THE State Council has released a plan to boost the high-quality development of the Shenzhen part of a sci-tech innovation cooperation zone jointly developed by Shenzhen and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

According to the plan, the Shenzhen section of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone will seek coordinated development with the section in the HKSAR, the two complementing each other with their respective strengths, making the cooperation zone a key engine for the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

By 2025, an efficient mechanism will be basically established to support the scientific and technological innovation cooperation between the two regions, the plan states, while the reconstruction of the Huanggang Checkpoint will be completed and customs clearance procedures will be realized.

The flow of factors, the chain of sci-tech innovation and the exchange of personnel between the two sections will be unimpeded, says the plan, which also expects the Shenzhen section to attract a number of lab clusters, research centers, and research and development centers of top firms, delivering key achievements through collaboration with the HKSAR.

By 2035, the Shenzhen section is expected to become a world-class research hub that enjoys a free and orderly cross-border flow of innovation factors, solidly supporting the development of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao sci-tech innovation corridor.

To this end, efforts will be made to coordinate with the HKSAR on promoting global sci-tech innovation, and to build an internationally competitive industrial base for the piloting and application of scientific achievements.

The plan also pledges to establish an internationalized scientific and technological innovation mechanism, as well as a platform to pool global wisdom and boost international exchange and cooperation.

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The Hetao cooperation zone, straddling the boundary between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, consists of two portions — the 3.02-square-kilometer Shenzhen portion, which includes the Huanggang Checkpoint and the Futian Bonded Zone areas, and the 0.87-square-kilometer Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park.

In 2017, Shenzhen and the HKSAR governments signed a memorandum of understanding on jointly developing the Hetao area, aiming to set up a key base for scientific research, as well as relevant higher education, and other complementary facilities.

In 2019, the State issued the outline development plan for the GBA, which stated to support the development of the zone, which would create an internationalized business environment conducive to innovation in the technology industry and achieve the convenient and effective flow of innovation elements.

So far, more than 150 high-end science and innovation projects are being implemented within this zone. On average, there are 50 high-end projects per square kilometer.

Additionally, over 300 individuals from 24 entrepreneurial teams from Hong Kong and Macao have been stationed in the incubator acceleration platforms, leading to the granting of 203 patents.

As per the Northern Metropolis plan unveiled by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2021, a 627-hectare tech town called San Tin Technopole will be built based on the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park and the Lok Ma Chau/San Tin area.       (SD-Xinhua)