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The Innovation and Technology Commission and the National ICT Australia (NICTA) today (September 14) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a framework for NICTA's participation in the Research and Development (R&D) Centre Programme of the commission.
Funded by the Australian Federal Government and their member organisations, The Australian National University, the University of New South Wales and the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory Governments, NICTA is a renowned research institution with outstanding research capability and strengths in information and communications technologies.
"With the principle of mutual benefit and the objective to facilitate research collaboration between Australia and Hong Kong, NICTA and the commission agree to enter into an agreement of enhancing co-operation between the R&D Centres and NICTA in the aspects of research collaboration and exchange of talent," a commission spokesman said.
"On research collaboration, NICTA and the R&D Centres will discuss participation in various collaborative research projects either by bringing their own intellectual property for further development and commercialisation or contributing their technical know-how to the projects.
"On exchange of talents, NICTA may send researchers to the R&D Centres to undertake research work," the spokesman said.
The Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has set up five Research and Development Centres to promote innovation and technology development in selected technology areas, including: R&D Centre for Information and Communications Technologies; R&D Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials; R&D Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies; R&D Centre for Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems; and R&D Centre for Textiles and Clothing.
The R&D Centres conduct industry-oriented R&D and promote technology transfer and commercialisation of research outputs, thereby enhancing industry competitiveness and fostering long-term technology development.
The R&D Centres aim to become focal points for harnessing research expertise to address technology challenges facing the industry. Experts from overseas and Mainland China are invited to participate in the five R&D Centres and enter into the regional and international research and industry networks.
The Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Anthony Wong, today signed the MOU in Canberra, Australia, on behalf of the commission with Chief Executive Officer of NICTA, Dr David Skellern, to develop the framework for joint research.
Mr Wong said he welcomed the MOU. "With the joint research efforts between NICTA and the R&D centres, NICTA's technical know-how could be transferred to the industry to meet the growing demand for technology upgrading in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta Region. I look forward to seeing more co-operation plans between our R&D centres and overseas technology organisations in future," Mr Wong said.
Ends/Thursday, September 14, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:05
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