised the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of indigenous inhabitants while developing areas like the San Tin Technopole – a strategic part of the Northern Metropolis that aspires to be Hong Kong’s Silicon Valley. Prof. Man is an indigenous resident and former representative of Chau Tau Village in San Tin.

A panel discussion moderated by Prof. Eric CHUI, Co-Director of PReCIT and Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences of PolyU, and joined by Mr Simon WONG, Vice President (Campus Development and Facilities) of PolyU, further inspired thought-provoking dialogues among participants on hot topics ranging from environmental protection to opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.

Friday’s forum was co-organised by the Smart City Consortium and PolyU’s Department of Applied Social Sciences, J.C.DISI, and the Research and Innovation Office. It was supported by the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design, The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, The Hong Kong Institute of Planners, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, and The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.

The next forum will be held on 27 September on the topic of “Funding Landscape from Research to Commercialization”. Leaders from Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and the MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node are invited to share their valuable insights to enhance Hong Kong’s I&T development.