Greater Bay Area Accelerates ‘From 0 to 1 to 100’ Innovation Model
The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is accelerating a three-stage innovation model—moving from foundational research (0 to 1) through technology commercialization to large-scale industrial application (1 to 100)—as the region deepens cross-border collaboration across science, technology, and industry, according to a comprehensive report published by People’s Daily.
A World-Leading Innovation Cluster
The GBA’s innovation credentials are now globally recognized. The “Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou” science and technology cluster ranked 1st globally in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s 2025 Global Innovation Index, climbing from second place where it had held for five consecutive years. The “Macau-Zhuhai” cluster entered the global top 100 for the second time, as Economic Daily reported in its comprehensive survey on the GBA’s innovation leap.
The region now hosts over 77,000 national-level high-tech enterprises, concentrated in artificial intelligence, robotics, big data, the low-altitude economy, autonomous driving, and biomedicine. Guangdong province has established 10 national major science and technology infrastructure projects—the third-highest number in China—including the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) in Dongguan, the Advanced Attosecond Laser facility, and the Cold Spring Ecosystem research platform.
Breaking Down Barriers for Cross-Border Innovation
A defining feature of the GBA’s approach is its focus on “soft connectivity”—harmonizing rules and regulations across three distinct legal and economic systems. Guangdong has allocated over 6.5 billion RMB in provincial fiscal research funds to Hong Kong and Macao through cross-border channels, according to the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology.
“Guangdong works with Hong Kong and Macao to actively build an open regional collaborative innovation community, driving the construction of the GBA International Science and Technology Innovation Center to achieve remarkable results,” said Wang Yueqin, Director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology.
Currently, 35 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratories are operational, and 31 Hong Kong and Macao universities have established R&D institutions in Guangdong. The GBA’s talent pool is formidable: Guangdong has over 1.58 million R&D personnel and more than 150 academicians working full-time in the province, while Hong Kong’s talent attraction schemes have received over 460,000 applications since late 2022.
Four Platforms Driving Commercialization
Four key cooperation platforms serve as the primary engines of the GBA’s innovation ecosystem:
- Hengqin has cultivated 245 national high-tech enterprises and attracted over 7,600 Macao-invested enterprises
- Qianhai incubates more than 100 Hong Kong university technology projects annually
- Nansha has established 19 Hong Kong-Macao youth innovation bases hosting 2,988 enterprises and projects
- Hetao (the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone) has attracted over 200 high-end research projects, 447 technology companies, and more than 15,000 researchers
“The GBA’s major science facilities and innovation platforms are densely distributed with convenient cross-city commuting. This cluster effect is rare worldwide,” said Cao Zhongxiong, Director of the China Development Institute in Shenzhen, as cited in the 21st Century Business Herald.
Real-World Impact: From Lab to Factory Floor
The “0 to 1 to 100” framework is producing tangible results. At the Songshan Lake International Robotics Industry Base in Dongguan, a robot called D1 developed by a team mentored by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Professor Li Zexiang can separate and reassemble its limbs in three seconds, switching between bipedal and quadrupedal modes.
“Crossing the Shenzhen River, Hong Kong’s basic research has grown into the robotics industry of ‘five-finger dexterous hands’ in Shenzhen,” said Duan Jianghua, founder and CEO of Daimon (Shenzhen) Robotics.
Similarly, Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) Zheng Zijian is leading a team developing a new composite current collector for lithium batteries—70% lighter and 30% thinner than traditional materials—that could increase energy density by over 10% while significantly reducing production costs.
Infrastructure and Connectivity
The GBA has formed a “1-hour living circle” through multi-layer rail transit, expressway networks, and cross-sea bridge clusters. As of December 2025, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge had handled nearly 100 million passenger trips and over 1.2 trillion RMB in import/export value. The “Shenzhen-Hong Kong Vehicle Express Pass,” launched in December 2025 at the Qianhai Comprehensive Bonded Zone, reduces in-Hong Kong storage time and costs by over 70% for imported vehicles.
National Strategic Backing and Forward Look
The “15th Five-Year Plan” explicitly supports Hong Kong and Macao to “deepen industry-university-research innovation synergy with the mainland.” President Xi Jinping, during his November 2025 inspection of Guangdong, emphasized deepening GBA cooperation on technology innovation and infrastructure connectivity, as reported by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Looking ahead, the GBA faces challenges including fully harmonizing rules across three legal systems and navigating technology decoupling pressures, particularly in semiconductors. However, the region’s unique model—combining state-directed strategy with market-driven enterprise—positions it as a potential template for cross-jurisdictional innovation zones worldwide. As Macao entrepreneur Wu Hongqi of Bowei Wisdom Technology put it: “In the morning, I discuss cooperation in Hong Kong; in the afternoon, I handle business in Hengqin; in the evening, I return to Macao. The GBA’s tech industry cluster means ‘the sea is wide enough for fish to leap.’”