Abstract: Disclosed herein are a hybrid silica polymer applicable to electrochemical elements and a method for economical production thereof, the former excelling in thermal stability, mechanical stability, solvent resistance, and proton conductivity at low humidity. Said method includes a step of heating a mixture of 3-mercaptopropyltrialkoxylsilane, surfactant, water, and base or acid for their reaction with one another at 25 to 180° C., thereby giving a hybrid thiol group-containing silica polymer, and an optional step of oxidizing said hybrid thiol group-containing silica polymer with a peroxide, thereby giving a hybrid silica polymer which is composed of hybrid (thiol group-containing and/or sulfonic group-containing) silica polymer. The resulting silica polymer is used as a proton conducting material for electrochemical elements such as fuel cells, capacitors, and electrolytic cells.