Tan Tieniu, deputy director of the Central People’s Government’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, delivers a speech at a symposium on Hong Kong's inno-tech development, Hong Kong, Sept 7, 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – A symposium was held in Hong Kong on Tuesday to explore new opportunities that have emerged from the central government’s policies on the city’s innovation and technology development. Here are the key takeaways of the forum:
Tan Tieniu, deputy director of the Central People’s Government’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Hong Kong needs a top-down design in terms of innovation and technology development. If the city aims to develop as a global inno-tech hub, it should know what the gap between itself and other international inno-tech centers is and what it should do to achieve its goals. Thus a top-down plan and design is necessary.
The city also should further optimize its supporting policies, cultivate local talent, establish a sound cooperative mechanism among industry, academic and research sectors and strengthen Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation.
I hope that Hong Kong can clearly understand that the country is the strongest backup for the city’s development and seize the opportunity and make good use of the supporting policies to speed up the inno-tech development of the city.
Xu Jie, deputy director-general of Department of International Cooperation (Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs) of Ministry of Science and Technology
The Ministry of Science and Technology is looking into a mechanism which will allow the country’s large experiment equipment and facilities to open to Hong Kong researchers. Under the mechanism, Hong Kong scientists can search the relevant information and book the equipment and facilities they need online. The MST will release guidelines about how Hong Kong and Macao scientists can use the booking website as soon as possible.
Yang Shuxuan, deputy director of department of science and innovation of China Association for Science and Technology
The China Association for Science and Technology welcomes Hong Kong scientists, researchers and those who work in the sci-tech industry to become our members.
In mid-September, we will cooperate with the Ministry of Civil Affairs to hold a seminar in which some national associations in various areas, including chemistry, biomedical science, engineering, will give a briefing to Hong Kong scientists.
Wang Changrui, head of planning and policy bureau of the National Natural Science Foundation of China
The National Natural Science Foundation of China will allow Hong Kong and Macao young scientists to apply for its Youth Science Fund from next year.
Alfred Sit Wing-hang, Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Secretary
As an important contributor to the national development of science and technology, Hong Kong has a solid research basis and scientific research strengths, especially in life sciences.
Another big opportunity around the corner for Hong Kong’s innovation and technology industry is the national 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).
Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, vice-president for research and development at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, shares her views during a symposium on Hong Kong's inno-tech development, Hong Kong, Sept 7, 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, vice-president for research and development at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
I hope that in addition to expanding Hong Kong academicians’ access to the national sci-tech fund, the city’s scholars could have more ways to engage in the nation’s inno-tech development, such as playing a part in the consultation procedure of the nation’s key development strategies.
There should be more communication between authorities and the science sector in a bid to deepen mutual understanding and ensure that the policies that can boost the city’s inno-tech development will be well implemented.