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The View | Better than Silicon Valley? How software focus can drive innovation in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong’s unique talent pool, geographical location and other assets mean its vision for innovation should not be bracketed by Western precedents
- What the city needs to thrive is a vibrant local talent base, seamless cross-border collaboration and entrepreneurial culture that embraces risk-taking
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From oyster farming to hi-tech clusters, the rural region of San Tin along the Hong Kong-Shenzhen border has gained fresh cachet for its proposed role in powering future economic growth. In her 2021 policy address, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor made a bold suggestion that the futuristically named “San Tin technopole” could become the Hong Kong version of Silicon Valley.
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Synergies with Shenzhen, existing supply chains in the Greater Bay Area, access to mainland China and international markets – all these suggest the coming tech hub could be even greater than Silicon Valley. And why not? Hong Kong’s vision should not be limited by Western precedents.
Invoking Silicon Valley is too simplistic, though. Admirers tend to discount the formative role of military contracting, the generations of computer pioneers and the historical advantages of the US dollar. The components of its world-leading technology ecosystem are widely studied, from its geography and Stanford’s research facilities to the role of venture capital.
Beyond tangible assets, a key success factor is the culture of challenging convention. It must be remembered that this also includes bypassing laws and ignoring negative social consequences of products.
Current planning is heavily hardware-focused. The consolidation of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong innovation and technology cooperation zone, comprising the Lok Ma Chau Loop and San Tin, is driven by land use planning, physical connectivity and infrastructure investment.
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