************************************************************
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, chaired the sixth meeting of the Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology today (March 13) to discuss ways to promote further development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong.
Members were briefed on the latest statistics on research and development (R&D) activities, as well as progress of the innovation and technology programme in Hong Kong.
One noteworthy feature of the statistics was a growing momentum of the business sector in undertaking R&D. The business sector R&D expenditure in 2006 was $6.3 billion, triple the corresponding figure in 2001.
Statistics of wider scope covering the business, higher education and government sectors showed there were 22,054 R&D personnel (in full time equivalent) in Hong Kong in 2005, nearly double that of 2001. Total R&D expenditure in Hong Kong was $10.9 billion in 2005, 54% higher than in 2001.
"Despite this upward trend, our R&D expenditure as a ratio to GDP is still relatively low. Members are thus encouraged to suggest ways to further encourage and assist the business sector to get involved in and invest in R&D activities," Mr Ma said.
"With the establishment of five R&D Centres and InnoCentre in 2006 as well as the opening of the Science Park Phase 2 in 2007, the Government is firmly committed to the promotion of innovation and technology and wider use of design by the business sector as the main driver of our future economic and industrial growth."
Members welcomed the plans to relax the application criteria for the Small Entrepreneur Research Assistance Programme (SERAP) in April from companies with less than 20 employees to companies with less than 100 employees, and to launch a five-year programme with $93 million funding to engage Hong Kong-owned enterprises in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) to adopt cleaner production technologies and practices. Under the new SERAP, more than 99% of business establishments in Hong Kong would be eligible to apply for funding to carry out projects with innovation and technology elements and commercial potential.
On future direction, members suggested that Hong Kong should enhance technological collaboration with the Mainland, particularly Guangdong Province and Shenzhen; and the five R&D Centres, established in April, 2006, should strengthen their network on the Mainland and conduct more collaborative research with research institutes and enterprises in the Greater PRD.
By the end of January, 2008, the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) had approved 90 R&D projects with funding of $463 million by the centres in areas such as automotive lighting, high definition TV, RFID, LED and advanced textile manufacturing process technologies.
"The centres should continue working towards the goal of becoming a one-stop shop for applied R&D and technology transfer, technology and market information dissemination, industry match-making, and platform for technological co-operation with Mainland and overseas institutions. We hope that the centres will win greater support from the industry in the joint development of more applied projects," Mr Ma said.
The steering committee was set up in January, 2004, with members from the government, academia, industry, and innovation and technology organisations to advise on the formulation and implementation of innovation and technology policies and ensure effective co-ordination and synergy among different elements of the innovation and technology programme.
Ends/Thursday, March 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:43
NNNN