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The Hong Kong and Guangdong governments will support 126 applied research and development (R&D) projects with funding of $360 million under the 2005 Guangdong/Hong Kong Technology Co-operation Funding Scheme.
The Guangdong/Hong Kong Technology Co-operation Funding Scheme was first launched in September, 2004. Under the 2005 funding scheme, the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province and the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will provide funding support to universities, research institutions and private enterprises to conduct applied R&D in six technology areas of common interest.
The six technology areas are information and communications technology; critical precision manufacturing technology; medical biotechnology and medical device; new materials; food safety and agricultural product processing; and environmental technology and green manufacturing. These areas are relevant to the needs of the industry and will enhance economic development in the Greater Pearl River Delta (PRD) region.
Under the scheme, the Hong Kong side accepted applications from local organisations or companies which were the principal applicants, and the Guangdong side accepted applications from organisations registered in Guangdong as the principal applicants.
"During the application period from June 13 to August 12, 2005, the Hong Kong side received 89 applications while the Guangdong side received 306 applications," a spokesman for the Innovation and Technology Commission said today (January 27).
"Both sides have completed the assessment. The Hong Kong side and the Guangdong side have approved funding support for 32 and 94 projects respectively in the six technology areas."
Of the 32 projects approved by the Hong Kong side, 11 are projects of information and communications technology, one is a project of critical precision manufacturing technology, nine are projects of medical biotechnology and medical device, five are projects of new materials, one is project of food safety and agricultural product processing; and five are projects of environmental technology and green manufacturing.
"The joint funding scheme aims at facilitating R&D collaboration among research institutions in Guangdong and Hong Kong and the effective development and upgrading of industries in the Greater PRD region," the spokesman said.
"The scheme also helps develop technologies and products with their own intellectual property rights to enhance the competitiveness of the industry in the two places."
"In view of the favourable response, both sides agree that the scheme should continue in 2006 and they will work out the details in due course," the spokesman added.
Ends/Friday, January 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:19
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