Speech by CE at unveiling ceremony of "A Great Leap Towards Industry 4.0 - Now & Beyond" (English only) (with photos/video)
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Willy (Chairman of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Mr Willy Lin), Consul General Lamlé (German Consul General to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Macau SAR, Mr Dieter Lamlé), Mr Drescher (Head of the Department of Operative Technology Management at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology, Mr Toni Drescher), Dr Groos (Managing Director of the RWTH Aachen Campus GmbH, Dr Claus Peter Groos), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon.
It really gives me great pleasure to be here today at the opening of the Invention Centre Hong Kong, jointly led by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the Fraunhofer Institute of Germany, which will support Hong Kong enterprises in innovating smart products and services.
Yesterday, I delivered my second Policy Address. As last year, innovation and technology (I&T) continues to be given prominence in my policy agenda. In particular, I emphasised that the Government will step up its effort in promoting re-industrialisation by setting up a $2 billion Re-industrialisation Funding Scheme to subsidise manufacturers to set up smart production lines in Hong Kong. We will also provide another $2 billion to the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation for developing facilities for advanced manufacturing in our industrial estates. The opening of this Centre today is perfect timing and will no doubt complement our efforts.
The support of the Fraunhofer Institute is instrumental in bringing the Invention Centre to Hong Kong. Indeed, the Government strives to strengthen collaboration with overseas scientific research institutions. To this end, we are gearing up to establish two research clusters in Hong Kong at the Science Park - one is Health@InnoHK cluster on healthcare technologies, the other is AIR@InnoHK cluster on artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technologies - thereby attracting world-class scientific research institutions and technology enterprises to join forces with our renowned local universities and research institutions in conducting more applied R&D projects. Institut Pasteur from France, as well as the Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health and the Institute of Automation in Beijing under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have already expressed interest in joining the clusters. I am delighted to learn that the HKPC and RWTH Aachen University of Germany are also interested, and will explore to establish an AI & Robotics Research Centre at the AIR@InnoHK cluster. Together with the Invention Centre, the AI & Robotics Research Centre will be testimony to the ever closer collaboration in I&T between Hong Kong and Germany. For this, I am grateful for the German Government's staunch support and for the dedication of the consul general.
To drive re-industrialisation, talent is the key. In the past few months, the Government has introduced various new programmes to attract and nurture technology talents. We launched the Technology Talent Admission Scheme in June this year to fast-track the admission of overseas and Mainland technology talent to Hong Kong. In August, we rolled out the Technology Talent Scheme to help nurture more I&T talents in Hong Kong by subsidising eligible organisations to recruit postdoctoral talent for R&D work and training their staff in advanced technologies, especially those related to "Industry 4.0".
With a strong technology foundation, world-class talents, an established legal system and robust protection for intellectual property, Hong Kong has great potential to pursue re-industrialisation, which will not only revitalise our traditional industries but also bring about new economic growth and employment opportunities.
The HKPC has been providing steadfast support to local industries to upgrade their production process and promote re-industrialisation. I encourage Hong Kong enterprises to make good use of the services of the HKPC and the Invention Centre to move up the value-chain. I am confident that our industry will continue to leverage our world-class R&D capabilities and the "Made in Hong Kong" brands to re-invigorate Hong Kong's industrial development.
Lastly, I wish the Invention Centre every success, and invite our guests, particularly members of the German delegation, to embark on Hong Kong's unique journey of re-industrialisation and prepare for the "Great Leap to i4.0." Thank you very much.
Ends/Thursday, October 11, 2018
Issued at HKT 15:30
Issued at HKT 15:30
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CE attends unveiling ceremony of "A Great Leap Towards Industry 4.0 – Now & Beyond"