Sci-tech cluster ranks top globally

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster ranks first globally in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The ranking reflects the high international recognition of the innovative capacity of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

This year, the ranking newly includes the number of venture capital deals as a new metric. With Hong Kong as an international financial center, and the Mainland and Hong Kong ranking first and second respectively in Asia's venture capital and private equity fund management, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster has excelled at channeling capital to support the translation of innovative ideas into material outcomes.

The GII Cluster ranking identifies local concentrations of world-class innovation activity using three key metrics: international patent filings via WIPO's Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), scientific publications, and, newly added this year, the number of venture capital deals. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster filed 2,292 Patent Cooperation Treaty applications, published 3,775 scientific articles, and had 135 venture capital deals per 1 million inhabitants over the last five years.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government welcomed the World Intellectual Property Organization’s naming of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster as number one in its index of the world's top 100 innovation clusters.

It highlighted that the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster has excelled in channeling capital to support the translation of innovative ideas into material outcomes. It added that Hong Kong is an international financial center, while the Mainland and Hong Kong rank first and second for venture capital and private equity fund management in Asia.

Going forward, Hong Kong will continue to closely collaborate with its bay area sister cities to advance regional innovation and technology development, and make greater contributions to China's development as an innovative nation.

Hong Kong Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong said venture capital is very important to Hong Kong’s development. The Hong Kong SAR Government plans to roll out an improved Innovation & Technology Venture Fund and initiate a new investment program, the Innovation & Technology Industry-oriented Fund, next year. It will also implement the Pilot I&T Accelerator Scheme to bring startups from all over the world to Hong Kong. Through these policy initiatives, Prof Sun said Hong Kong's startup ecosystem will become more vibrant.