From blueprint to breakthrough: BTRi's mission to transform the construction industry
By Building Technology Research Institute
To strengthen Hong Kong’s role as an International Infrastructure Centre, the Building Technology Research Institute (BTRi) has emerged as a strategic catalyst for construction innovation. Purpose‑built to task for applied R&D, standards development, accreditation and certification, BTRi is translating technological potential into practical, scalable solutions for the industry. Leveraging Hong Kong’s unique position as a “super connector” and “super value‑adder”, BTRi is advancing local, Greater Bay Area (GBA) and internationally aligned standards while enabling high‑quality products and technologies to move confidently across borders. Its mission, taking innovation from blueprint to breakthrough, is redefining Hong Kong’s influence in shaping a high‑performing, sustainable built environment.
BTRi's mission to transform the Hong Kong construction industry
The construction industry is the backbone of Hong Kong's development, yet it faces significant challenges: the highest construction costs in Asia, an ageing and shrinking workforce, and an anticipated surge in construction activity in the coming years. Recognising the urgent need for industry transformation, Hong Kong requires a dedicated institution to drive construction innovation that goes beyond incremental improvement.
Against this backdrop, BTRi was established in August 2024 as a limited company wholly owned by the Financial Secretary Incorporated. It is shaping the future of construction through the following three core functions:
- Driving applied research and development in innovative construction materials, methods and technologies
- Advancing local standards and formulating local and GBA standards for new materials and technologies
- Conducting testing and providing accreditation and certification for new solutions
BTRi’s vision is to underpin Hong Kong’s regional and global leadership in infrastructure and urban development by spearheading construction innovation and enabling a highperforming and sustainable built environment.
Leveraging Hong Kong’s unique positioning as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” in construction innovation, BTRi is also committed to strengthening Hong Kong's position as a strategic hub for building technology, driving integrated development across the GBA and beyond, and supporting Mainland enterprises in expanding globally through Hong Kong as a platform.
Fully backed by the Hong Kong Government, BTRi operates under the strategic direction of the Development Bureau (DEVB), securing for itself long-term institutional support. BTRi’s vision and mission are firmly grounded in the Government’s strategic priorities as articulated in the Chief Executive’s Policy Addresses and the Financial Secretary’s Budget Speeches, which consistently highlight BTRi’s work in construction innovation, productivity enhancement, quality and safety, and Hong Kong’s role as an International Infrastructure Centre.
Furthermore, BTRi’s Board is chaired by Ir Hon Chikeung, GBS, JP, former Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), with Dr Chan Ka-kui, GBS, JP (former Chairman of the Construction Industry Council) as Vice Chairperson. The Board comprises senior government officials and renowned experts who pilot, scale and institutionalise innovation across Hong Kong's built environment.
Works and achievements of BTRi
Since its establishment, BTRi has worked in close partnership with Government departments, the construction industry and academic institutions, and these collective efforts are already yielding measurable results.
BTRi is dedicated to becoming a recognised authority in the construction sector by developing expertise in innovative technologies and standards, delivering trusted accreditation, certification, and testing services, and providing dedicated expert advice to support government decisionmaking.
1) Standards advancement: Sharpening the industry’s competitive edge
BTRi is taking a proactive role in advancing construction standards by systematically reviewing and optimising existing requirements with significant cost and performance implications, and in parallel developing new standards to enable the safe and efficient adoption of innovative technologies and materials.
1a. Reviewing existing design standards and practices
As highlighted in the Chief Executive’s 2025 Policy Address, BTRi is reviewing Hong Kong's long-standing standards that significantly influence construction costs, with the aim of introducing more precise parameters or design standards and practices that materially affect engineering outcomes, constructability and whole-life cost – enhancing cost effectiveness without compromising safety.
These reviews focus on
(i) Aligning and optimising technical parameters and design assumptions:
Examples include aligning specifications for foundations and wind loading for noise barriers, optimising design loadings, compressive strength and elastic modulus of concrete, and refining settlement limits
(ii) Establishing innovative design approaches, methodologies and industry practices:
Examples include pile-raft foundation systems, product certification schemes for reinforcing steel bars, high-strength rebar, risk‑based flood assessment methodologies, and composite columns using S690 steel
(iii) Developing region‑specific and case‑specific parameters:
Examples include wind-load provisions for low‑rise buildings and northern metropolitan areas, and foundations bearing on sedimentary and meta‑sedimentary rocks
BTRi has completed a series of technical reviews in collaboration with the relevant Government departments. The outcomes have led to measurable optimisation of key design parameters, with improvements of up to 66%, depending on the application. These optimisations have been formally reflected into updated Government standards and specifications.
