Cyberport vs HKSTP (2025): Which Hong Kong innovation hub fits your startup?

Lewis Lee

Nov 11, 2025

Startups

Hong Kong has two powerhouse innovation engines shaping the city’s startup landscape: Cyberport, the city’s digital innovation epicentre, and HKSTP, Hong Kong’s flagship deep-tech research environment.

Both support founders through funding, incubation, and corporate partnerships, but each is built for different types of startups. This guide breaks down their focus areas, strengths, and founder fit.

Picking between Hong Kong’s two flagship hubs comes down to industry fit, growth stage, infrastructure, funding, and go-to-market pathways.

At-a-glance hub comparison

Factor	Cyberport	HKSTP
Core focus	Digital economy, AI, data, fintech/Web3, cyber, digital entertainment	Broad I&T: biotech, electronics, greentech, ICT, materials/precision engineering
Community size	2,300+ companies	2,500+ tech companies; 15,000+ R&D practitioners
Physical Space & Labs	Agile co-working across 8 Smart-Spaces; on-island campus	4.34M sq ft labs/offices; AMC 1.1M sq ft advanced manufacturing
Funding (incubation)	CIP: up to HK$500k + HK$200k on-site rental subsidy (24 months)	Historical baseline: Incu-Tech up to HK$1.29M package incl. cash & rental (stream-specific)
Living & Accommodation	Island amenities; no onsite co-living options available	InnoCell co-living (short/long-stay rates published; founder-friendly)
Policy tailwinds	AISC compute + AI Subsidy Scheme; HKMA GenAI Sandbox with Cyberport	Hetao/INNOPOLE expansion; sustained lab/manufacturing investment
Location & Accessibility	Hong Kong Island (Telegraph Bay / Pok Fu Lam); Prestigious location but isolated and arguably more expensive	New Territories (Pak Shek Kok) + InnoParks; large campus footprint with more activity & vibrancy

TL;DR: When To Choose Which Hub?

Choose Cyberport if you’re digital-first (AI, data, fintech/Web3, SaaS, digital entertainment), want a fast-moving community and investor visibility on Hong Kong Island, and will benefit from CIP cash + rental support and AISC compute/regulatory sandboxes.
Choose HKSTP if you’re hardware/biotech/greentech/deep tech, need R&D labs, prototyping and manufacturing (InnoParks/AMC), and want a structured runway from incubation to scale-up with larger physical footprints and industrialisation support.