Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong innovation zone picks up speed

Overview

On 14 August 2026, a feature produced by the Greater Bay Area broadcaster Voice of the Greater Bay Area and republished by China News Service described how science and technology cooperation is accelerating in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, which straddles the Shenzhen-Hong Kong boundary. On the same day, the Huanggang Border Inspection Station reported that 28,000 visa-free entries by foreigners were recorded between 1 July and 13 August, up 43.2% year on year, at ports located within the zone.

Background

The Hetao zone follows a "one river, two banks, one zone, two parks" model and covers less than 4 square kilometres (about 3.89 square kilometres). In August 2023 China's State Council issued a development plan for the Shenzhen park, and the zone has since been developed as a platform combining Hong Kong's strength in basic research with Shenzhen's industrialisation capacity.

According to Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, in the first quarter of 2026 emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and biomedicine in the Shenzhen park exceeded RMB 11 billion, up 10% year on year. The opening of the Hetao Hong Kong Youth Innovation Valley added nearly 10,000 square metres of industrial space, bringing the total space released by the park to more than 200,000 square metres. Eight companies moved in during the quarter, and a Shenzhen research institute of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was inaugurated.

Key Points

• Cross-border IP finance: Hong Kong entrepreneur He Yaowei brought non-invasive blood glucose monitoring technology to Hetao. His company became the first beneficiary of a cross-border "N+1" intellectual property securitisation project, securing IP-backed financing from Hong Kong.
• Robotics research: a young team at the China Merchants Lion Rock AI Laboratory has developed a robotic arm that folds clothes and a quadruped robot dog that patrols the campus. The team won first place globally in the LeHome Challenge 2026 finals held at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation.
• Dual bases: more research teams are setting up in both Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and Hetao is often their "first stop".
• Policy direction: the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan calls on major cooperation platforms to pioneer new policies, and Shenzhen and Hong Kong aim to turn the zone into a "world-class research hub".
• Cross-border travel: between 1 July and 13 August, the Huanggang station handled more than 9.58 million passenger trips through the Huanggang and Futian ports and related channels (up 1.1%), including 52,000 trips by foreigners (up 1.3%) and nearly 1.8 million trips by mainland residents to Hong Kong (up 18.1%).

Implications for Japan-Shenzhen Exchange

The Hetao zone is positioned as an experiment in linking basic research at Hong Kong universities and institutes with Shenzhen's manufacturing and supply chains. Its access to financing via Hong Kong and to international research networks may also be of interest to Japanese companies with bases in Hong Kong, as well as to Japanese universities and research institutions.

Reports also note that robot experience stores, science museums, a drone testing base and smart products in Huaqiangbei are attracting growing numbers of foreign visitors. In fields such as robotics, AI and medical devices, attention is turning to whether the zone's future institutional design will make it easier for Japanese researchers and companies to connect with partners in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Ongoing experiments in cross-border research cooperation also offer a window for third parties to observe Shenzhen-Hong Kong collaborative innovation.

Outlook

The reports said Shenzhen and Hong Kong will deepen cooperation while removing institutional barriers, but no new concrete measures or timetable were given. Which pilot measures emerge on cross-border data flows, talent mobility and research funding will be the key points to watch. Whether the zone can continue to attract high-calibre teams and international resources within its limited space will also test the effectiveness of the "one zone, two parks" model.

From the Association

The Association will continue to follow developments in Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation, including the Hetao zone, and will strive to provide information and opportunities for companies and research institutions in Japan and Shenzhen to interact and deepen mutual understanding.