Speech by SITI at HKSTP and Roche Collaboration Agreement Signing Ceremony (English only) (with photo)
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     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the HKSTP x Roche Collaboration Agreement Signing Ceremony today (January 13):
 
Dr Elhusseiny (Area Head Asia-Pacific, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Dr Ahmed Elhusseiny), Albert (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Albert Wong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. I am so delighted to join you all today to witness the collaboration between the Hong Kong Science Park and Roche in building a healthcare innovation ecosystem in Hong Kong.
 
     Roche and its affiliates have been active players in the applied R&D (research and development) in Hong Kong. They have co-operated or partnered with local universities and R&D centres in providing financial sponsorship and contribution for multiple applied R&D projects under various programmes of our Innovation and Technology Fund, ITF in short. Since 2000, the total approved amount of ITF projects involving Roche and its affiliates amounted to over HK$60 million. Thank you very much.

     â€‹Under the collaboration framework, the Science Park and Roche will jointly explore, together with other stakeholders, recommendations to facilitate the development of a regulatory and adoption framework for medtech, health tech and biotech. A co-incubation programme will also be set up to nurture start-ups specialised in screening and monitoring solutions, as well as biomedical science.
 
     I am excited to see all these new developments that echo the strategies laid down in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint recently published. Indeed, the 14th Five-Year Plan attaches great importance to frontier fields such as life and health disciplines. Hong Kong has a solid foundation in the basic life and healthcare technology research with a good number of world-renowned research teams, resulting in its remarkable capabilities of breakthrough research.

     To capitalise on our strengths, we have rolled out a number of important I&T (innovation and technology) initiatives to promote global I&T collaboration, such as establishing the InnoHK research clusters. InnoHK brings together top-notch universities and research institutions to collaborate with local universities in setting up R&D laboratories in the Science Park, 16 of which are related to life and health technology, and fostering world-class global research collaboration.

     As promulgated in the Blueprint, the Government will continue to implement facilitation policies on the development of life and health technology. For instance, we are planning to set up an InnoLife Healthtech Hub in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Lok Ma Chau Loop to pool the research strengths and resources of laboratories to create greater synergy. With the unwavering support from the Central Government and the Government's solid commitment to the I&T development, as well as the unique advantage of Hong Kong, the impactful partnership between Science Park and Roche will undoubtedly drive a new wave of world-class development in Hong Kong's biomedical ecosystem.

     Ladies and gentlemen, Hong Kong is embracing the development of a world-class health tech hub in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) by contributing infrastructure, talents, capital and R&D capability. This will certainly open up vast opportunities and bright prospects for tech companies, start-ups and talents. Hong Kong always welcomes tech companies, start-ups and talents around the world to develop and excel in this new I&T era. I firmly believe that with our full participation, innovation in the GBA is going to play an influential role in reshaping the future of global healthcare. I look forward to joining hands with you all to fully seize the golden development opportunities ahead.
 
     In closing, may I wish this collaboration every success. Thank you.

Ends/Friday, January 13, 2023
Issued at HKT 14:24

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