{
  "id": 6097957,
  "title": "How HKSTP’s quarter-century journey offers insights for Asia’s innovation ecosystems",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/how-hkstps-quarter-century-journey-offers-insights-for-asias",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-07T03:25:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "e27",
    "slug": "e27",
    "url": "https://e27.co/how-hkstps-quarter-century-journey-offers-insights-for-asias-innovation-ecosystems-20260907/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the span of a quarter-century, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has transformed itself into one of Asia’s most distinctive innovation ecosystems. Covering 240 hectares of land, the organization now hosts 2,600 tech companies, employs 26,000 professionals, and boasts 14 unicorns valued over $1 billion each. However, the true story lies not just in these figures, but in the unique ecosystem HKSTP has cultivated — one that stands out from its counterparts in Singapore, Shenzhen, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, or Bengaluru.\n\nAcross Asia, there’s an abundance of research and development (R&D) capacity and government support for tech-driven growth. The real challenge lies in converting laboratory work into globally competitive companies. This transition is particularly difficult in hard-tech fields like robotics, physical AI, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and AI infrastructure. These sectors require more than just engineers and capital; they demand prototyping, testing, supply chains, regulatory guidance, intellectual property protection, patient investors, and access to global markets. Progress can stall at the “one to 100” stage, where a research team may have a strong patent but lacks a manufacturing pathway or investors unable to attract international capital may find it hard to scale.\n\nThe issue is not unique to Hong Kong. Singapore offers robust capital and corporate networks but lacks manufacturing depth, while countries like Indonesia and Vietnam have large markets and rising digital adoption but struggle with research commercialization. Malaysia is building on its electronics and semiconductor expertise, while Thailand aims to rise up the EV and advanced manufacturing ladder. Despite each hub having some pieces of the puzzle, few possess them all in one location.\n\nWhat sets Hong Kong apart is its strategic position between different systems. The city boasts international finance, a common-law legal framework, deep professional services, and familiarity with global compliance standards. Across the border, it enjoys access to Shenzhen, Dongguan, and the broader Greater Bay Area, a densely populated manufacturing and supply-chain cluster. This combination is hard to replicate, as it allows companies to raise capital and protect intellectual property in Hong Kong while leveraging nearby manufacturing capacity in the Greater Bay Area for quick prototyping and testing. For hardware, robotics, and deeptech companies, this geographical proximity can significantly reduce timelines, turning months of trial production into a matter of days when suppliers, engineers, and factories are within easy reach.\n\nHKSTP’s evolution over the past 25 years is instrumental not just for Hong Kong but for the broader Asian innovation landscape. The organization has transformed into a comprehensive infrastructure, bridging early-stage R&D to real-world production. Its three InnoParks offer advanced manufacturing facilities, allowing companies to move closer to production without initially committing to building their own plants. This is particularly crucial in hard-tech sectors where upfront costs can be prohibitive. Clean rooms, testing facilities, engineering partners, and production lines are essential for deeptech companies, and HKSTP provides these resources without demanding immediate capital investment in new plants.\n\nMoreover, HKSTP has expanded its reach beyond Hong Kong’s borders, establishing a branch in Shenzhen in 2023. This outpost connects Hong Kong-based companies with the Greater Bay Area’s industrial base while simultaneously offering mainland Chinese firms a pathway back into Hong Kong’s international networks. Since its opening, the Shenzhen branch has attracted over 100 companies and facilitated more than 100 cross-border expansions, according to HKSTP. Beyond regional integration, HKSTP actively supports its park companies in going global. By leading delegations to international tech hubs, the organization helps its ecosystem members access global markets and establish themselves on the world stage. In summary, HKSTP’s success story offers valuable lessons for other Asian cities striving to build robust innovation ecosystems. It underscores that while geographical advantages can be beneficial, the key to thriving innovation ecosystems lies in deliberate orchestration and the integration of diverse elements such as universities, startups, investors, manufacturers, regulators, and global buyers.",
  "summary": "The piece that only Hong Kong can fit In technology, 25 years is long enough for entire industries to rise, collapse and be rebuilt. When the HKSAR Government backed the creation of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) in 2001, the decision reflected remarkable foresight. The city was navigating the aftermath of the […] The post How HKSTP’s quarter-century journey offers…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}