October 25, 2024: Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology has launched a major R&D hub in Hong Kong as part of plans to boost new energy technology innovation and sustainable development in the territory.

The inauguration ceremony of the 800sq metre CATL Hong Kong Research Institute was held on October 15 – almost one year after the battery manufacturer announced plans to invest HK$1.2 billion ($154 million) in the sector and work with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) on developing the institute.

HKSTP was set up by the Hong Kong special administrative region government to boost the deployment of new energy technologies.

In its first phase, the institute will set up nearly 100 R&D projects and plans to recruit 200 scientific researchers.

Meanwhile, CATL said it will also work with local universities to promote industry-university-research cooperation and accelerate the construction of Hong Kong’s new energy value chain and zero-carbon scenarios.

Albert Wong, CEO of the HKSTP, said the institute will become an important platform for CATL to support the development of new energy projects in the territory.