Hong Kong is committed to becoming an international innovation and technology center as well as a global hub for high-end talent, the city’s leader said on Friday.

“The government is committed to cultivating a dynamic environment, one that champions innovation and technology, in every sector and industry, every institution and corner of our community,” John Lee Ka-chiu said at the inauguration ceremony of the International Alliance of Academicians and the International Academicians Hong Kong Forum.

The IAA unites more than 100 renowned academics from across the world for global cooperation among scientists and academics toward the sustainable development of innovation and technology.

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Congratulating the Hong Kong-based Alliance on its establishment, the CE said the Alliance is “a testament to the power of collective wisdom, a commitment to the open exchange of ideas, and a celebration of humanity's boundless innovation”.

Stressing the critical role in an era defined by technological advancement, evolving global dynamics and unprecedented challenges, he said the city will soon launch Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme, worth HK$3 billion to help fund ground-breaking basic research driven by world-class researchers and academics.

“Given the central role that AI (artificial intelligence) will play in research and industry transformation, we will also establish the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute.”

The institute will promote upstream research and development and the transformation of mid-stream and downstream AI outcomes, and explore application scenarios.

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These initiatives expand our far-reaching I&T development, led by two InnoHK research clusters – one focused on healthcare technologies, the other on AI and robotics. “Together, they have attracted more than 2,500 scientists and researchers, from Hong Kong and all over the world,” he added.

Speaking about a third InnoHK research cluster the city is setting up, Lee said it will focus on sustainable development, energy and advanced manufacturing and materials.

“With the support of our country, we are determined to draw together the diverse expertise of Hong Kong's international pool of talent, and the innovation and manufacturing prowess of the mainland,” he said.

The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, situated in the Loop, will create the infrastructure for synergized development with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, said the CE.

“With the Hong Kong Park and a wide range of I&T infrastructure as our hardware, and the ‘soft power’ presented by your Alliance and other key players in our I&T ecosystem, Hong Kong is committed, and well-equipped, to promoting international cooperation, and the boundless opportunities it can create for us all,” he added.