HKSTP Unveils Key InnoPark Projects Driving Hong Kong's New Industrialisation to New Heights

(Hong Kong, 26 September 2024) - The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) is pleased to announce that its infrastructure projects at InnoPark, including Hong Kong’s first commercial High-Performance Computing (HPC) service, have officially commenced operations this month. Additionally, the Microelectronics Centre (MEC) is set to be inaugurated later this year. These key infrastructure developments are crucial in advancing Hong Kong towards a new era of industrialisation, aligning with the national vision to enhance 'New Quality Productive Forces'.

Hong Kong's First Commercial High-Performance Computing Service Drives Smart City Development

Hong Kong’s first commercial High-Performance Computing (HPC) service, hosted by HKSTP, is now operational. This pioneering service provides the industry with computing power, acceleration tools, and data access, in line with the national strategy for supercomputing development. The launch ceremony was presided over by Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Mr Ivan Lee, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology; Dr Sunny Chai, Chairman of HKSTP; Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP; and Mr Oscar Wong, Head of Innofacturing of HKSTP.

In the "Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint" unveiled by the HKSAR Government, one of the strategic directions is to enhance the innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem and advance Hong Kong’s “new industrialisation”. The government is committed to supporting the advanced manufacturing industry, including the establishment or expansion of advanced manufacturing production lines for the semiconductor industry in Hong Kong. It is also actively promoting the development of Hong Kong into a smart city.

Professor Sun Dong said, "A complete innovation and technology (I&T) industry chain has to be backed by industries. We strive to attract and nurture more technology industries of strategic importance conducive to the real and digital economy and promote the development of ‘new industrialisation’ in Hong Kong. Developing AI and microelectronics industries are both our focus. With the new HPC service and the new AI Supercomputing Centre in Cyberport, with the first phase facility to start operating this year, the support to the strong local demand for computing power will be further strengthened. The Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute, as the anchor tenant, will also make good use of microelectronics-specific infrastructure to be provided by the MEC.”

Dr Sunny Chai, Chairman of HKSTP, said, "HKSTP is dedicated to advancing innofacturing by providing cutting-edge infrastructure and services that propel the success of our partners. We are confident that both of our MEC and HPC services, which are at the forefront of technology, will significantly boost Hong Kong's capacity for innovation. We will continue to foster collaboration among corporate partners, investors, researchers, and tech ventures to realise the vision of new industrialisation in Hong Kong."

New industrialisation often involves the generation and collection of substantial amounts of data, coupled with the widespread application of AI, which relies heavily on algorithms, big data, and high-performance computing power. HKSTP's HPC infrastructure, located at the Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Tseung Kwan O InnoPark, features NVIDIA data centre server system, marking it as the first commercial AI high-performance computing cluster in Hong Kong.

Providing development consistency, the HPC service can significantly improve development efficiency. It is available to the innovation and research communities in Hong Kong, assisting discoveries of business opportunities and optimising R&D processes. HKSTP provides consultancy services within Science Park, as well as customised set up for both technology companies and corporate customers, including pre-trained tools and access to cross-industry data, supporting over 300 companies involved in AI and data technology.

The HPC service has also received broad industry support, including ecosystem partners, such as Sensetime, NVIDIA, HKT, GitLab, as well as data community members and service users including Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, PanopticAI Limited and Pantheon Lab Limited. HKSTP established Hong Kong's first data community last year, aimed at integrating cross industry data to explore new business growth and enhance AI innovation.

HKSTP Establishes a Thriving Microelectronics Ecosystem

HKSTP is committed to advancing the new industrialisation in Hong Kong and has repositioned its three industrial estates as 'InnoParks', in line with government initiatives towards new industrialisation. These InnoParks now boast a utilisation rate of nearly 90%, significantly supporting the development of the local manufacturing industry.

InnoParks provides various world-class infrastructure and services. The MEC, located in the Yuen Long InnoPark and set to open later this year, will feature two pilot production lines for Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Silicon Carbide (SiC). These lines, developed by the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute, will provide comprehensive support to enterprises along the entire industry chain, from design and prototyping to trial production.

With the MEC's upcoming operation, an occupancy rate of nearly 80% is anticipated. As the microelectronics industry in Hong Kong is poised for rapid growth, HKSTP is planning to transform the Yuen Long InnoPark into a hub for the microelectronics ecosystem. Currently, four to five buildings and plots of land adjacent to the MEC have been identified to support this development.

HKSTP has established a globally leading microelectronics ecosystem. The Hong Kong Science Park is currently home to a working population of over 24,000, including 15,000 R&D personnel. The number of companies within the park has reached 2,000 companies, with those engaged in microelectronics-related businesses growing to over 200 in the past four years. HKSTP has also developed an extensive network of microelectronics hardware infrastructure, including a Hardware Lab, a Sensor Lab, and a Heterogeneous Integration Lab. These facilities support the complete end-to-end process from design and prototyping to trial production, as well as the manufacturing of chip-related equipment, systems, and products.