For example, in partnership with the Highways Department (HyD), the design wind pressure acting on atgrade noise barriers was reduced by approximately 14% to 31%, leading to leaner structural member sizing and associated material savings¹. In addition, in collaboration with the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD), the alignment of foundation specification has enabled certain public works projects to reduce the number of large-diameter bored piles with bellouts by approximately 12%, while the number of predrilling and toe-coring tests for largediameter bored piles has generally been reduced by about 33%². Furthermore, incollaboration with the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), the review and testing of metasedimentary rock have enabled the presumed allowable bearing pressure for this type of rock to be increased by 66%, resulting in more efficient pile design, shorter construction periods, and lower carbon and cost impacts³.
These quantified improvements demonstrate the value of evidencebased review and crossdepartmental collaboration in optimising design standards while maintaining existing level of safety and performance.
1b. Establishing standards for innovative materials and technologies
Beyond refining existing standards, BTRi is proactively developing standards for innovative materials and technologies. A notable milestone is the publication of two local technical guidelines and one particular specification for innovative materials and technologies, namely the Technical Guidelines for Structural Use of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC), the Particular Specifications for Structural Use of UHPC, and the Technical Guidelines for Robotic Welding Operations of Structural Steel in Construction, jointly developed with the CEDD and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). The UHPC guidelines are of significant importance as they provide a framework for harnessing the material’s exceptional strength, durability, and design flexibility, enabling longer-lasting and more sustainable infrastructure. Meanwhile, the adoption of robotic welding reflects a forward-looking approach to construction, enhancing precision, consistency, and safety
while improving productivity. By providing a clear technical framework, BTRi is supporting the industry to confidently integrating these innovative materials and technologies into real-world construction projects, enabling longer-lasting and
more sustainable infrastructure for Hong Kong.
Launch of the First Local Technical Guidelines and Particular Specification for Structural Use of UHPC
Launch of the Technical Guidelines for Robotic Welding Operations of Structural Steel in Construction
1c. Establishing GBA standards for new technologies and materials
Work has also commenced on formulating GBA Standards for new technologies and materials, including Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) and high-strength steel. The objective of the GBA construction standards is to establish a unified and internationally aligned technical framework that facilitates crossboundary collaboration, and enhances the quality, safety and efficiency of construction activities across the region. By integrating the Mainland’s manufacturing capacity and construction technologies with Hong Kong’s expertise in international standards and regulatory practices, the GBA standards support deeper regional integration, better align the construction industry with national development strategies and the “15th FiveYear Plan”, and enhance the global competitiveness of GBA technologies and products.
For new materials and emerging technologies, GBA standards prioritise areas where international standards are still evolving but where the region demonstrates clear technological readiness or strategic relevance. Standards are jointly developed by institutions from Guangdong and Hong Kong and formulated with international compatibility in mind, with the longerterm objective of progressing towards national and international standards.
For existing materials, GBA standards are expected to advance primarily through accreditation and certification mechanisms such as BTRi’s Construction Product Accreditation Scheme (CPAS). This approach enables proven Chinese Mainland materials to be efficiently accepted in Hong Kong, facilitates regional circulation, and leverages Hong Kong as a gateway to international markets.
These publications mark a significant milestone for BTRi, documenting the BTRi’s sustained efforts in advancing construction standards and its accreditation scheme to support quality assurance across the industry
2) Accreditation, certification and testing: Clearing the path for innovation
If standards set the rules of the game, robust accreditation and certification provide the confidence that enables markets to embrace innovation. Since its establishment, BTRi has been committed to facilitating the adoption of innovative construction technologies and products, while removing unnecessary barriers to industry advancement.
2a. Construction Product Accreditation Scheme (CPAS) – Certify once · fast PASs for all
Under the current practice, project teams have traditionally been required to review and verify the compliance of each construction product on a project-by-project basis, a process that is resource-intensive and particularly onerous for novel products with which teams may be less familiar. To address this challenge, BTRi launched the CPAS, a onestop accreditation mechanism under which compliant products are listed in a centralised repository. CPAS focuses on product quality and provides measurable guidance to introduce innovative and high-quality construction products to the Hong Kong construction industry, widening market access and enabling more cost-effective domestic and international products to be approved for use in local projects.
