The Chinese Mainland is championing the development of a “low-altitude economy” (LAE) in its 14th Five-Year Plan, focusing on drone services, aerial tourism, and advanced aircraft manufacturing. In support of this national vision, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (HKSAR) is committed to building a strong LAE ecosystem in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

As a staunch supporter of the HKSAR Government in developing LAE, PolyU recently organised the International Low-Altitude Economy Summit, in collaboration with the HKSAR Government Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy and the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance (LAEA). The summit drew over 1,200 participants – including government officials, business leaders, scholars, and industry experts – and featured a kick-off ceremony, keynote speeches, fireside chats, an innovation showcase, and parallel sessions. The event aimed to promote collaboration among government, industry, academia, and research sectors, accelerating LAE development in Hong Kong and the region.

After the opening remarks, the Summit was opened with a keynote by Dr Bi Qi, Chief Scientist of China Telecom, on “Building Intelligent Networks for Flight Services to Unlock the Low-Altitude Airspace Economy”. He outlined the major opportunities for LAE in areas like delivery, agriculture, and smart cities, while addressing challenges in regulation, safety, infrastructure, and costs. He emphasised the need for policy support, innovation, and collaboration.

Dr Bi Qi stressed that China Telecom is committed to supporting Hong Kong’s LAE growth through advanced infrastructure and partnerships.

Two fireside chats were held: the first, moderated by Mr Kevin Choi, brought together officials from the Chinese Mainland, the European Union, Singapore, and industry representatives to discuss supportive policies and regulations for the low-altitude economy. The second, led by Professor Christopher Chao, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), explored how industry-academia collaboration can drive innovation and technological progress in low-altitude flight.

Four thematic parallel sessions were also held: “Sandbox Project Progress Sharing” reviewed pilot outcomes and challenges; “UTM and UAV Technology” focused on airspace integration and safety in the Greater Bay Area; “Policy and Regulation” addressed supportive frameworks and collaboration models; and the “Industry Forum” showcased UAV innovations and real-world applications.

Another highlight was the Innovation and Technology Showcase, featuring nearly 30 organisations presenting cutting-edge applications and Regulatory Sandbox projects. Highlights included sentry drones for GNSS interference detection, 5G-connected drone technologies, AI-powered aerial platforms, advanced wireless charging, cross-border positioning infrastructure, and drone-assisted urban logistics systems.

PolyU’s strengths in research, collaboration, and knowledge transfer were highlighted, showcasing Hong Kong’s vibrant low-altitude economy and advancing its role as an Asia-Pacific hub for innovative applications.

Prof. Huang Hailong from PolyU’s Research Centre for Low Altitude Economy highlighted several of the University’s innovations at the Innovation Technology Showcase.