The second Hong Kong Laureate Forum began on 5 November 2025, bringing 200 young researchers together with Shaw Prize laureates for four days of workshops and networking. Officiating the ceremony, Chief Secretary Eric Chan said the government is ‘promoting technology with talent’ and aims to turn Hong Kong into a preferred relocation base for scientists working on life sciences, astronomy and mathematics.
Since 2023, the Forum has been positioned as a flagship initiative under the region’s Top Talent Pass Scheme, which grants fast-track two-year visas to graduates of the world’s top 100 universities. Organisers reported a 40 per cent rise in overseas applications this year, led by candidates from Germany, the United States and India.
![Hong Kong Laureate Forum Opens, Showcasing City’s Strategy to Lure Global Science Talent]()
Panels will examine cross-border lab collaboration within the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Zone, whose visa-on-arrival counters for accredited researchers also went live on 5 November under fresh National Immigration Administration rules.
For multinational R&D leaders, the event signals Hong Kong’s pivot from purely financial services to deep-tech, creating new options for regional headquarters and assignment structures. Housing subsidies and streamlined dependent-visa processing introduced in the 2024 Policy Address have already prompted several pharma and AI start-ups to relocate teams.
Talent consultants say the Forum’s success will be measured by conversion—how many attendees apply for long-term visas or secure fellowships in the city’s science parks. Early indicators point to rising interest, though high living costs remain a hurdle.
Since 2023, the Forum has been positioned as a flagship initiative under the region’s Top Talent Pass Scheme, which grants fast-track two-year visas to graduates of the world’s top 100 universities. Organisers reported a 40 per cent rise in overseas applications this year, led by candidates from Germany, the United States and India.
Panels will examine cross-border lab collaboration within the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Zone, whose visa-on-arrival counters for accredited researchers also went live on 5 November under fresh National Immigration Administration rules.
For multinational R&D leaders, the event signals Hong Kong’s pivot from purely financial services to deep-tech, creating new options for regional headquarters and assignment structures. Housing subsidies and streamlined dependent-visa processing introduced in the 2024 Policy Address have already prompted several pharma and AI start-ups to relocate teams.
Talent consultants say the Forum’s success will be measured by conversion—how many attendees apply for long-term visas or secure fellowships in the city’s science parks. Early indicators point to rising interest, though high living costs remain a hurdle.
