Lingnan’s President S. Joe Qin welcomes Financial Secretary Paul Chan’s 2026–27 Budget

Development of “AI+” and promotion of innovation and technology

Prof Qin welcomed the Budget’s substantial support for the development of “AI+” in Hong Kong. Regarding the government’s proposed allocation of HK$50 million to promote AI literacy for the public, and the establishment of the “AI+ and Industry Development Strategy Committee” to guide industrial transformation and development through AI, Prof Qin highlighted that artificial intelligence is not merely a trend in a single technological domain. Rather, AI can be applied to solve real-world problems, serving as a key foundational capability to drive Hong Kong’s overall economic transformation and enhance competitiveness. He noted that the promotion of “AI+” is therefore an essential part of Hong Kong’s future development.

Prof Qin also emphasised the importance of responsible AI use. Developing public AI literacy and ethical awareness helps Hong Kong SAR build a healthy and sustainable innovation ecosystem. By promoting AI knowledge and skills widely, students and working professionals can deepen their understanding of data and AI tools, creating a larger talent pool for the digital era and enhancing Hong Kong SAR’s workforce competitiveness.

In addition, the establishment of the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy will accelerate the commercialisation of research outcomes from higher education institutions and strengthen industry–university–research collaboration. The Committee, comprising experts, academics and industry representatives, can help define Hong Kong SAR’s strategic positioning in the “AI+” ecosystem, particularly in terms of technology development, industrial support, and governance frameworks.

Taking Lingnan University as an example, the University has actively aligned with the national “AI+” initiative. Through its interdisciplinary development strategy, Lingnan has integrated “AI+X” training across its curricula, with strong potential in areas such as smart energy, industrial AI, and low-carbon technologies. The University actively applies AI in combination with energy, materials, environmental, humanities, and social sciences to address Hong Kong SAR’s re-industrialisation and carbon-neutrality goals, cultivating research-oriented talents with innovative capabilities and international perspectives.

Establishment of Hong Kong SAR’s first national manufacturing innovation centre outside the Mainland

Regarding the HKSAR government’s plan to implement the Co‑operation Agreement on the Development of New Quality Productive Forces and the Promotion of New Industrialisation with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and to allocate approximately HK$220 million to establish Hong Kong SAR’s first national manufacturing innovation centre outside the Mainland, Prof Qin noted that this will advance new-type industrialisation in Hong Kong SAR.

He explained that the core of “new quality productivity” lies in leveraging data, AI, and advanced manufacturing technologies to drive industrial upgrading. The government’s initiative carries strategic significance, strengthening Hong Kong SAR’s role in the national industrialisation framework and providing local universities with valuable platforms to connect with industry and accelerate the practical application of research and innovation.

President Qin pointed out that higher education institutions can support the government in serving as both a source of technology and a hub for talent. At Lingnan, the University has undergone a significant transformation, building interdisciplinary teams centred on data science and AI while retaining its liberal arts foundation. The teams focus on areas including industrial data, smart energy, advanced materials, and humanitarian technology, and actively collaborate with industry to translate research into practical solutions that address real-world challenges rather than remaining theoretical or purely demonstrative.

Aligned with the “Lingnan-60 Global Talent Recruitment”, Lingnan has recruited a number of top international scholars, continuously strengthening its research capabilities in foundational engineering areas such as industrial automation, AI optimisation, and scientific computation, making it well-positioned to participate in large-scale projects supporting Hong Kong’s new-type industrialisation.

President Qin further suggested that Hong Kong SAR could consider adopting a “light-asset, high-tech, sustainability, strong-translational” research model to drive industrial value creation. Lingnan University will continue to support government and national development strategies, leveraging industry–university–research collaboration to provide research and talent support for building Hong Kong SAR into an international centre for innovation and technology, and for advancing re-industrialisation.