Meridiano

Add Article

No Image Available

Article Details

Title

Article: Hong Kong lags behind Singapore in biotech race, but Greater Bay Area could prove its trump card

Impact Score

6 / 10

AI Summary (Processed Content)

Hong Kong's biotechnology sector has significantly lagged behind Singapore's, which benefited from clearer vision, funding, and startup support. However, Hong Kong is now urgently accelerating its efforts, exemplified by a major HK$40 billion investment and the planned Lok Ma Chau Loop R&D project. The city's potential advantage lies in its integration with China's Greater Bay Area, which could help it catch up amid national goals for technological self-sufficiency.

The main topics covered are the comparison of Hong Kong and Singapore's biotech development, Hong Kong's new initiatives and funding to accelerate growth, and the strategic potential of the Greater Bay Area.

Original URL

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3112916/hong-kong-lags-behind-singapore-biotech-race-greater-bay-area-could?utm_source=rss_feed

Source Feed

Science & Research - South China Morning Post

Published Date

2020-12-08 02:00

Fetched Date

2026-03-04 14:31

Processed Date

2026-03-04 15:16

Embedding Status

Present

Cluster ID

Not Clustered

Raw Extracted Content

Hong Kong lags behind Singapore in biotech race, but Greater Bay Area could prove its trump card
- Hong Kong’s research and development (R&D) efforts get a chance to catch up with plans for Lok Ma Chau Loop project
- Singapore’s success so far the result of clear vision, funding, support for start-ups, experts say
More than three decades after Hong Kong and Singapore separately embarked on growing biotechnology sectors at almost the same time, their outcomes have proven dramatically different.
Observers say Hong Kong’s efforts have sputtered and lagged behind Singapore’s strides in setting up a range of research institutions, attracting top talent and manufacturers, creating jobs and providing a launch pad for start-ups.
There is now a new urgency for Hong Kong to prove its prowess, given China’s five-year goal of self-sufficiency in technology.
Belatedly, Hong Kong has begun signalling its seriousness in speeding up development of its biotechnology sector, which includes research and development (R&D) in biomedical sciences, pharmaceuticals and the creation of new drugs.
Biotechnology was first identified as a priority in the city’s 2018 budget, which earmarked a massive HK$40 billion (US$5.2 billion) for the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP), the statutory board overseeing the main research hub, Science Park.