Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and the Innovation and Technology Commission hosted the launch ceremony for the third InnoHK research cluster, SEAM@InnoHK, at Hong Kong Science Park, signaling a major step in the city's drive to strengthen its position as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. The new cluster focuses on sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing, and materials, and is jointly led by top local and international academic and research institutions.
The ceremony was officiated by Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Ms Cordelia Chung, Chairman of HKSTP; Mr Kelvin Choi, Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Mr Lyu Feng, Deputy Director-General of the Economic and Financial Department II of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Mr Ivan Lee, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology; and Mr Terry Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP. They were joined by representatives from universities, research organizations, and industry partners.
SEAM@InnoHK comprises eight R&D centres that bring together over 30 top global universities and research institutions, including the University of Cambridge, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Nagoya University, National University of Singapore, Tsinghua University, and Peking University. Notably, three centres feature collaborations with Nobel Laureates: Professor Ben L. Feringa (2016 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry) at the InnoHK Centre of Functional Materials for Energy and Sustainability (CFMES); Sir Konstantin Novoselov (2010 Nobel Laureate in Physics) at the Inno Centre for Heterogeneous Integration and Production (CHIP); and Professor Hiroshi Amano (2014 Nobel Laureate in Physics) at InnoHK Power Semiconductors and Applications Center (PowerSAC).
Ms Cordelia Chung highlighted the significance of the cluster: "InnoHK has been with the Science Park for 5 years and this is the start of the second 5-year period. What we can see is that InnoHK has demonstrated the power of collaboration amongst world eminent scholars, researchers, and global partners. The first two clusters, Health@InnoHK and AIR@InnoHK have delivered world-class achievements. We commit to provide all the support we can to the InnoHK teams, as your success will add to the heartbeat of the ecosystem—not only for HKSTP, but for Hong Kong's entire innovation landscape."
The establishment of SEAM@InnoHK is a strategic move to address global challenges in sustainability and advanced manufacturing. The centres are set to drive breakthroughs in areas such as smart manufacturing, functional materials for energy, heterogeneous integration, space manufacturing, renewable energy storage, power semiconductors, intelligent grid technologies, and sustainable materials. These efforts align with Hong Kong's vision to promote new industrialization and smart manufacturing, as well as its commitment to carbon neutrality.
HKSTP, as the largest I&T ecosystem in Hong Kong, provides comprehensive support to the R&D centres, including world-class infrastructure, connections with academic institutions, talent pools, and investor networks. This support is designed to accelerate the commercialization of research outcomes, transforming them into high-impact solutions that can benefit society and the economy.
The launch of SEAM@InnoHK comes at a time when Hong Kong is seeking to diversify its economy and enhance its technological capabilities. The cluster is expected to attract global talent, foster cross-border collaboration, and create new opportunities for startups and established companies alike. By leveraging the strengths of international research partnerships, Hong Kong aims to position itself at the forefront of emerging technologies.
For more information about HKSTP, visit www.hkstp.org.
