Entries invited for 2011 State Science and Technology Awards
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     The Innovation and Technology Commission is inviting Hong Kong people with Chinese nationality who have significant achievements in science and technology to submit entries for the 2011 State Technological Invention Award (STIA) and the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award (SSTPA). The STIA and SSTPA are two award categories under the State Science and Technology Awards (SSTA) initiated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

     "The State Science and Technology Awards are highly prestigious in the national science and technology sector. They aim to recognise outstanding contributions to scientific and technological progress of citizens and organisations, commend the enthusiasm and creativity of scientists and technologists, accelerate the development of scientific and technological undertakings, and enhance overall national strength. We encourage local scientists and technologists to take this excellent opportunity to submit entries," a spokesman for the commission said today (October 6).

     The spokesman noted that scientific talent in Hong Kong had already attained national recognition. Two medical research projects entitled "Adult-to-adult Right Lobe Live Donor Liver Transplantation" and "Innovative Non-surgical Treatments of Peptic Ulcer Bleeding" carried out by local universities won the first-class and second-class awards in the 2005 and 2007 SSTPAs respectively, out of hundreds of competing projects. In addition, an invention project entitled "Piezoelectric and Pyroelectric Materials for Sensor and Mechatronic Device Applications" was conferred a second-class award in the 2002 STIA.

     The commission has been invited by the National Office for Science and Technology Awards (NOSTA) to co-ordinate nominations from Hong Kong for the STIA and SSTPA since 2002. The commission has submitted nominations for the two award categories for 2010. Results of the awards are expected to be announced towards the end of the year.

     Entries for the 2011 STIA and SSTPA in Hong Kong will close on December 6, 2010. The commission will form a judging panel of experts to consider the entries received before making nominations to NOSTA.

     Details of the awards and the application procedures are available on www.itc.gov.hk/en/ssta or from the Innovation and Technology Commission, 20/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (tel: 2737 2250).

Ends/Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Issued at HKT 09:00

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