Invest Hong Kong today hosted the inaugural Hong Kong Low Altitude Economy Forum.

Themed “Dream to the Sky”, the forum brought together leaders from the government, industry, academia and research sectors to explore the policy direction, technological development and application prospects of a low-altitude economy (LAE). They discussed regulatory frameworks, cross-boundary collaboration and infrastructure support, showcasing Hong Kong’s progress in innovation and new industrial development. The forum attracted over 250 local and international stakeholders.

LAE is one of the key policy initiatives announced in the 2024 Policy Address. The Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy was established under the leadership of Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong to promote institutional innovation, technology implementation and industry ecosystem building.

Speaking at the forum, Mr Wong said the Government will act as a facilitator and enabler, and continue to move fast. He noted that LAE has strong synergy with other sectors of the economy, stimulating growth and driving positive changes. The total impact and benefits to society, he said, will be greater than the sum of its parts.

Today’s forum featured updates on the launch of the first batch of Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects, and the direction of upcoming legislative amendments to civil aviation regulations covering higher-payload and passenger-carrying unmanned aerial systems, to fuel the future development of Advanced Air Mobility.

Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan supplemented that the LAE Regulatory Sandbox, covering a wide range of fields, including emergency rescue, logistics, infrastructure inspection and surveillance, is more than just a testing ground.

“It is a launch pad for transformative technologies that will shape the future of urban mobility, logistics, and public services. These diverse applications demonstrate the remarkable versatility of low-altitude technologies and showcase how unmanned systems can solve unique urban challenges while creating new economic opportunities.”

She added that Hong Kong’s strengths such as professional services in airspace management, technology integration and specialised insurance, make it an ideal hub for LAE development.

“Looking forward, we will continue to leverage these advantages to create a regional ecosystem where businesses and researchers in the LAE field can thrive.”

Furthermore, the forum highlighted the immense growth potential of the low-altitude industry value chain and the critical role of government-industry-academia-research collaboration in driving innovation. Three thematic panel discussions explored low-altitude technology and innovation, infrastructure development and safety management, as well as application scenarios including logistics, emergency response and urban planning.

Speakers at the forum included representatives from the Polytechnic University, the University of Science & Technology, the University of Hong Kong, the Applied Science & Technology Research Institute, the Productivity Council, Cyberport, and CLP Power. Participants shared insights on cutting-edge research and real-world applications. Many noted that Hong Kong’s strong research foundation, sound institutional support and mature cross-sector collaboration provide a solid base for advancing industrial applications and regional integration, further positioning the city as a driving force for low altitude innovation across Asia.