Hong Kong’s first five-year development plan and latest Policy Address have put the Northern Metropolis firmly on the city’s development agenda, with the proposed University Town set to play a larger role in strengthening links between research and industry.

Experts and stakeholders have called for closer university-business collaboration, better transport connections and more efficient cross-boundary movement of research resources to help build a more integrated innovation ecosystem.

Tim Cheng Kwang-ting, vice-president for research and development at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said the University Town could bring academic and industrial partners together from the early stages of research, creating more opportunities for ideas to move towards commercialisation.

He also highlighted the need for smooth connections between its three planned sites in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen, Ngau Tam Mei and the New Territories North New Town, which are expected to come into use in 2026, 2028 and 2030 respectively.

The One Country, Two Systems Youth Forum has proposed shared laboratories and pilot testing platforms to further support collaboration between universities and businesses.