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Hong Kong economy
OpinionHong Kong Opinion
Ningrong Liu
Opinion
Ningrong Liu

To rise as a tech hub, Hong Kong must fund and prioritise innovation

Despite Hong Kong’s academic and research prowess, government support for innovation has historically been lower than in Singapore and Shenzhen

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Ningrong Liu
Ningrong Liu is a professor in globalisation and business at the City University of Hong Kong.
With five universities ranked among the top 100 globally, by Times Higher Education and Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), Hong Kong has a greater number of prestigious universities than even London and New York.

In the era of the hub economy, competitive cities must expand beyond their traditional roles as commercial and financial hubs. As Hong Kong universities rise in global rankings, the question is whether the trend will propel the city into becoming a powerhouse of scientific research and technological breakthroughs.

In tech innovation and industry, Hong Kong still lags behind the other “Asian dragons”. South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan are established tech hubs for global manufacturing and information technology. As a latecomer, Hong Kong faces unique advantages and challenges.

But Hong Kong’s academic excellence is remarkable. Over 1,500 scientists from the city were among the world’s top 2 per cent most cited, with 13 ranking among the top 10 globally in their fields, according to a list by Stanford University and Elsevier. Surpassing Taiwan and Singapore in these rankings is a testament to Hong Kong’s commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation.

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