(Yicai) Sept. 8 -- Hong Kong Science Park, run by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, has opened its first Chinese mainland branch in the southern tech hub of Shenzhen to provide companies with scalable, efficient, and dedicated infrastructure and services support.

HKSTP held an opening ceremony yesterday for the Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch, which is located in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone. More than 150 institutions and enterprises have applied to settle in the park, with the first 16 from Hong Kong having already set up shop there.

The new branch aims to build an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem that connects research institutions, capital markets, governments, universities, tech innovation firms, and their partners, according to its official introduction.

It will take advantage of Hong Kong’s top universities, world-class international talent, global innovation network, and internationally accepted legal system combined with Shenzhen’s land resources, lower operating costs, proven track record in commercializing scientific achievements, as well as the vast economic hinterland behind the city.

The branch’s research, development, and innovation focus will embrace seven fields: healthcare technology, financial technology, big data, artificial intelligence, new materials, robotics,  microelectronics, and areas related to global sustainability.

It will provide all-round support for local tech innovators, including business growth and expansion, funding and financing, talent recruitment and nurturing, R&D collaboration, product manufacturing, and supply chain construction.

The cooperation zone also signed deals yesterday with 40 other entities to set up projects in the area, including innovative firms, scientific research institutions, universities, and international industry and standards organizations, covering all links of the innovation ecological chain.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione