PolyU welcomes 2025 Policy Address measures to accelerate the construction of the Northern Metropolis University Town and the development of Hong Kong as an international education hub
17 Sep 2025
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) welcomes the measures announced by the Chief Executive in the 2025 Policy Address, which promote the integrated development of education, technology and talents. These initiatives enable universities to attract more non-local students and teaching and research talents, and advance the development of emerging technologies and industries, solidifying Hong Kong’s position as an international innovation and technology centre and accelerating th establishment of an international education hub.
Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU, said, “PolyU fully supports the HKSAR Government’s effort to establish Hong Kong as an international hub for education and high-calibre talents, advancing the synergistic development of talent cultivation, talent attraction, and technology. We also welcome the establishment of the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to help accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town. Two years ago, PolyU submitted a proposal to the Government outlining plans to establish a ‘medical school’ and a large ‘teaching hotel’ with an exhibition and convention centre, addressing the healthcare needs of the Greater Bay Area’s population and boosting the region’s tourism, convention, and exhibition industries.
PolyU has been on a strong upward trajectory in recent years, ranking 54th in the QS World University Rankings 2025, but it faces the acute challenge of land and space shortages for further development. The University hopes the Government will provide steadfast support for the establishment of a new campus in the Northern Metropolis to relieve these bottlenecks and help strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international innovation and technology hub, build an international post-secondary education hub, and establish the city’s third medical school.
Furthermore, PolyU has also provided strong support for the Government’s efforts to promote Chinese culture, including the Chinese Culture Festival and a wide range of community engagement activities. Since last year, PolyU has launched the PolyU Chinese Culture Festival, comprising a series of activities related to Chinese culture. Earlier, together with the Guangdong University of Technology, PolyU co-produced a stage play commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong, fostering a sense of national pride among students. The University has also hosted film screenings, talks, and exhibitions to mark the 5th Anniversary of the Implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law and the 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.”
Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “PolyU supports the Government’s measures on building an international education hub, including relaxing restrictions on the admission of self-financing non-local undergraduate and research postgraduate students as well as the establishment of the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong, helping further promote Hong Kong’s higher education sector. Committed to fostering a multicultural and international learning atmosphere on campus, the University is actively expanding its outreach to multiple emerging markets in Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South America to attract more outstanding non-local students. To meet market needs, we have launched various new programmes in emerging technologies to nurture professional talent for a wide range of industries. In view of this, the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences was established to meet the pressing demand for high-end talent in the age of AI.”
In the last academic year, PolyU organised over 590 undergraduate recruitment activities across nearly 64 countries and regions worldwide, including 46 Belt and Road and ASEAN countries. In alignment with the Government’s initiative to increase the admission quota of non-local students, PolyU has proactively expanded its non-local student intake since the 2024/25 Academic Year. This year, the University admitted around 1,100 non-local students, including 400 international students. Moving forward, PolyU will make the most of the resources provided by the Government and roll out large-scale publicity campaigns to further strengthen its overseas outreach, attracting outstanding non-local students from around the globe.
PolyU is pleased with the Government’s strong commitment to promoting the development of the AI and data science industries, with the aim of positioning Hong Kong as a global hub for AI development. In particular, the establishment of the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute will facilitate upstream AI R&D, midstream and downstream R&D outcomes, as well as the expansion of use cases. This initiative aligns closely with the University’s establishment earlier this year of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence. Led by scholars with extensive experience in developing large AI models, these two academic units will drive AI-driven interdisciplinary research and innovation, while also nurturing talent in related fields for Hong Kong.
Additionally, PolyU supports the Government’s various initiatives to propel the development of strategic emerging industries, including aerospace and the low-altitude economy. PolyU boasts solid research capabilities in both fields and, notably, stands as the only university in Hong Kong to have participated in multiple national space missions. Last year, the University established the Research Centre for Low Altitude Economy and launched an MSc Programme in Low-Altitude Economy, comprehensively addressing the needs for interdisciplinary research and talent development in this emerging field. Co-organised by the Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy under the Government and the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance, PolyU will host the International Low-Altitude Economy Summit on 9 October 2025 to showcase Hong Kong’s leading position in the low-altitude economy to the world.
PolyU also welcomes the Government’s launch of the Innovation and Technology Talents Exchange Scheme for Industry and Academic Sectors, which encourages university professors to engage in corporate R&D activities and invites technical experts from technology enterprises to contribute to teaching, strengthening the collaborative development of the industry, academic and research sectors. This initiative aligns with PolyU’s commitment to expanding its network of industry partnerships and translating research outcomes into practical solutions. Following the establishment of the PolyU Shenzhen Research Institute, the University has set up translational research institutes in 12 major Mainland cities, as well as the Qianhai Disruptive Technology and Innovation Research Centre in Shenzhen, to address local industrial and societal needs. Through the cooperative model for technology transfer defined by the equation: “PolyU research + Mainland industrial chain + Mainland market = societal benefit”, PolyU actively promotes technology transfer and collaborative innovation.
Earlier this month, PolyU’s Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology submitted its recommendations to the HKSAR Government for the 2025 Policy Address, focusing on driving economic development and improving people’s livelihoods. Many of these recommendations are aligned with the policy directions outlined in the 2025 Policy Address, including consolidating aerospace research resources, advancing the low-altitude economy, promoting carbon trading and carbon pricing, and advancing new energy vehicles and green energy in Hong Kong.
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Ms Priscilla Hung
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- priscilla.hung@polyu.edu.hk
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- edmond.siu@polyu.edu.hk
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