The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with the Working Group on Developing the Low-altitude Economy under the HKSAR Government and the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance, today hosted the forum “Future of Low Altitude Economy: An Inter-City Dialogue on Commercialization and Standardization”.
The forum brought together more than 300 representatives from government, academia, industry, and research organizations from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and overseas to explore opportunities and challenges in advancing the low-altitude economy (LAE). Discussions focused on commercialization, standardization, technological innovation, and cross-sector collaboration, with the shared goal of fostering a robust, sustainable, and globally connected LAE ecosystem.
As a highly international city and a gateway between the Chinese Mainland and global markets, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to bridge national and international low-altitude standards. Leveraging its strengths in innovation, regulation, finance, and professional services, the city can facilitate the internationalization of low-altitude technologies and applications while supporting the development of globally recognized standards.
In her welcoming remarks, Prof. Nancy IP, President of HKUST, said that the low-altitude economy is rapidly evolving from a future vision into a powerful driver of innovation, economic growth, and smarter living.
“By bringing together innovation, industry, and talent, Hong Kong is well positioned to become a pioneer in this emerging sector and usher in a new era of the ‘smart sky’. Supported by forward-looking government policies, a vibrant innovation ecosystem, and the immense opportunities presented by the Greater Bay Area, our city serves as a bridge connecting the Chinese Mainland and the world,” she said.
President Ip added, “At HKUST, we are committed to advancing the low-altitude economy through research, innovation, and collaboration. Over the past two years, we have actively supported Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy agenda. HKUST was chosen as the venue for the Government’s official launch of the first batch of Low-Altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects. Through our Low Altitude Economy Research Center, Regulatory Sandbox and Sandbox X Pilot Projects, and Living Lab, we are driving cutting-edge research, technology testing, pilot applications, and Greater Bay Area collaboration in low-altitude technologies. We will continue to work closely with government, industry, academia, and the wider research community to foster the knowledge, standards, and innovation ecosystem needed to support the sustainable growth of the low-altitude economy in Hong Kong and beyond.”
Ms. Mable CHAN, Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the HKSAR Government, stated, “Through the LAE ‘Regulatory Sandbox’, we have provided a safe and controlled testing ground for innovative LAE solutions. Building on this foundation, we are redoubling our efforts in launching the ‘Regulatory Sandbox X’ to tackle more advanced application scenarios, including cross-boundary operations and unconventional aircraft.
Through the concerted efforts alongside our neighboring cities, Hong Kong’s robust legal system and internationally renowned aviation regulatory framework will serve as the cornerstone for globalizing LAE standards. We also provide an internationalized environment for domestic LAE solutions to showcase their capabilities to global buyers, while supporting their overseas expansion with top-notch professional services, as we serve as ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ to propel our country’s LAE industry onto the global stage.”
The Hon. Elizabeth QUAT, Legislative Council Member of the HKSAR and Founding President of the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance, stated, “The low‑altitude economy brings significant industrial transformation, expanding economic development from two‑dimensional ground space to three‑dimensional airspace. The Greater Bay Area has a well‑developed and highly‑integrated industrial supply chain. Supported by internationally‑recognized regulatory regimes and solid aviation expertise, Hong Kong can function as both a ‘super connector’ and a ‘super value adder’. It links technological capabilities in the Chinese Mainland with global markets, facilitates alignment of technical standards, and exports complete, implementable solutions.”
In his speech, Prof. Tim CHENG Kwang-Ting, Vice-President for Research and Development of HKUST, said, “Leveraging its strong research capabilities and robust infrastructure, HKUST is helping to advance Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy. Our Low Altitude Economy Research Center focuses on four key pillars: aerial systems and engineering, digital infrastructure, airspace and route planning, and business, policy, and regulation. As an early participant in the HKSAR Government’s regulatory sandbox, HKUST provides essential facilities and a Living Lab platform for testing, pilot trials, and technology validation. We look forward to working with partners across sectors to build an integrated unmanned system spanning air, land, and sea, creating a coordinated and intelligent network that supports Hong Kong’s development as a leading hub for low-altitude innovation in the Asia-Pacific region.”
