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The governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Guangdong Province today (September 5) invited applications for funding support for research and development (R&D) projects under the 2008 Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Co-operation Funding Scheme.
The funding scheme, first launched in 2004 by the Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Innovation and Technology, serves to enhance collaboration among universities, research institutes and technology enterprises in the two places, and upgrade the technology level of industry in the Greater Pearl River Delta region. The Shenzhen municipal government joined the scheme in 2005.
Last year, a category of projects jointly funded by the Guangdong and Hong Kong authorities or the Shenzhen and Hong Kong authorities was introduced to further enhance technology co-operation between the two sides.
A spokesman for the Innovation and Technology Commission said, "The two sides supported over 250 projects last year, bringing the total to more than 660 projects in the past four years since the scheme was established, with a total funding of $1.63 billion."
"In view of the favourable response, the expert group agreed that the scheme should follow the same funding model this year," he added.
As with last year, there are three categories of projects in the scheme. The first and the second categories will be funded by the respective governments and the third category will be supported jointly by governments of the two sides.
Under the first category, projects will be funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund of Hong Kong. This category is for projects with Hong Kong institutions as principal applicants and Guangdong institutions are encouraged to participate.
The second category is for projects funded by the Guangdong provincial government. This category is for projects with Guangdong institutions as principal applicants but Hong Kong institutions are encouraged to participate.
For the first category under which projects will be funded by the Hong Kong side, 12 technology areas will be supported. They are (1) logistics and supply chain management enabling technologies; (2) automotive parts and accessory systems; (3) textiles and clothing; (4) nanotechnology for energy savings; (5) green nanotechnology; (6) nanotechnology in medical and healthcare applications; (7) nanotechnology in electronic and electrical appliances; (8) information security; (9) aircraft parts and appliances; (10) critical precision manufacturing equipment; (11) development of high performance silicon driver intellectual properties for display panel (TFT-LCD and OLED) applications; and (12) modernisation of Chinese medicine, medical biotechnology and medical device.
Applications under this category should be submitted by institutions established in Hong Kong to the respective Research and Development Centres or the Innovation and Technology Commission.
For projects to be funded jointly by the Guangdong and Hong Kong authorities or the Shenzhen and Hong Kong authorities under the third category, the five technology areas to be supported are: technology for RFID applications; energy saving and environmental technologies; electric vehicles; core technologies for batteries; and rapid bioassay technologies. An application for funding for a project under the third category should be submitted simultaneously by the participating organisations to the respective authority in Hong Kong (i.e. Innovation and Technology Commission) and Guangdong (or Shenzhen).
Applications under the second category of projects to be funded by the Guangdong provincial government should be made by Guangdong institutions and submitted directly to the Guangdong provincial government.
"The technology areas supported under the scheme are relevant to the needs of industry and will enhance economic development in the Greater Pearl River Delta region," the spokesman said.
"Priority for funding support will be given to projects that leverage on the existing R&D facilities, resources and knowledge of Hong Kong and Guangdong as much as possible. The co-operation of industry in both places via provision of funding, expertise and advice in the relevant technology areas is also encouraged," he added.
The deadline for applications is October 15. Application details can be found on the Innovation and Technology Fund website at www.itf.gov.hk. Further information can be obtained from the ITF Secretariat at 20/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (tel: 2737 2433/2736 0055; fax: 2957 8726; email: enquiry@itf.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, September 5, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:55
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