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The Innovation and Technology Commission is inviting Hong Kong people with Chinese nationality who have attained significant achievements in science and technology to submit entries for the 2010 State Technological Invention Award (STIA) and the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award (SSTPA).
A spokesman for the commission said today (October 7) that the STIA and SSTPA were two award categories under the State Science and Technology Awards (SSTA) initiated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China.
Highly prestigious in the science and technology sector, the awards aim to recognise outstanding contributions to scientific and technological progress, encourage the enthusiasm and creativity of scientists and technologists, accelerate the development of scientific and technological undertakings, and enhance overall national strength.
The spokesman said, "We encourage more local scientists and technologists to submit entries since the awards provide an excellent opportunity for their dedication and achievements to be recognised and commended."
The spokesman pointed out that scientific talent in Hong Kong had already attained national recognition. Two medical research projects entitled "Adult-to-adult Right Lobe Live Donor Liver Transplantation" and "Innovative Non-surgical Treatments of Peptic Ulcer Bleeding" carried out by local universities won the first-class and second-class awards in the 2005 and 2007 SSTPAs respectively, out of hundreds of competing projects. In addition, an invention project entitled "Piezoelectric and Pyroelectric Materials for Sensor and Mechatronic Device Applications" was conferred a second-class award in the 2002 STIA.
The spokesman said, "The commission has been invited by the National Office for Science and Technology Awards on the Mainland to co-ordinate nominations from Hong Kong for the STIA and SSTPA since 2002. The commission has submitted nominations for the two award categories for 2009. Results of the awards are expected to be announced towards the end of the year.
"Entries for the 2010 STIA and SSTPA in the HKSAR will close on December 7. The commission will form a judging panel comprising experts from relevant fields to consider the entries received," he said.
Details of the awards and the application procedures are available on www.itc.gov.hk/en/ssta or from the Innovation and Technology Commission, 20/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (Tel.: 2737 2250).
Ends/Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Issued at HKT 11:45
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