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The Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Miss Janet Wong, said today (October 24) that the Innovation and Technology Commission had organised the Innovation Festival for the fifth consecutive year with a view to fostering an innovative culture in the community and nurturing creativity and technology literacy in more youngsters.
Opening the "Innovation Festival 09" at Dragon Centre, Miss Wong said that with the theme "Tech Up for a Brighter Future" this year, the festival's exhibitions and activities focus on how innovation and technology, such as environmental technology and robotic technology, could facilitate a more pleasant and convenient living environment in the future.
She said that as in the past, young students were the key element of Innovation Festival 09. Other than the many activities and competitions specifically designed for them, they were also actively participating in organising various events for the festival.
She added that apart from their innovative works showcased at the many booths at the festival, the students will also be onduty at the InnoCarnival and roadshows, both to introduce their projects and to share with visitors their experience in innovation.
In line with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, this year's Innovation Festival will put on display many items of co-operative achievement and conduct exchange activities between the Mainland and Hong Kong.
Miss Wong said, "During the Innovation Carnival to be held in the Science Park between November 5 and 8, the public will have the opportunity to view a range of national space engineering-related articles and creations, including a 29-metre rocket and Shenzhou spacecraft and returning modules."
To promote the Innovation Festival, the Innovation and Technology Commission is holding three roadshows from today until mid-November in Dragon Centre, Cityplaza in Taikoo Shing, and Tsing Yi Promenade, to share with the public the joy of technology.
Hong Kong Science Park will turn into a world of robots where visitors will be able to see the winning robots made by local students in competitions. There will also be exciting robot competitions and workshops in which participants can learn to assemble their own obedient robots.
Other innovative inventions include winning entries of the Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition, like Miracle Tiger, a machine to help a person wear a tie, and Quickmark Bus Stop, using bar codes to help passengers to select their bus route; research deliverables of tertiary institutions, like the Space Holinser Forceps, Mars Rock Corer and Space Walk, innovative space equipment displayed in Hong Kong for the first time, and My Car, an electric vehicle; and the Possible Life, an intelligent home system created by young inventor Chan Yik-hei.
Last year, the Innovation Festival attracted over 100,000 participants to various activities, including a three-day InnoCarnival at the Hong Kong Science Park and several roadshows.
Ends/Saturday, October 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:18
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