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"The 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of Partner State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong cum Plaque Awarding Ceremony for Hong Kong Branches of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centres" was held in Hong Kong today (December 6).
The Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Minister of Science and Technology of the Central People's Government, Professor Wan Gang, and the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, delivered speeches at the ceremony. They recognised the leading positions of Partner State Key Laboratories (PSKLs) and the Hong Kong branches of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centres (CNERCs) in science and technology research.
"Over the past 10 years, the science and technology research sector in Hong Kong has been sparing no effort in research work. By now, 16 PSKLs covering diverse technology areas have been established in Hong Kong with various achievements," Mr Yang said.
The participation of Hong Kong's research institutions and personnel in the State Key Laboratories (SKLs) Programme and the CNERCs Programme is an important achievement of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee. SKLs are a vital component of the national innovation and technology system. A high-quality research team and advanced research equipment are prerequisites for the establishment of SKLs. So far, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has approved the establishment of 16 PSKLs in Hong Kong. The establishment of Hong Kong branches of the CNERCs was a supportive measure announced by the then Vice-Premier of the State Council, Mr Li Keqiang, during his visit to Hong Kong in 2011. The first Hong Kong branch of the CNERCs at the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) was established in 2012. MOST approved the establishment of five new branches in Hong Kong in October this year.
Professor Wan presented mementos to the 16 PSKLs and the first Hong Kong branch of the CNERCs, and officiated with Mr Yang at the plaque awarding ceremony for the five new Hong Kong branches of the CNERCs.
Mr Yang said, "I hope that the Hong Kong branches and the main centres can fully capitalise on the resources and advantages of the two places in their co-operation, so as to enhance the capabilities of both sides in technological innovation and commercialisation, thereby contributing proactively to the development of the national and local industries."
Mainland members of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee attending the ceremony were from MOST, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the Science and Technology Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality. The Hong Kong side comprised representatives from the Innovation and Technology Bureau, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, ASTRI, the Hong Kong R&D Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies, and Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited.
Ends/Sunday, December 6, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:57
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