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The fourth meeting of the Steering Group on Shenzhen/Hong Kong Co-operation in Innovation and Technology was held in Hong Kong today (June 25).
The two sides reviewed in the meeting the progress of work since the third meeting, and examined the first-year operation of the three-year action plan under the Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle.
The action plan is grouped under three categories: innovation foundation (provision of laboratories or facilities); service platform (sharing of technological resources and provision of technological services platform); and major research and development (R&D) projects (co-operation in particular technological areas, such as solar batteries). The action plan comprises 24 co-operation projects, involving government departments, universities, R&D institutions and community organisations in the two places.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, said, "Co-operation projects between Shenzhen and Hong Kong achieved satisfactory results over the past year. As the first project under the Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle, DuPont's photovoltaic solar energy project has facilitated the development of solar energy and related industries in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. It has become the core of the Hong Kong Science Park's new cluster on green technology, which includes renewable energy and environmental technology. The cluster effect has attracted other companies engaged in solar energy, photovoltaic technology and related industries to set up their businesses in the Park."
Mrs Lau said that the development of the three-year action plan received extensive support from the R&D sectors of both places, and there was satisfactory progress in the launch and operation of the projects, creating an Innovation Circle modelling effect.
Noting that the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation aimed to support the commercialisation of Hong Kong's R&D projects in Guangdong, Mrs Lau said the collaboration would attract more overseas enterprises to set up R&D and production facilities in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, reaffirming the important role of the Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle.
"The Guangdong provincial government has expressed their wish for the Central Government to include the framework agreement in the National 12th Five-Year Plan. We hope that the Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle will play a more significant part in the technological development area of the 12th Five-Year Plan.
"We shall continue to join with Shenzhen to promote the co-operation model of 'Hong Kong research & development - Mainland production' under the Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle, with an aim to attract more overseas enterprises to conduct R&D work in Hong Kong, as well as to promote collaboration projects on innovation and technology between the two places," Mrs Lau added.
Shenzhen and Hong Kong signed the co-operation agreement on the Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle in May 2007. The steering group is an important platform for promoting communication, exchange and collaboration in innovation and technology between the two sides. Since the signing of the co-operation agreement, the two sides have launched a Shenzhen-Hong Kong technology co-operation funding scheme, which provides joint funding for collaborative R&D projects. The funding scheme is now inviting applications for 2010. The technology areas involved are in line with the development strategy of the Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle, including Internet technologies, integrated circuits and novel electronic devices, new materials, biomedicine, advanced manufacturing and exploitation of biotechnology to enhance food safety.
Members of the Hong Kong side attending the meeting today included Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology), Miss Elizabeth Tse; Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Miss Janet Wong; and officials from the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the Office of the Telecommunications Authority. Shenzhen members included Science and Technology Adviser to the Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr Liu Yingli; Deputy Secretary General of the Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr Gao Guohui; Deputy Director-General of the Shenzhen Science and Technology, Industry, Trade and Information Committee, Mr Wang Xiaochun, and other officials.
Ends/Friday, June 25, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:05
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