Through CPAS, BTRi performs technical vetting and provides certificates based on the technical standards of the products provided by suppliers. To support this technical vetting process, BTRi has developed the BTRi Product Specifications (BPS), with reference to the General Specifications formulated by CEDD and ArchSD, as well as particular specifications from major capital works projects. From January 2026 onwards, all public works projects will recognise approved products listed in the CPAS repository, materially simplifying the product approval process. Furthermore, the Building Department (BD) and the Water Supplies Department (WSD) will recognise the CPAS certificate as evidence that a particular construction product fulfils the relevant acceptance criteria under the Central Data Bank of BD and the General Acceptance system of WSD. To date, a number of construction products have received CPAS accreditation.
For example, an armoured power cable product that secured CPAS accreditation is now being deployed for the first time in a Drainage Services Department (DSD) project – “the Relocation of Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works to Caverns” project. With the contractor submitting the armoured cable together with the CPAS accreditation certificate, which confirms the product’s compliance with the relevant standards, the DSD project team was able to accept the product with confidence, resulting in accelerated approval as well as improved efficiency and quality.
An armoured power cable product that recently obtained CPAS accreditation will be deployed in a DSD project
CPAS will continue to evolve in support of broader industry objectives. It will continue to seek recognition from major authorities and public clients in Hong Kong, while centralising product specifications through standards alignment. By advancing product standards, CPAS aims to drive wider adoption of innovative and sustainable materials. In the longer term, CPAS aspires to become a recognised repository of quality construction products for both local and international buyers.
Long-term goals of CPAS
2b. Modular Integrated Construction Manufacturer Accreditation Scheme (MiC-MAS)
In parallel, BTRi has rolled out the MiC-MAS to enhance the quality and reliability of MiC modules by requiring accredited manufacturers to adhere to rigorous production processes and quality benchmarks covering quality, safety, environmental protection, management, logistics, and production capacity. This framework reinforces trust and professionalism across the industry.
Since April 2026, the Government has adopted the BTRi’s list of accredited MiC Manufacturers (both Full Certificate and Provisional Certificate holders) under the MiC-MAS as the list of approved MiC suppliers for public works, either under a direct supply contract or through subcontracting arrangement with building contractor. The Housing Department (HD) also requires new MiC manufacturers without prior experience on HD MiC projects to obtain MiCMAS accreditation for upcoming tenders.
With a robust quality assurance system for accredited MiC factories, the Government—through the Buildings Department and Water Supplies Department—has also introduced streamlining measures that simplify compliance procedures and requirements. For local developers and contractors, this translates into faster project approvals, reduced compliance burdens, and greater confidence in the quality and reliability of MiC modules sourced from accredited factories.
The benefits of MiC-MAS extend well beyond Hong Kong’s borders. The accreditation is helping suppliers gain recognition in overseas markets, including Australia and the Middle East, further consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a leader in advanced construction technologies.
MiC-MAS Accreditation as an Essential Requirement for Approved MiC Suppliers in Public Works
3) Applied R&D: Bridging the gap between innovation and industry adoption
3a. BTRi’s approach - the journey from 0 to n: Proving innovation on-site and driving industry-wide adoption
Innovation must ultimately prove itself on the construction site. Both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland possess a strong pipeline of innovative construction materials and technologies. However, moving these innovations from concept to first adoption—from 0 to 1—often proves challenging due to the lack of suitable pilot projects, structured trials, and credible performance evaluation platforms.
BTRi’s approach to Applied R&D is built on a clear principle: identify high-impact solutions, partner with stakeholders to pilot them in public works projects, and ensure they are tested, proven and scaled for industry-wide adoption. Working in close collaboration with local academic institutions, BTRi has implemented innovative designs and materials across multiple live projects — with encouraging results.
As innovations move from 1 to n—scaling up for widespread deployment—a robust testing, accreditation and certification system becomes essential. This ensures that products and technologies consistently meet established standards, maintain quality at scale, and perform reliably across projects, thereby supporting market confidence and sustained industry uptake. By integrating fundamental research, applied piloting and rigorous standards under one roof, BTRi creates a seamless innovation ecosystem where each function reinforces the others – turning ideas into impact, and pilots into industry-wide adoption.
