Northern Metropolis is already developing in the north of Hong Kong, envisioned by the authorities as one of the largest centers for economy, education, business, and technology in Asia, a locomotive for the national economy. NM is included in Hong Kong's five-year development plan (2026-2030), plans to largely determine the development vector of the city and the entire region, and expand its international presence and network of partnerships worldwide.
Why Northern Metropolis Is the District of the Future
The core idea is the closest possible link between educational centers and real-world production, research centers, including international ones. Hong Kong is a city that is both extremely urbanized and incredibly densely built, suffering from a lack of space. NM's ideologists plan to turn this into an advantage! University campuses will be built literally across the road from residential and social infrastructure, industrial and technology hubs. As planned, the district will in total attract almost 2,500,000 residents and provide around 650,000 jobs.
The plan here is not simply to open a couple of new universities. Northern Metropolis is meant to become a birthplace of ideas and innovation: meetings with foreign and local partners, joint programs and research open as widely as possible to both sides, and constant updating of programs to meet the needs of business, including the private sector.
Three areas are planned: different specializations brought together into a single model that regularly exchange experience:
- San Tin University Town: medicine, life and health technologies, AI, robotics, microelectronics,
- Hung Shui Kiu: smart manufacturing and international talent potential,
- Ta Kwu Ling: the educational and creative component + the blue-green development concept (special attention to natural and environmental infrastructure).
NM's geographic location also works in its favor: it borders mainland China, with as many as 7 land border crossings nearby, a developed Shenzhen, and access to the Greater Bay Area. In other words, cooperation with NM is advantageous for foreigners partly because it provides easier access to partnerships with China.
Hong Kong Is Working to Build International Exchanges
At present, Hong Kong has generally taken a course toward strengthening its international status and reputation, and the Study in Hong Kong brand, as a center of innovation and technology. Already, international students make up roughly 25% of the total number of students enrolled at Hong Kong universities. Going forward, the authorities intend to increase enrollment of students from abroad while simultaneously expanding educational capacity and the number of international partnerships.
