The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released its Global Innovation Index (GII) 2026 on September 8, revealing that the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou metropolitan cluster has again claimed the top position among the world's 100 leading innovation clusters. This achievement underscores the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's (GBA) emergence as a global powerhouse for scientific advancement and technological entrepreneurship. The ranking, based on metrics such as international patent filings, scientific publications, and venture capital deals, saw the cluster file 2,259 PCT applications, publish 4,060 scientific articles, and record 138 venture capital deals per million inhabitants over the past five years.
The HKSAR Government welcomed the announcement, with a spokesman emphasizing that the ranking validates the region's innovative capacity and its robust I&T-supporting financing ecosystem. "Expediting I&T development has been a policy priority of this Government," the spokesman said, pointing to the introduction of the patent box regime and the continuous enhancement of the original grant patent system. These initiatives provide tax concessions for intellectual property income, encouraging innovation. The government's strategic investments have yielded tangible results: Hong Kong's start-up ecosystem has grown from over 1,500 start-ups in 2015 to more than 5,200 in 2025, and its two flagship I&T parks—Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport—have collectively nurtured around 20 unicorns.
A landmark development in this trajectory is the official opening of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (the Loop Hong Kong Park) in December 2025. Over 100 technology enterprises and institutions have already signed leases and begun moving in. The Loop Hong Kong Park is set to serve as a key platform for basic research, commercialization, pilot production, and international I&T collaboration within the GBA. In addition, the establishment of the San Tin Technopole Company Limited in June 2026 will develop 210 hectares of I&T land in the San Tin Technopole, located in Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis. This will create a vital node for integrated upstream, midstream, and downstream industrial development, complementing the Loop Hong Kong Park.
Hong Kong's financial sector remains a cornerstone of its innovation success. The city boasts a vibrant private equity market with assets under management nearing US$250 billion, ranking second in Asia after the Chinese Mainland. This financial muscle supports the growth of tech ventures and attracts global investors. Looking ahead, Hong Kong will proactively align its strategy with the National 15th Five-Year Plan to fortify its position as an international I&T centre. The city will also deepen collaboration with GBA sister cities, contributing to the nation's efforts to build a modern industrial system and achieve high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and strength. For more details, visit [Brand Hong Kong](https://www.brandhk.gov.hk/).