0 to 1 to 100: How BTRi Drives and Scales Innovation
Wind tunnel testing provides a clear understanding of how wind forces are influenced by the surrounding topography and the geometry of noise barriers, enabling practitioners to identify the critical locations subject to the highest wind loads. (Pictured: Wind Tunnel Testing Facility)
3b. Case study 1 — Precision design for noise barriers at Yuen Long South
Noise barriers are a ubiquitous feature of Hong Kong’s infrastructure landscape, yet their design generally relies on the code-based wind-loading estimation, which incorporates built-in margins to ensure applicability across a wide range of site conditions. To obtain site-specific data, BTRi partnered with CEDD and the Wind Tunnel Testing Facility at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to conduct wind tunnel testing that captured local aerodynamic effects arising from nearby buildings and terrain, to enable more accurate design, greater reliability, and improved costeffectiveness compared with standard code provisions.
The test results ultimately demonstrated an approximately 20% reduction in the construction cost of the noise barrier section.
In addition to these benefits, BTRi is now systematically compiling wind tunnel test data from multiple projects to support the continuous refinement of design manuals by relevant Government departments, enabling more precise and sustainable infrastructure design while maintaining high safety standards.
3c. Case study 2 — LD-ECC: a breakthrough in innovative materials
The development and application of innovative materials are equally central to enhancing project outcomes. At the Shap Pat Heung Road Interchange in Yuen Long, BTRi worked alongside CEDD and HyD on the construction of a road embankment for a slip road connecting to Yuen Long Highway, using a locally developed innovative material — Low-Density Engineered Cementitious Composites (LDECC). During the development of the embarkment design, BTRi collaborated with PolyU to review relevant technical documentation and provide expert advice, facilitating the successful deployment of this advanced construction material on a live project.
The site presented a formidable set of constraints. One side of the project area abutted a busy carriageway that could not be closed or occupied, while the other side abutted residential houses and private land. Such an environment created significant pressure to minimise construction noise and vibration, as well as safety risks. In addition, the construction zone was situated on an existing fill slope with limited working space, requiring careful control of bearing pressure and settlement during construction involving heavy plant. Under these conditions, conventional reinforced concrete retaining structure construction, which requires extensive falseworks and formwork, rebar fixing and heavy lifting operations, would
have been both tedious and slow. The process would also have generated significant environmental impacts and safety concerns, in addition to programme risk.
LD-ECC offers a compressive strength three times greater than that of conventional concrete fill materials of similar weight. Its key properties include high ductility and fatigue resistance, excellent racking control, and the ability to selfheal microcracks. These characteristics make it a highly suitable material for constructing safe and durable road and rail infrastructure from all engineering perspectives.
By adopting LD-ECC, the process shifted from conventional “heavy structure” construction to a “lightfilling” operation, fundamentally simplifying the construction methodology. The elimination of rebar fixing, falseworks erection and lifting operations made the construction process both safer and more efficient, reducing overall construction time by approximately 50%. Nuisance and disturbance to the surrounding community were substantially reduced as the transportation and placement of LD-ECC generated minimal noise.
The adoption of LD-ECC enabled the process to shift from a conventional “heavy structure” construction to a “lightfilling” operation, fundamentally simplifying the construction methodology
3d. The next wave: Emerging technologies with wide adoption potential
Beyond the case studies above, BTRi is actively leveraging public works projects as real-world proving grounds for emerging technologies. Through strategic partnerships with Government departments and universities, these pilotfirst initiatives are demonstrating how innovations can be validated under actual site conditions and subsequently scaled for industry-wide adoption.
3e. Remote Control Tower Crane System — enhancing safety and productivity
The Remote Control Tower Crane System (RCTCS) relocates the control console of conventional tower cranes from elevated cabins to a groundbased remote control station, enabling operators to conduct lifting operations in a safer and more ergonomic working environment. By removing operators from isolated and congested highlevel cabins, RCTCS significantly reduces operators’ exposure to extreme weather conditions, fatigue, and fallrelated risks. With improved occupational safety and operator welfare, RCTCS helps make the operational role more attractive to new entrants. This broadens the talent pool, thereby easing the pressure of skilled labour shortages, while improving lifting accuracy and overall construction productivity.
