I. Policy Context and Strategic Positioning

The National 14th Five-Year Plan positions Hong Kong as an “international innovation and technology centre,” and the 2024 Report on the Work of the Government calls for “accelerating the development of new quality productive forces and deepening international sci‑tech cooperation.”  Following the launch of the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint in 2022, the Hong Kong SAR Government is promoting new industrialisation and the digital economy to establish Hong Kong as a globally influential research collaboration hub.

Accordingly, the second International Academicians Hong Kong Forum aims to provide a high‑level, international platform for academic dialogue. Its core objectives are to consolidate Hong Kong’s role as a global scientific‑exchange hub, deepen ties within top international research networks, and establish sustainable cooperation mechanisms in frontier fields. By convening world‑class academicians and strategically aligning with the concurrent InnoEx 2026, the Forum will broaden its reach and participation, thereby significantly amplifying Hong Kong’s visibility, influence and connectivity within the global scientific and innovation communities.

II. Building on Inaugural Success, Elevating the Platform

The inaugural International Academicians Hong Kong Forum was successfully held on 21 March 2025, bringing together over 50 academicians from 20 countries and regions, alongside over three hundred participants. It established international academic links, facilitated cross-border dialogue, and showcased Hong Kong’s research environment, receiving high acclaim from participating academicians and institutions.

Building on this momentum, the second Forum will expand global participation, deepen the focus on frontier discussions, and strengthen the impact of knowledge exchanges. We are committed to making it one of the Asia‑Pacific’s most influential regular platforms for academic dialogue, continuously channelling world‑class intellectual resources and collaborative opportunities into Hong Kong.

The 2026 Forum has established the following three core objectives:

1. Strengthen Hong Kong’s Status as an International Research Hub and Expand Its Global Influence

By convening the world’s leading academicians in high-level forums, we will demonstrate Hong Kong’s outstanding research ecosystem and commitment to open collaboration, thereby solidifying its position as the preferred global platform for cooperation in frontier fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology. We will strategically expand the forum’s visibility and reach across industries and the public sphere, to significantly amplify Hong Kong’s global intellectual footprint and thought leadership.

2. Build a Sustainable and High-Profile Network of Global Top Scientists

Establish publicly visible long-term communication and collaboration mechanisms with participating academicians and their affiliated elite institutions. Transform the Forum’s temporary exchanges into stable, long-term strategic partnerships, embedding profound international connections and collaborative channels within Hong Kong’s research community.

3. Proactively Cultivate and Disseminate Hong Kong’s Brand as a Dynamic Frontier of Science

We will shape international perception through wide-reaching, multi-channel dissemination of the Forum’s discourse and outcomes. Our goal is to project a compelling narrative of Hong Kong as a proactive, ambitious, and culturally vibrant home for cutting-edge science, creating lasting media resonance and public engagement that enhances its long-term appeal to the world’s top research talent and establishes a lasting impression in the global scientific imagination.

Abstract

Following the success of the 1st IAA Hong Kong Forum (2025), the 2026 International Academicians Hong Kong Forum is designed to facilitate substantive academic exchange and collaboration among distinguished academicians based in or visiting Hong Kong, while establishing sustainable engagement mechanisms with leading overseas academic institutions. Through keynote speeches, plenary lectures, panel discussions, and networking sessions, it will convene hundreds of participants—including Nobel laureates, academicians, renowned scholars, industry experts, and policy leaders—to share frontier research and address pressing global challenges, with this year’s dedicated themes being “Aging and Chronic Disease Management: Challenges and Innovations” and “AI and Innovation in Higher Education”.

The Forum aims to strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a strategic nexus in global scientific collaboration, cultivate innovative talent, and raise public awareness of cutting‑edge developments. By broadening participation and enhancing strategic outreach, the Forum will expand its reach and impact across academia, industry, and the public. This multi‑sector engagement will foster dialogue, advance scientific literacy, and inspire wider discourse on technology and innovation. Ultimately, these efforts support Hong Kong’s vision as an International Innovation and Technology Hub, reinforcing its status as an open, connected, and forward‑looking knowledge economy.

