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The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) is inviting Hong Kong people with Chinese nationality who have attained significant achievements in science and technology to submit entries for the 2008 State Technological Invention Award (STIA) and the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award (SSTPA).
"The STIA and SSTPA are two award categories under the State Science and Technology Awards (SSTA). Initiated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China, the awards are highly prestigious in science and technology," a spokesman for the commission said today (October 17).
The awards recognise outstanding contributions in scientific and technological progress activities, encourage the enthusiasm and creativity of scientists and technologists, accelerate the development of scientific and technological undertakings, and enhance overall national strength.
"It is encouraging to see that the capabilities and achievements of local scientists are highly commended by the Mainland. A project entitled 'Adult-to-adult Right Lobe Live Donor Liver Transplantation' was conferred first-class award in the 2005 SSTPA out of more than 800 competing projects. The project was carried out by Professor Fan Sheung-tat, Professor Lo Chung-mau, Professor Liu Chi-leung and Dr Chan See-ching of the Department of Surgery of the University of Hong Kong.
"Another project entitled 'Piezoelectric and Pyroelectric Materials for Sensor and Mechatronic Device Applications' was conferred second-class award in the 2002 STIA. Funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the project was carried out by Professor Helen Chan and Professor Choy Chung-loong of the Department of Applied Physics of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
"The commission has been invited by the National Office for Science and Technology Awards (NOSTA) on the Mainland to co-ordinate nominations from Hong Kong for STIA and SSTPA since 2002. The commission submitted entries for the 2007 SSTA. Results of the 2007 awards are expected to be announced towards the end of the year.
"Entries for the 2008 STIA and SSTPA in the HKSAR will close on December 17. The commission will form a judging panel comprising experts from relevant fields to consider the entries received," the spokesman said.
Details of the awards and the application procedures are available at http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/ssta or from ITC, 20/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (Tel.: 2737 2250).
Ends/Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:01
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