Hong Kong Financial Secretary Says Humanoid Robots to Hit 1 Billion by 2050, with City Playing Key Role
Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the global humanoid robot population will reach 1 billion by 2050, generating a US$5 trillion industry, and that Hong Kong will play a unique and important role. He highlighted the city's strengths in intellectual property, research, data access, and talent, alongside Greater Bay Area manufacturing capabilities, and stressed the need for supportive capital and regulatory space.
Speaking at an event, Chan said robots integrate frontier technologies such as large language models, machine vision, motion control, precision manufacturing, and data applications, enabling artificial intelligence to physically act. He said Hong Kong will play a unique and important role in this wave, supporting the further adoption of embodied intelligence in the city. He argued that, with sound rules and safety assurances, new technologies should be given room to be tested and tried, allowing innovation to move faster.
Chan said Hong Kong, in tandem with the Greater Bay Area, is well positioned to become a hub for next-generation embodied intelligence research and manufacturing. Hong Kong offers robust intellectual property protection, solid upstream research capabilities, convenient access to international data, and several world top-100 universities cultivating top talent. Meanwhile, sister cities in the Greater Bay Area provide globally advanced manufacturing capacity, exemplified by Shenzhen's robotics industry's "half-hour supporting circle." With such synergy, an idea can move seamlessly from research to prototype, testing, mass production, and market launch. He also noted that innovation success depends on funding, and Hong Kong has a diversified capital chain from angel investment and venture capital to the stock market, as well as a patient capital ecosystem willing to take risks, anchored by Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited.
As technologies are applied and the research ecosystem receives patient capital support, Hong Kong will open a new chapter. Chan said that with capital as a link, ecosystem as a foundation, and talent as a driver, Hong Kong will participate comprehensively in shaping the future technology landscape in the global AI race, from capital allocation and industrial application to cutting-edge research and talent development.