Technological innovation is a key driver of national progress. Article 14 of the Constitution stresses that promoting advanced science and technology and increasing working people’s level of technical skill are an essential driving force for national development. How does the Constitution provide institutional safeguards for scientific research and support the flourishing development of State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong under the 14th Five-Year Plan? Professor Lam Hon-ming, who has devoted over 20 years to agricultural technology research, worked with his team at the School of Life Sciences and the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and successfully developed new strains of salinity- and drought-tolerant soybean, realising the vision of “bringing soybean home”. His journey and achievements show how the Constitution supports researchers in pursuing the path of innovation, enabling the country and Hong Kong to collaboratively build a science and technology powerhouse.