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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, and Executive Vice-Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr Liu Yingli, today (October 15) co-chaired the first meeting of the "Steering Group on Shenzhen/Hong Kong Co-operation in Innovation and Technology" in Shenzhen.
Mr Ma also visited the "Hong Kong Pavilion" and "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle Pavilion" of China Hi-Tech Fair 2007, officiated at the opening ceremony of the "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Productivity Foundation" and visited technology institutions in the Shenzhen Hi-Tech Park.
In the steering group meeting this afternoon, the two sides agreed that good progress had been made in fostering technology exchanges between the two places since the signing of the co-operation agreement on "Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle" in May. The meeting also discussed future work directions and plans.
The steering group, set up under the co-operation agreement on "Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle", is to facilitate high-level deliberations in mapping out the details for the implementation of the co-operation agreement.
It also co-ordinates technology collaboration and exchange between the two sides, such as promoting interaction between R&D organisations and tertiary institutes, fostering science and technology education as well as innovation and technology culture, and facilitating the commercialisation of R&D deliverables.
Members of the steering group comprise senior government officials as well as representatives of relevant departments and technology support organisations of both places.
"Given the geographical proximity and close economic relations, there is room for co-operation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in innovation and technology. The steering group is an important platform in co-ordinating technology collaboration and exchange between the two sides," Mr Ma said.
"The two sides have organised various activities to promote technology exchanges since the signing of the co-operation agreement on 'Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle' including a technology forum, project promotion seminar and joint technology funding scheme to encourage co-operation between R&D institutions of the two places. These laid a good foundation for the implementation of the co-operation agreement," he said.
The two sides agreed at the meeting to continue to implement the category of projects to be funded jointly by the Shenzhen and Hong Kong authorities under the "2007 Hong Kong/Guangdong Technology Co-operation Funding Scheme" which was launched in September and to consider new technology areas for funding support. Core technologies for RFID, digital TV and integrated circuits are the areas supported under this category this year. The deadline for application to the funding scheme is October 22 and results will be announced by the end of this year.
Mr Ma said the three technology areas supported under the funding scheme were very important to technological and economic developments in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The RFID technologies can provide cargo tracking, thus increase efficiency in logistics management and will improve cross-boundary freight movement in future. He hoped the joint funding scheme between Hong Kong and Shenzhen could encourage more R&D work on the RFID technologies.
The two sides also agreed to enhance co-ordination and sharing of technology resources between Hong Kong's Research and Development Centres (R&D Centres) and Shenzhen's technology infrastructure to promote the R&D Centres as the Shenzhen-Hong Kong R&D platform. The two sides will also increase exchanges of talent.
On intellectual property protection, both sides will strengthen communication and law enforcement on the basis of existing co-operation mechanism and join in combating piracy, particularly infringement of intellectual property rights of Hong Kong products, to create an environment conducive to the development of innovation.
Members of the Hong Kong side include the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology), Mrs Rita Lau, the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Anthony Wong, and officials from the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Innovation and Technology Commission, Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the Office of the Telecommunications Authority, Intellectual Property Department, Planning Department, Education Bureau, Customs and Excise Department, and Department of Justice.
Mainland members attending the meeting include Director of Shenzhen Bureau of Science, Technology and Information, Mr Liu Zhongpu; the Deputy Secretary-General of Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr Gao Guohui; the Deputy Director of Shenzhen Municipal Office of Legislative Affairs, Mr Hu Jiannong and officials from the Development and Reform Bureau of Shenzhen Municipal Government, Shenzhen Bureau of Trade and Industry, Shenzhen Planning Bureau, Shenzhen Health Bureau, Shenzhen Food and Drug Administration, Intellectual Property Office of Shenzhen Municipality, and Shenzhen Customs of People's Republic of China.
After the steering group meeting, Mr Ma visited the "Hong Kong Pavilion" and "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle Pavilion" at China Hi-Tech Fair(CHTF) 2007.
The "Hong Kong Pavilion", jointly organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, is to showcase Hong Kong's technological achievements. ITC and the Science, Technology and Information Bureau of the Shenzhen Municipal Government also co-organised a "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle Pavilion" at the fair this year to introduce technology co-operation between the two places. The CHTF is a state-level, international event for the high technology sector held annually in Shenzhen. Hong Kong has participated in the CHTF since its inception in 1999.
Mr Ma also officiated at the opening ceremony of the "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Productivity Foundation" this morning. The foundation was set up by the HKPC and the Shenzhen Municipal Government. It provides support to industry of the two places in product and technology innovation, and assists in the development of Hong Kong enterprises operating in the Pearl River Delta. Mr Ma also visited research institutes of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the City University of Hong Kong in the Shenzhen Hi-Tech Park as well as a company there.
Ends/Monday, October 15, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:46
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