After more than a month of release, the popularity of the "Lion Rock Core" named after a Hong Kong landmark has not diminished, continuously attracting attention from the industry. At present, the market response is positive, and almost all OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), ODMs (Original Design Manufacturers), and cloud service providers have established close relationships with us. ”Xu Tao, CEO of chip design company Saifang Technology, said. As the world's first data center management chip based on RISC-V architecture, "Lion Rock Chip" is incubated by local entrepreneurs in Hong Kong and is a true "Hong Kong chip". Its birth marks an important breakthrough in Hong Kong's independent research and development of chips. From the release of the "Hong Kong chip", to the global first summit of the "Shenzhen Hong Kong Guangzhou" innovation cluster, and to the opening of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (referred to as the "Hetao Hong Kong Park")... In the past year, Hong Kong's innovation and technology vitality has further burst forth, with impressive results and steadily accumulating new momentum for economic development. The ecological fertile soil "Hong Kong chip" has emerged from the cocoon, and Fu Sheng Capital is the founding shareholder of Sai Fang Technology. Seven years ago, Fu Sheng Capital was optimistic about the prospects of the chip industry, betting on the RISC-V architecture track and sowing the seeds of Sai Fang Technology in Hong Kong. At that time, Saifang Technology was one of the few companies dedicated to the development of RISC-V architecture. Nowadays, Saifang Technology has grown into a leading enterprise in the software and hardware ecosystem of this field. Accurate vision, early start, and good foundation for the development of Saifang Technology, but chip research and production are never achieved overnight. The design and production of chips is an extremely complex system engineering, with numerous links and extremely detailed division of labor. ”Xu Tao said that there is huge uncertainty in this process. Any understanding deviation, collaboration error, or verification omission in any link may result in defective chips that cannot be used. Fortunately, Saifang Technology successfully produced the chips in one trial. Xu Tao said that this is mainly due to the team's deep understanding of technology, close cooperation, rigorous quality and process control. The resilient Lion Rock spirit of Hong Kong's innovation and technology personnel is the deep driving force behind Hong Kong's innovation and technology. ”Fu Sheng Capital Management Partner Chen Yinglong said that they were still able to work hard and silently cultivate until success in fierce competition. When it comes to the reasons for choosing Hong Kong as a research and development location, Xu Tao said that chip design is a knowledge intensive industry that highly relies on intellectual property and talent, which is highly compatible with Hong Kong's advantages as an international knowledge hub. At the same time, chip innovation has the characteristics of high investment and long cycle, requiring strong capital for continuous support. As an international financial center, Hong Kong happens to provide ample funding for this continuous research and development. Chen Yinglong believes that Hong Kong's common law system, strict intellectual property protection, and low tax system have jointly built a stable, trustworthy, and predictable business environment, which is the solid soil for innovation to take root. Sai Fang Technology has established an innovation center in Hong Kong to maximize the use of Hong Kong's advantages in scientific research policies, talent, and internationalization, accelerate technological innovation and commercial applications, "said Chen Yinglong. The policy supports the simultaneous improvement of both quantity and quality of Hong Kong technology enterprises. Looking back on the first time of entrepreneurship, the founder of Puya Biotechnology Company, Weixing Hui, still remembers the hardships and joys of that time. What he is grateful for until now is the 'helping hand' during difficult times. At that time, my company received support from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, including a one-year rent free and consumables subsidy. ”Satellite Hui said that this allows the company to survive without worrying about daily expenses, and can recruit a small team to specialize in scientific research. In recent years, the Hong Kong SAR government has actively invested in innovation and technology, introduced enterprises, and the innovation and technology ecosystem has flourished. Data shows that the total R&D expenditure in Hong Kong continues to rise, increasing by 8.4% year-on-year to HKD 35.772 billion in 2024. The ratio to the local GDP has further increased from 1.11% in 2023 to 1.13% in 2024. With the support of policies, Hong Kong's innovation and technology achievements have been continuously released: artificial intelligence models have been released, 15 Hong Kong laboratories have been approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology as national key laboratories, the blueprint for Xintian Science and Technology City has been drawn up, and the Hetao Hong Kong Park has opened and welcomed more than 60 enterprises to settle in... Li Shaobin, Chief Digital Director of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, observed that in recent years, there has been a surge in Hong Kong startups. According to data from the Special Administrative Region government, the number of startups has jumped from around 1000 10 years ago to nearly 4700 by 2024. From a field perspective, in the medical life and health industry, Hong Kong's relevant technologies have reached the international leading level; Emerging fields such as low altitude economy, new energy, and microelectronics are gradually emerging. This achievement is mainly due to the continuous policy support of the SAR government in recent years. ”Li Shaobin said that in recent years, the SAR government has launched over 40 funding programs to provide support for enterprises in areas such as funding, technology research and development, and market expansion. Targeting the world of Hong Kong's innovation and entrepreneurship, 2025 will be a fruitful year for Kejingda Biotechnology Company. We have received orders from Europe and are currently promoting our products at a biotechnology event in Switzerland. ”The founder of the company, Wu Zhaopeng, proudly told reporters. The label free biosensor developed by his six member core team is currently being tested in a Swiss laboratory in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Looking ahead to 2026, Wu Zhaopeng said that Kejingda will launch clinical trials in the Greater Bay Area through a branch established in the Hetao Shenzhen Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, paving the way for its products to obtain medical certification in mainland China and achieving a leap from scientific research to medical scenarios. KeJingda's path is a microcosm of the development of Hong Kong's innovative technology enterprises: leveraging Hong Kong's scientific research resources and international platforms to promote products to the world, while entering the mainland market with the Greater Bay Area as a pivot. Chen Yinglong believes that the limitations of Hong Kong's local industrial chain and market size require the transformation and commercialization of scientific research results to seek external support. The vast Greater Bay Area market and complete industrial chain are the best hinterland for Hong Kong's innovation and technology industry. With the implementation of major plans such as the Northern Metropolitan Area, an integrated ecosystem of "Hong Kong research and development, Greater Bay Area transformation, and global market" is accelerating. He said that Hong Kong's core role is to become a strategic pivot that integrates international intelligence, capital, and rules, and connects the strong industries and market arteries of mainland China. The proposal for the 15th Five Year Plan proposes to leverage the unique advantages and important role of Hong Kong and Macao, which are backed by the motherland and connected to the world, to support Hong Kong in building an international innovation and technology center, and to support Hong Kong and Macao in creating an international high-end talent gathering highland. The recently held Central Economic Work Conference listed the construction of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Science and Technology Innovation Center as one of the key tasks for 2026. The Hong Kong SAR government is making every effort to accelerate the development of innovation and technology with the strategic determination of "seizing every day". Accelerating the construction of the third "InnoHK Innovation Hong Kong R&D Platform", accelerating the development of the Hetao Hong Kong Park, promoting new industrialization, and launching the HKD 10 billion "Innovation and Technology Industry Guidance Fund"... Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced a series of measures in the latest policy address to empower economic development with technology. 2026 is the starting year of the national "15th Five Year Plan". The Financial Secretary of the Special Administrative Region Government, Paul Chan, said that the government will be more proactive in aligning with the national development strategy, and finance, innovation and technology, and trade will be the three important development engines of Hong Kong. At the beginning of the new year, Hong Kong's innovative and technological vitality is surging, ready to take off. (New Society)