PolyU responds to the 2025-26 Budget measures

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) welcomes the new measures announced by the Financial Secretary in the government’s 2025-26 Budget that show the government’s commitment to seizing opportunities brought about by technological innovation. The University understands the need for the government to adjust the funding for the UGC-funded universities in the coming three years, and will implement a range of measures aimed at better allocating and saving resources, standing together with the government during challenging times.

PolyU supports the government’s series of measures in developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a core industry, including the “AI Subsidy Scheme” to support research and development (R&D) projects led by local universities, as well as establishing the new Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute and the operation of AI Supercomputing Centre to facilitate relevant R&D, transform the R&D outcomes, and expand application scenarios. As one of its strategic research areas, PolyU is planning to establish an “AI+ Academy”, with focus on pioneering research in AI-assisted diagnosis and treatment. In addition, the University has launched the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences earlier this year, and offers AI-related master programmes, such as in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Computing and Generative AI and the Humanities, in response to the demand for talent and technology in the AI era.

PolyU is pleased to see that the government continues to allocate resources for advancing the development of emerging industries. These measures include the establishment of the third InnoHK research cluster focusing on advanced manufacturing, materials, energy and sustainable development; funding local universities to set up life and health technology research institutes to foster cross‑university/institutional and multi-disciplinary collaboration; and the launch of a new round of Research Matching Grant Scheme totalling $1.5 billion to attract more organisations to support research endeavours of institutions. PolyU has a robust research foundation in these areas and will continue to drive impactful and innovative research, accelerating the translation of research outcomes into practical solutions.

PolyU also supports the various measures to promote new industrialisation in Hong Kong, including the Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund aiming to channel more market capital into emerging and future industries, and an I&T Accelerator Pilot Scheme designed to provide funding to professional startup service agencies, with a view to enriching Hong Kong’s startup ecosystem. Aligning with these policies, PolyU will continue to provide startups with comprehensive support through its PolyVentures startup ecosystem.

PolyU President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG welcomed the government’s prioritisation of resource allocation for the development of the Northern Metropolis, as it provides impetus for the growth of the innovation and technology industry and promotes Hong Kong as an international hub for tertiary education. He said, “PolyU fully supports the development of the Northern Metropolis and places high importance on the preparatory work for establishing Hong Kong’s third medical school.  With over 45 years of extensive experience in healthcare education, PolyU has trained over 52,000 graduates across various healthcare professions. The University offers a wide range of programmes, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiotherapy, optometry, medical laboratory science, speech therapy, and nursing. In addition to its state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, PolyU is well-positioned to establish a medical school. The University can harness the synergy among its diverse programmes to cultivate talent in a cost-effective manner.”

The Budget also proposes to step up the promotion of the “Study in Hong Kong” brand to attract more outstanding non-local students by increasing the quota of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme and continuing the Belt and Road Scholarship, further solidifying Hong Kong’s position as an international post-secondary education hub. This aligns with PolyU’s dedication to fostering an international and diverse campus and its endeavour to organise recruitment and promotion events in various emerging markets and to attract more students from Belt and Road countries to study in Hong Kong.

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