Expected social impact

The 2026 International Academicians Hong Kong Forum is strategically aligned with the HKSAR Government’s vision to establish Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. The Forum advances this vision across multiple levels—by attracting top-tier international talent to Hong Kong, facilitating high-value industry-academia collaboration, and implementing structured public science outreach.

Anchored by two societally relevant themes, “Aging and Chronic Disease Management: Challenges and Innovations” and “AI and Innovation in Higher Education,” the Forum directly addresses Hong Kong’s pressing societal needs while creating a platform for breakthrough research and cross‑sectoral knowledge synthesis. These themes align with Hong Kong’s strategic focus on health technology and the transformation of learning ecosystems for future talent readiness.

Through expert dialogues, the Forum will generate actionable insights and foster partnerships that translate academic excellence into real-world, socially beneficial solutions, such as policy recommendations, community health initiatives, and educational technology applications.

A critical objective is to systematically cultivate an I&T culture within Hong Kong through targeted public engagement and youth inspiration. Our science outreach strategy includes live‑streamed sessions on YouTube for broad accessibility, curated social media dissemination, strategic media collaborations, and partnerships with universities to invite motivated students to attend the forum in person. By making cutting‑edge science accessible and relatable, we aim to enhance public scientific literacy and inspire the next generation to pursue careers in research, technology, and innovation.

Furthermore, the Forum will establish a recurring platform for sustained societal impact. By creating lasting networks between international experts and Hong Kong’s research community, it will also foster tangible industry‑academia partnerships.

This multidimensional approach ensures that the Forum contributes to Hong Kong’s transformation into a globally competitive knowledge‑based economy.

Support for government policies

The 2026 International Academicians Hong Kong Forum is purposefully designed to support and advance the key innovation and technology (I&T) policies of both the HKSAR Government and the Chinese Government. It directly aligns with the National 14th Five-Year Plan’s mandate to develop Hong Kong into an international I&T hub and resonates with the strategic objectives of the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint.

By convening a global confluence of Nobel laureates, esteemed academicians, and industry leaders, the Forum serves as a strategic instrument to operationalize these policies. Specifically, it supports talent attraction by providing a premier platform to showcase Hong Kong’s vibrant research ecosystem to elite scientists worldwide, thereby complementing initiatives like the Top Talent Pass Scheme, facilitating direct policy communication, and strengthening Hong Kong’s appeal as a destination for world-class researchers. Its two core themes—“Aging and Chronic Disease Management: Challenges and Innovations” and “AI and Innovation in Higher Education”— directly support the government’s agenda for industry development and societal preparedness.

The Forum also supports the HKSAR Government’s goal of building a science‑engaged society by implementing an accessible, multi‑channel public outreach initiative. This includes livestreaming sessions to broaden reach, actively sharing content across social media, coordinating with media partners to amplify key insights, and working with local universities to facilitate student attendance. Through these efforts, the Forum inspires greater societal participation in science and innovation and strengthens public scientific literacy.

Moreover, the Forum reinforces Hong Kong’s status as a world-class destination for international dialogue and cooperation by being hosted at the iconic Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, thereby amplifying the city’s brand as a stable, sophisticated, and connected global hub. Beyond the event itself, the Forum is designed to catalyze lasting networks between international experts and local institutions, strengthening Hong Kong’s crucial role as a “super-connector” between the Mainland and the world in the I&T domain and ensuring ongoing momentum for Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem through sustained partnerships and collaborative projects.

In summary, the Forum acts as a dynamic policy enabler and a catalyst for societal benefit, providing a high-level platform for talent engagement, industry-academia synergy, and public empowerment to substantively contribute to realizing Hong Kong’s vision as an international I&T centre.