AstraZeneca, the multinational pharmaceutical firm based in Cambridge, has publicly called for Hong Kong to implement a new funding model to better capture global biotech investment. Despite the city's status as a significant research and development hub, the company suggests that structural financial changes are necessary to keep pace with the evolving needs of global drug makers.

While many international pharmaceutical companies have increased their focus on mainland China, AstraZeneca has maintained a notable presence in Hong Kong. Over the past three years, the company has invested more than HK$200 million (US$25.5 million) into the local market and has facilitated over 60 clinical trials. By advocating for a new financial model, the firm implies that current funding structures may not be optimized to support the high costs and long-term nature of biotech research and development. The proposal suggests that if Hong Kong can refine its financial ecosystem, it could secure a larger share of the global pharmaceutical industry's capital allocation, which is currently being heavily directed toward mainland China.