​The Housing Bureau (HB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI) today (July 17) for the establishment of a strategic partnership to integrate the strengths of both parties and create a complete innovation ecosystem from research and development (R&D) to market application, building possibilities for the future with new ideas and technologies. This partnership will leverage the cutting-edge expertise of NAMI in advanced materials alongside the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA)'s public housing practical verification platform. This will accelerate the validation and application of new building materials while creating a sustainable technology development model through patent protection and commercialisation mechanisms, supporting the development of Hong Kong into a regional intellectual property trading centre.

     The HB and the HKHA have been committed to promoting innovative construction technologies to enhance the efficiency, quality, and safety levels of public housing construction. The HKHA leverages the vast supply, standardised designs, and highly repetitive nature of public housing to provide an ideal practical verification platform for new construction technologies. This diverse application scenario will accelerate technological advancement and marketisation, facilitating the rapid transformation of research results into practical applications. For example, the HKHA and NAMI co-developed the MiSmartLink innovative coupling technology for application in second-generation Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) projects, further simplifying on-site processes and enhancing construction productively. Relevant design patents will protect the research outcomes and promote technology applications in the industry market through technology licensing.

     Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, said that the HB hopes this co-operation can inject more innovative and technological power into Hong Kong's construction industry by providing a practical verification platform through public housing. At the same time, the collaboration with NAMI will explore the establishment of a broader partnership network to effectively utilise the innovation resources of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by reinforcing connectivity, actively develop international markets, and position Hong Kong as a regional hub for construction technology intellectual property, reinforcing its role as a "super connector".

     Addressing the ceremony, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, remarked that the MOU signed by the HB and NAMI effectively demonstrates positive interaction among the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors in innovation and technology in Hong Kong. It further stands as an exemplary model of highly effective collaboration between Government, industry, academia and research. NAMI's R&D in construction materials is tailored to HKHA's diverse application scenarios and production requirements, offering a practical implementation platform for outstanding R&D results. This synergy is fostering ecosystem-wide transformation within the industry and realising a more effective public housing supply.
 
     Witnessed by Ms Ho; Professor Sun; the Under Secretary for Housing, Mr Victor Tai; and the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of NAMI, Professor Cheng Shuk-han, the MOU was signed by the Permanent Secretary for Housing/Director of Housing, Miss Charmaine Lee, and the Chief Executive Officer of NAMI, Mr Andy Fung. The first batch of research technologies includes further enhancements to the MiSmartLink, the development of composite sealing rolls, and advanced concrete materials and soundproof materials, which will help public housing achieve goals of enhancing speed, quantity, quality, and efficiency.
 
     The collaboration will establish a complete intellectual property management mechanism, allowing research results to gain patent protection and create revenue through technology licensing and commercialisation. A portion of the revenue will be reinvested into a new round of research and development, forming a sustainable development model that injects continuous momentum into the innovation and technology ecosystem.

Ends/Thursday, July 17, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:02

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