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Innovation and Technology
The annual InnoTech Month, held from September to December, promotes an I&T culture among industry stakeholders and the public through the InnoCarnival, roadshows, InnoTech workshops and seminars, stage performances and other activities. Notable projects from the five R&D centres were showcased at the China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen in November and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's SmartBiz Expo in December. The Innovation and Technology Scholarship Award Scheme, organised jointly with the academia and non- governmental organisations, aims to enhance local undergraduates' interest in I&T and encourage them to pursue related careers.
To tackle social issues using I&T, the government set up a $500 million Innovation and Technology Fund for Better Living in May to support I&T projects that would benefit the public or specific groups, such as the elderly or disabled.
Digital inclusion measures to help needy groups include an outreach programme that encourages more elderly people and people with dementia to use ICT in their daily lives.
Cooperation with Mainland
In January, the HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Developing the Lok Ma Chau Loop by Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Both sides agreed to jointly develop the loop into the Hong Kong- Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, which would become a key base for scientific research and host relevant higher education, cultural, creative and other complementary facilities.
The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary company of the HKSTPC, was established in October to take charge of the construction, operations, maintenance and management of the park.
In July, the National Development and Reform Commission, the People's Government of Guangdong Province, the HKSAR Government and the Macao SAR Government signed the Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Co-operation in the Development of the Bay Area. It set out key areas of cooperation in the bay area, including building a global technology and innovation hub.
The government provides $5 million every year to each of the 16 Partner State Key Laboratories and six Hong Kong Branches of Chinese National Engineering Research Centres, all of which are recognised by the Ministry of Science and Technology for their strong R&D capabilities and leading positions in their areas of expertise. Partner State Key Laboratories established in or prior to 2010 underwent the first round of reassessment during the year.
In November, the Mainland-Hong Kong Science and Technology Cooperation Committee, a high-level steering committee set up by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Innovation and Technology Bureau, agreed at its annual meeting to invite applications recommending Hong Kong experts for admission to the National Science and Technology Programmes Expert Database, and to consider taking forward a selection exercise for Hong Kong laboratories to be approved as Partner State Key Laboratories.
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