ENG-2012 — Page 131

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Commerce and Industry

⚫ the funding scope was expanded to facilitate commercialisation, including industrial

design, testing and certification of prototype and clinical trials.

Research and Development Cash Rebate Scheme

The R&D Cash Rebate Scheme reinforces the research culture among enterprises and encourages them to establish stronger partnerships with local research institutions. The $200 million scheme provides cash rebates to companies conducting applied R&D projects under the ITF, or in collaboration with designated research institutions. With effect from 1 February 2012, the level of cash rebate was increased from 10 per cent to 30 per cent. By the end of 2012, the scheme had approved over 530 applications for rebates amounting to about $36 million.

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI)

The publicly-funded ASTRI carries out R&D projects to raise the standard of Hong Kong's technology-based industries and to strengthen their growth. The ASTRI houses the R&D Centre for Information and Communications Technologies which focuses on five technology sectors: communications technologies, enterprise and consumer electronics, integrated circuit design, material and packaging technologies, and bio-medical electronics.

Research and Development Centres

The Government's five R&D Centres drive and co-ordinate applied R&D in selected focus areas and promote commercialisation of R&D results and technology transfer. The five centres are:

• Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems R&D Centre (APAS);

• R&D Centre for Information and Communications Technologies under ASTRI;

• Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel;

•

Hong Kong R&D Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies; and

• Nano and Advanced Materials Institute.

To enhance APAS's research capability and cost effectiveness, APAS was merged with the Hong Kong Productivity Council in November 2012.

Technology Co-operation with the Mainland

The Mainland/Hong Kong Science and Technology Co-operation Committee is a high-level steering committee for the Mainland's Ministry of Science and Technology and Hong Kong's Commerce and Economic Development Bureau to work together in fostering technology collaboration. At its seventh meeting in September 2012, the two sides agreed to proactively implement the Central Government's policy measures on science and technology, announced in June, to strengthen co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong, including encouraging Hong Kong researchers to participate in national science and technology programmes and to apply for national talent recruitment programmes, and initiating a new round of the selection process for Hong Kong laboratories applying for the status of Partner

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