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The Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation, which was signed last year, aims to establish the Pearl River Delta (PRD) Region as one of the world's most competitive regions by the year 2020, and success in developing innovation and technology will be at the heart of achieving this goal, the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, said today (July 8).
Speaking at the "Forum on Creating Synergy in Innovation and Technology - Shenzhen/Hong Kong Co-operation", Mr Tsang noted that the 12th National Five-Year Plan, which was endorsed by the Central Government earlier this year, fully supports Hong Kong in fostering emerging sectors, including innovation and technology. Additionally, the Central Government plans to speed up the formation of several regional innovation centres, including the PRD Region.
The Framework Agreement marks another critical step towards synergising the advantages of different centres within the PRD Region.
"Today, the rapid socio-economic development of the PRD, including Hong Kong and Shenzhen, is generating huge demand for new technologies. This in turn creates exciting potential for the commercialisation of the fruits of Research and Development (R&D)," said Mr Tsang.
Turning to the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle established in 2007, he said that it offered a superb platform for making the most of the combined strengths and opportunities of Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Further, technology companies could tap the cutting edge applied R&D services developed by Hong Kong's world-class universities and research institutes.
"We have a robust intellectual property protection regime, a tried and trusted legal system, and on top of that, we have international connectivity. All this creates an ideal environment for the exchange of new ideas on the latest technology," he said.
"Shenzhen also has its finger on the pulse of innovation and technology. It offers a large talent base and unrivalled manufacturing capabilities that help bring ideas from the drawing board into reality," Mr Tsang added.
The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle has already achieved some impressive collaborative results, including high profile joint projects and successful overseas roadshows.
Mr Tsang announced that another technology company, BYD, had decided to anchor its R&D centre in the Hong Kong Science Park.
"BYD will work with our R&D centres to develop electric vehicles. Eco-friendly vehicles are one of the seven emerging strategic industries highlighted in the 12th Five-Year Plan," he added.
The half-day, high-level forum organised by Hong Kong Polytechnic University with the support of the Innovation and Technology Commission and the Science, Industry, Trade and Information Technology Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, sought to promote the successful collaboration in innovation and technology between Mainland and Hong Kong, with a focus on the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle.
Other officiating guests included Deputy Director General, Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Mr Gong Guoping; Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and the Chairman of the Shenzhen side of the Steering Group on Shenzhen/Hong Kong Co-operation in Innovation and Technology, Mr Yuan Baocheng; Vice Director of Science, Industry, Trade and Information Technology Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, Ms Qiu Xuan; and Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Miss Janet Wong.
The forum also featured high-level exchanges among the Consuls General of Germany, Israel, the United States of America and the United Kingdom, senior management from innovation and technology enterprises in Hong Kong and Shenzhen and Hong Kong's banking sector on the strategic issues key to the further development of innovation and technology. Over 200 guests from the local business and research communities attended the forum.
Ends/Friday, July 8, 2011
Issued at HKT 12:11
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