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Innovation and Technology

Cooperation with Mainland

The State Ministry of Science and Technology recognises 16 laboratories at various Hong Kong universities as Partner State Key Laboratories and has approved six Hong Kong Branches of Chinese National Engineering Research Centres for their strong R&D capabilities and leading positions in their areas of expertise. The government sets aside $5 million every year to support each of these institutions. It granted further funding support of three years, up to 2018-19, at the beginning of 2016 and also started the first round of reassessment of the Partner State Key Laboratories during the year.

In January, a Hong Kong/Guangdong ICT Expert Committee was set up to strengthen cooperation between the two places in promoting the development and adoption of cloud computing, big data, internet of things, smart city and other technologies.

During the year, Hong Kong joined the Cloud Computing Working Group of the National Information Technology Standardisation Committee to work with Hong Kong and Mainland industry players to formulate national standards on purchase guidelines for cloud computing

services.

The Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Mr Zhang Dejiang, visited the Science Park in May. He was briefed by the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, on the city's entrepreneurship and innovation development, the government's I&T policy, the work of major support institutions, cross-boundary cooperation and Hong Kong's role as a super-connector. He also discussed with founders of local I&T start-ups the development of their sectors.

In August, 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 & Technology Bureau, agreed at its annual meeting that both sides would work together to promote exchanges between young people on I&T and entrepreneurship.

Cyberport Creative Micro Fund Cross-Border programmes bring young talent in Hong Kong, Guangdong and Shenzhen together to develop digital innovations. The programmes help local tertiary students acquire Mainland experience while encouraging exchange of innovative ideas. Cyberport provides $100,000 as seed funding for each selected project to turn innovative ideas. into prototypes.

The HKSAR and Guangdong governments have run a Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme since 2004 to encourage collaboration by their universities, research institutions and technology enterprises. As at end-December, the ITF had funded 246 projects with about $833 million, of which $204 million was for 87 projects funded jointly by the ITF and Guangdong/Shenzhen authorities.

Websites

Cyberport: www.cyberport.com.hk

Cyber Security Information Portal: www.cybersecurity.hk

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute: www.astri.org

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