MEETING ON I&T CO-OPERATION HELD

The 15th meeting of the Mainland/Hong Kong Science & Technology Co-operation Committee was held today.

Secretary for Innovation & Technology Alfred Sit co-chaired the meeting via video conferencing with Vice Minister of Science & Technology Prof Zhang Guangjun.

Mr Sit said that Hong Kong and the Mainland had made significant progress in facilitating the flow of key elements of scientific research and promoting innovation and technology (I&T) co-operation.

As at the end of June, the Mainland had approved over RMB440 million for universities and research institutes in Hong Kong to conduct research and development (R&D) projects and establish laboratories.

The Ministry of Science & Technology, together with the Innovation & Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, have also launched the Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme for three consecutive years to encourage collaborative R&D projects between Hong Kong and different provinces in the Mainland and the response has been enthusiastic.

Moreover, four Mainland branches established by Hong Kong's universities have been allowed to lodge applications for exporting human genetic resources to Hong Kong under a pilot scheme for scientific research purposes, which is an important breakthrough in the exchange of innovative elements between the two places.

Mr Sit expressed his gratitude to the central government and the ministry for their staunch support for Hong Kong's I&T development over the years, especially the series of new measures in the area of science and technology benefiting the city as announced by the ministry in early September.

He also pointed out that the current-term Hong Kong SAR Government has been actively promoting the city's development in all important aspects, including I&T, for better integration into national development.

In the past few months, it discussed the directions for future co-operation in I&T and other areas with the governments of Guangdong, Sichuan, Hubei, Shanghai and Shenzhen and reached much consensus, including the Co-operation Arrangement on the Establishment of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation & Technology Co-operation Zone signed with Shenzhen in September.

Looking ahead, the I&T chief said the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to adopt a multipronged approach to deepen the co-operation and exchanges in R&D with the Mainland.

It will also take forward the work in implementing the joint funding schemes with the ministry, Guangdong and Shenzhen.

Mr Sit remarked that the National 14th Five-Year Plan mentioned the construction of a high-quality Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the support for Hong Kong's development into an international I&T hub and better integration into the country's overall development.

Hong Kong will continue to actively participate in the bay area development and take forward relevant work to fully complement the national plan with a view to serving the needs of the country, he added.

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