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The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Joseph WP Wong, and Executive Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal Government Mr Liu Yingli today (May 21) signed a co-operation agreement on "Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle".
The co-operation agreement aims at comprehensive promotion and enhancement of technology collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong including exchange of talent and sharing of resources, with a view to upgrading the two places into a region with ample innovation resources and dynamic innovation activities.
The co-operation agreement on "Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle" is one of the focus areas under the collaborative framework of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee.
The Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Cheng Jinpei, the Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Song Hai, the Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr Xu Zongheng, and the Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang, witnessed today's signing ceremony in Hong Kong.
Mr Tang said that given the geographical proximity and close economic relations between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, there was room for co-operation in innovation and technology between the two places. He said Hong Kong possessed well-established tertiary institutes, high quality research talents and a robust intellectual property protection regime. Shenzhen has developed an extensive high-tech industry base and has been actively promoting autonomous innovation.
"Shenzhen and Hong Kong can build on their respective edges to develop a conducive environment for innovation. This would facilitate R&D talents and institutes of the two places to co-operate in a profound and diverse manner, developing new technologies and promoting industry upgrading," Mr Tang said.
According to the co-operation agreement, the two sides will set up the Steering Group on Shenzhen/Hong Kong Co-operation in Innovation and Technology. Members will comprise senior government officials as well as representatives of relevant departments and technology support organisations of both places.
The key function of the steering group is to facilitate high-level deliberations in mapping out the details for the implementation of the "Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle". It is also responsible for co-ordinating technology collaboration and exchange between the two sides, such as promoting interaction between R&D organisations and tertiary institutes, fostering science and technology education as well as innovation and technology culture, and facilitating the commercialisation of R&D deliverables.
The establishment of closer co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen and the formulation of concrete measures for "Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle" are among the strategic proposals put forward last September by the Economic Summit on "China's 11th Five-Year Plan and the Development of Hong Kong". The co-operation agreement on the "Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle" signifies one of the major achievements of the Economic Summit.
Mr Tang said the signing of the co-operation agreement would usher the innovation and technology co-operation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong into a new era.
Mr Xu said that the signing of the co-operation agreement marked the beginning of the establishment of the "Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle". The co-operation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong will step into a higher level and wider scope in a new era. He believed that the "Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle" would bring positive effects and far-reaching meaning in regional, national and international co-operation.
Both sides will strengthen exchange and sharing of innovative talents, equipment, and project information, and will encourage the relevant R&D organisations to launch exchange programmes on technology management for researchers. Co-operation between science and technology parks and intermediary organisations of the two places will also be enhanced.
Both sides will also enhance technology collaboration and exchange on public services areas, including medical and health, environmental protection as well as the inspection and quarantine of food, pharmaceuticals and other commodities.
In addition, the co-operation agreement proposed that the two sides could consider providing funding support for enterprises and R&D institutes to jointly conduct innovative R&D projects. Both sides will also jointly promote Hong Kong's R&D centres as the Shenzhen-Hong Kong innovation platform by riding on the existing public technology platforms, and joining to attract investments through the promotion of technology services and deliverables of the two places.
Exchange and co-operation pertaining to design as well as intellectual property management and protection would also be enhanced.
Ends/Monday, May 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:01
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