Pilot adoption of a Remote Control Tower Crane System
BTRi is collaborating with HKUST to conduct performance analysis and develop comprehensive technical specifications for the system. Performance data are being collected from pilot projects commissioned by ArchSD and DSD, respectively, enabling benchmarking against conventional tower crane operations. The assessment focuses on lifting efficiency, operational safety, and worker wellbeing. The findings will form the basis for continuous technological enhancement of RCTCS and the establishment of unified, industrywide technical specifications.
3f. Blockchain-based Digital Engineering Supervision for MiC in Light Public Housing
Quality assurance for off-site manufactured MiC modules presents its own distinct challenges, particularly when production takes place outside Hong Kong. Commissioned by ArchSD, BTRi has partnered with the University of Hong Kong
(HKU) to develop a blockchain-based digital engineering supervision system for MiC production, delivery and installation within the Light Public Housing programme. The system employs a mobile application underpinned by blockchain technology to ensure that inspection and quality-control data remain transparent and tamper-proof, creating an immutable digital record of every step in the manufacturing and supervision process.
The result is a large-scale, blockchain-encrypted digital engineering supervision platform that elevates the standard of quality oversight for MiC construction. By digitalising and securing the entire chain of evidence, from factory floor to project site, the system gives project teams and stakeholders far greater confidence in the quality and traceability of MiC modules. This represents a meaningful advance in the quality management infrastructure supporting one of Hong Kong’s most important construction innovations.
Development and implementation of Blockchain-based E-Inspection System for Light Public Housing
4) Fostering local, regional and international collaboration
BTRi actively fosters UniversityGovernmentIndustry (UGI) collaboration through a diverse portfolio of local, regional, and international networking initiatives, including strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading institutions such as the Guangdong Provincial Academy of Building Research, Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority, and three local universities – HKU, HKUST and PolyU. BTRi has also organised more than 10 knowledgesharing events, including seminars, technical workshops, executive visits to Shanghai, Hangzhou and Malaysia, and participation in international platforms such as the Belt and Road Summit and UK Construction Week. These initiatives connect academia, government and industry to accelerate innovation adoption and advance standards. At the same time, BTRi serves as a key “superconnector” for accessing and applying cuttingedge construction technologies and best practices from global markets while showcasing and promoting Hong Kong and Mainland advanced technologies, standards and solutions to the world, strengthening global connectivity and driving transformation across the construction sector.
Executive visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou
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BTRi’s seminar “Building a Future-Ready Hong Kong: AI, Robotics, and Advanced Technologies for Infrastructure Development”
Ir Alfred Wong Kwok-fai, CEO of BTRi, was invited to speak at a thematic breakout session of the 10th Belt and Road Summit
Workshop on the Technical Specification for the RCTCS – co-organised by BTRi and HKUST
5) Looking ahead - Scaling impact, transforming industry
In its first year of operation, BTRi has launched more than 30 construction innovation projects and built a network of over 30 collaboration partners – delivering tangible, measurable results across its three core functions – Standards advancement, accreditation, certification and testing, and applied R&D.
Government support and confidence in BTRi are evident. The 2026 Budget has earmarked HK$100 million to support BTRi in conducting multiple research initiatives, including the review of construction standards and promotion of artificial intelligence (AI) applications – recognising both BTRi’s early achievements and its potential to drive lasting transformational change.
BTRi will continue to review and develop more local and GBA standards to enhance engineering cost-effectiveness. In the field of AI, BTRi will continue to assess emerging global AI and digitalisation solutions, evaluate the Hong Kong industry’s readiness for adoption, and establish a web-based AI solutions hub as a knowledge-sharing platform to facilitate the deep integration of AI into construction workflows, thereby empowering the industry.
The Institution’s first year demonstrates that evidence-based innovation, delivered through purposeful collaboration, can meaningfully improve the way Hong Kong builds. BTRi will continue to leverage its three major professional domains to support high-performance industry practices and sustainable development, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s regional and global leadership in infrastructure and urban development.
References:
- Structures Design Manual for Highways and Railways, 2013 Edition, Amendment No. 3/2025, issued December 2025.
- Architectural Services Department General Specification for Building, 2022 Edition, incorporating Corrigendum No. GS 202203 (effective from 1 January 2026).
- GEO Technical Guidance Note No. 53 (TGN 53) – Supplementary Guidelines for Foundation Design and Construction, dated 17 April 2026.