At the forum, representatives from government, industry, academia, and research institutions from Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and overseas, signed a Joint Statement of Intent on Low-Altitude Aviation Standards and Interoperability. Ms. Mable Chan, Prof. Nancy Ip, the Hon. Elizabeth Quat, and Prof. Tim Cheng witnessed the signing ceremony.
The initiative seeks to promote the development of regional and international LAE standards and strengthen collaboration in key areas, including airworthiness and safety certification, airspace management and regulatory governance, cross-border operations, and data interoperability. Looking ahead, the proposed establishment of the International Low-Altitude Standards Association will facilitate alignment with global standards-setting bodies while strengthening links with the Greater Bay Area and the Chinese Mainland. By leveraging the nation’s strong manufacturing base and application capabilities in aviation and unmanned aerial systems, the initiative aims to position Hong Kong as a leading regional and international hub for low-altitude standards.
The forum featured three thematic panel discussions examining key issues shaping the future of the low-altitude economy. Representatives from Belt and Road countries and regions also participated, following a dedicated thematic session held earlier that day at the Belt and Road Summit organized by the HKSAR Government.
Keynote speeches were also delivered by Mr. Eason CHENG, Vice President of China Telecom Global Limited, on “CTG’s Integrated LAE Solutions: Empowering the Takeoff of Hong Kong and the GBA” and Mr. Owen SUN, Director of Technology Innovation of China Unicom (Hong Kong), on “Building Digital Low-Altitude Infrastructure to Drive Low-Altitude Economic Development.”
The first panel discussion, “Cross-sectoral Collaboration on LAE,” was chaired by Prof. LI Mo, Director of the Low Altitude Economy Research Center at HKUST. The panel brought together Prof. Hong K. LO, Dean of Engineering at HKUST, alongside representatives from universities, industry, and the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance. Discussions covered HKUST’s experience as a Living Lab for LAE, interdisciplinary approaches to ecosystem development, strategic system design, international standards, telecommunications-enabled applications, Hong Kong-Shenzhen collaboration, and certification pathways for eVTOL technologies in overseas markets.
The second panel, “LAE Standardization: From the GBA to a Global Vision,” was moderated by Mr. Dominic CHOW, Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation of the Civil Aviation Department of the HKSAR Government. Experts from academia, research institutions, industry, and the Low Altitude Systems and Economy Research Institute at HKUST (Guangzhou) shared insights on international standardization, aerospace technologies, satellite and AI-enabled applications, drone-based carbon monitoring, safety testing standards for eVTOLs, connected regulatory sandboxes, maritime applications, and low-altitude logistics corridors.
The third panel discussion, “From Pilot to Profit: Driving Commercialization for a Sustainable LAE,” was moderated by Dr. Winnie TANG, Founding Vice President of the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance. Panelists from research institutions, universities, and telecommunications companies discussed international experiences in developing low-altitude economies, including projects in Kazakhstan and Indonesia, as well as topics such as precision agriculture, eVTOL vertiports and skyway networks, global standards frameworks, and strategies for accelerating commercialization through regulatory sandbox initiatives.
Established in 2025, HKUST’s Low Altitude Economy Research Center (LAERC) brings together experts in engineering, artificial intelligence, business, and related disciplines to conduct interdisciplinary research and collaborate with public and private-sector partners. The Center provides data-driven insights to support future regulations, policies, and applications in the low-altitude economy.
Several HKUST projects were selected for the first batch of the HKSAR Government’s Regulatory Sandbox and Sandbox X pilot programs. Key initiatives include the LAE Living Lab, led by Prof. Li Mo, which serves as a platform for research, testing, and pilot applications. Another project, spearheaded by Prof. Hong K. LO, focuses on developing an assessment framework for low-altitude routing across the Greater Bay Area and collaborating with Chinese Mainland partners on technologies supporting the construction and operation of charging facilities for low-altitude logistics systems. Additional projects include studies on aircraft operational noise and the application of hydrogen-powered drones for long-range inspection and delivery.
In addition, Prof. Li Mo has recently secured major funding from the Research Grants Council to develop critical testing infrastructure, including vertiports, communications systems, and sensing technologies, to support the growth of Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy ecosystem. Other LAERC initiatives include the development of a robust data platform supporting OpenSILAS, comprehensive UAV flight-path and activity monitoring systems, and UAV-enabled emergency rescue applications.
