PolyU welcomes 2026-27 Budget initiatives, driving Hong Kong’s high-quality development with I&T and talent
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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) welcomes the 2026-27 Budget announced by the Financial Secretary. With innovation and technology as its core driving force, the Budget focuses on nurturing and strengthening strategic and emerging industries, such as AI+, life and health technology, the low-altitude economy, aerospace and quantum technology, expediting the development of the Northern Metropolis, as well as enhancing the nurturing and attraction of talent, thereby fostering the integrated development of “Education, Technology and Talent”.
PolyU is pleased to see the Government’s efforts to drive the industrialisation of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is one of PolyU’s key research areas, and last year the University established the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence (PAAI) to support Hong Kong’s development as an AI innovation hub. In line with the Government’s strategy to nurture emerging industries, PolyU plans to establish the PolyU Aerospace Research Academy (PARA) this year, which, together with the existing PolyU
Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), will further advance the University’s organised research efforts. PolyU also welcomes the accelerated development of the third InnoHK research cluster. At present, the University has established and is participating in multiple research centres under the two existing InnoHK clusters, covering cutting-edge areas such as AI in design, eye and vision research, space robotics and energy, as well as generative AI.
PolyU also welcomes the Government’s strong push to promote the integrated upstream, midstream and downstream development of life and health technologies, including the establishment of the headquarters of the Life and Health Technology Research Institute in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Co-operation Zone, as well as support for universities to set up branch institutes. Leveraging its unique strengths in AI-powered medicine and in “medicine-engineering integration”, PolyU will accelerate the translation of medical research outcomes and help develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub.
In advancing green technology, PolyU has secured funding for a total of nine projects under the Government’s Green Tech Fund since its launch, achieving the highest aggregate funding amount among all local universities. These projects span key areas such as new energy development, green buildings and waste-to-resource conversion, including research on next-generation fuel cells and ammonia-based power generation systems. PolyU will continue to promote the translational application of these research outcomes, contributing to the Nation’s “dual carbon” targets.
In terms of talent development, PolyU is pleased that the Government is encouraging universities to introduce new STEAM-related programmes, and supporting graduates to pursue I&T-related and R&D work through the STEM Internship Scheme and the Research Talent Hub. As early as 2022, PolyU took the lead in making AI and Data Analytics a compulsory subject for all undergraduates. The University has launched the BSc (Hons) Scheme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (Data Science and Analytics/Financial Technology and Artificial Intelligence) in the 2025/26 academic year, and will further expand its STEAM programme offerings by introducing new programmes in sports science and technology and language science and technology in 2026/27. PolyU also supports the Government’s efforts to build the “Study in Hong Kong” brand and will continue to expand its global student recruitment network.
PolyU welcomes the Government’s efforts to advance the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town, in particular the plan to make land in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area available in the short term for university applications, as well as the provision of loan support for campus development.
Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, said, “The Budget aligns with the Nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan and its strategic deployment for frontier technology development, providing solid support for Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T centre. In education, PolyU is at the forefront of AI-empowered learning and teaching and has launched the ‘Education 4.0’ initiative. In research, the University will continue to leverage its strengths in interdisciplinary research to promote the translation of research outcomes, contributing to the Nation’s drive for greater technological self-reliance and strength.
Looking ahead, PolyU is facing a severe challenge of inadequate campus space for future development, which constrains the University’s long-term planning. We therefore welcome the Budget’s commitment to expediting the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town, and we look forward to overcoming the current land bottleneck through a new campus, thereby providing the necessary space to support the University’s sustained growth.”
Moving forward, PolyU will continue to pursue excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer, foster collaboration among industry, academia and research sectors, and contribute to the development of both Hong Kong and the Nation.
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