From low-altitude economy to humanoid robots: how does Shanghai-Hong Kong innovation cooperation develop in the future industries?
2024 is known as the “Year of Low-altitude Economy”. In this year, the “Low-altitude Economy” was written into the Chinese government work report for the first time. Shanghai released the “Action Plan for the High-quality Development of Shanghai’s Low-altitude Economy Industry (2024~2027)”, and the Hong Kong SAR government’s “Policy Address 2024” also proposed the establishment of a “Development Working Group for Low-altitude Economy”.
In the context of cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong, the low-altitude economy industry represents a significant opportunity, and the future industries represented by it will be important directions for further innovation cooperation between the two places.
On December 12th, 2025, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) jointly organized with the Shanghai Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce an event named “Innovation Everywhere, Cooperation for a Win-win Future – Shanghai Hong Kong Future Industry Innovation Cooperation Exchange Meeting and 2025 Shanghai Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce Anniversary Dinner”. Over 400 government and business representatives from Shanghai and Hong Kong gathered to discuss the development of low-altitude economy and humanoid robots, as well as other future industries, to continuously expand the ecosystem of innovation and development in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Future industries: From low-altitude economy to humanoid robots
Focusing on the event theme, Zhong Yongxi, the General Representative of HKTDC in mainland China, emphasized the two keywords of innovation and future in an interview with the media. “Innovation is everywhere, and everyone can innovate. The future has already arrived, starting from today.” Regarding the low-altitude economy and humanoid robots, Zhong Yongxi expressed that what needs to be done in both places is to promote the development of more future industries in different fields.
孙东，香港特区政府创新科技及工业局局长，在活动上表示，香港特区政府将重点发展生命健康科技、人工智能与机器人以及先进制造与新能源科技等战略性科技产业板块，并将陆续出台一系列政策措施以完善香港的科技创新生态圈。
At the exchange meeting, many industry leaders from both Shanghai and Hong Kong provided insights on the current status, application scenarios of low-altitude economy and humanoid robots, as well as prospects for cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong. Xie Ling, the founder and CEO of Shanghai Yufeng Future Aviation Technology Co., Ltd., pointed out that the manufacturing of low-altitude aircraft is the most important part of the low-altitude economy, which is highly innovative and cutting-edge. Both infrastructure construction and operational support schemes should be centered on new intelligent electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft manufacturers. In terms of future development, the low-altitude economy still needs to explore many aspects such as low-altitude airspace management, infrastructure construction, and laws and regulations. Through routine and frequent operations, government and the public should build confidence in this new type of aircraft.
Shi Zheyuan, Chairman of Qianji Technology Group, provided a deep understanding of new opportunities and new journeys for Shanghai and Hong Kong under the tide of technological innovation. In his view, the low-altitude economy represents new productive forces, and it will enter a true outbreak period in five years. Fields such as low-altitude cultural tourism, intelligent research and development, low-altitude training, and low-altitude data are all potential areas for development within the low-altitude economy. Both Shanghai and Hong Kong are accelerating the layout of the low-altitude economy, and they have natural advantages for cooperative development. They should make good use of Hong Kong’s role as an international gateway.
Focusing on the development of humanoid robots and their application in metropolitan areas, Gu Jie, Chairman and CEO of Shanghai Fuli Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., shared the current application situation and future application space of humanoid robots. Speaking of cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong, Gu Jie said: “Shanghai and Hong Kong have many similarities with high talent density, high degree of internationalization, rich industries, and high demand for rehabilitation and elderly care industries. We believe that there can be many collaborations in terms of refining scenes in the future, including finance, data, laws and regulations, talent, industrial funds, etc.”
Shanghai-Hong Kong cooperation: Building a new platform for innovation cooperation
Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Li Jiaqiao said in a video message that Shanghai and Hong Kong have always been important windows for China’s opening up. Over the years, through important platforms such as Shanghai-Hong Kong cooperation meetings, they have collaborated seamlessly in areas such as trade investment, innovation technology, economics and finance, culture and arts with complementary advantages. The SAR government will continue to optimize the “interconnection” mechanism connecting Hong Kong with mainland markets to enhance Hong Kong’s status as the world’s largest offshore RMB business hub and facilitate RMB internationalization.
Liu Ping, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal People’
