10 AI, biotech firms in Northern Metropolis to get early cross-border data access

A pilot program will grant ten AI and biotech companies early access to cross-border data flows, granting them a competitive advantage over approximately 100 firms in Hong Kong's border tech hub. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced this during his final policy address this year, alongside a white list for over 1,000 workers and a connecting bridge between the Hong Kong and Shenzhen parks.

The bridge will join the Shenzhen park and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Park, facilitating the movement of personnel and data. While the white list will ultimately include over 1,000 workers, the precise number depends on the number of companies approved for the park. The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park spans 87 hectares in Hong Kong and 302 hectares in Shenzhen.

The project is part of the Northern Metropolis development initiative, which aims to diversify Hong Kong's economy. The ten firms joining the pilot include pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, Xiamen Hithium Energy Storage Technology, and several Hong Kong and mainland start-ups. The park's developers anticipate steady growth in tenant numbers.

In addition to data and personnel flows, attention is turning to capital and material cross-border movements, with the park's recent land tender attracting strong interest from both Hong Kong and mainland firms.