Speech by SITI at Hong Kong Laureate Forum 2023 Co-organised Programme with Cyberport: Knowledge Transfer, from R&D to application (English only) (with photos)
17.11.2023

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Hong Kong Laureate Forum 2023 Co-organised Programme with Cyberport: Knowledge Transfer, from R&D to application today (November 17): Professor Tong (Chairman of the Council of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum, Professor Timothy Tong), Simon (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Simon Chan), Peter (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Peter Yan), honourable Shaw laureates, young scientists, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good afternoon. As the largest innovative digital community in Hong Kong, there is no more a better place than Cyberport to explore the topic of "Knowledge Transfer, from R&D to application". It gives me great pleasure to be here this afternoon to share my thoughts on Hong Kong's journey towards becoming an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre. Hong Kong has been supporting scientific research through our universities for decades. We have world-class academics and talent, strong R&D (research and development) capabilities, and our achievements are widely recognised globally. However, we also acknowledge that in the past, for various reasons, there is insufficient momentum to realise the transformation of R&D outcomes in Hong Kong, making it difficult to unleash full potential. To strengthen this weakest link, the current term of Government has put a prime focus on promoting the transformation and commercialisation of R&D outcomes when formulating I&T policies. Last December, we launched the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint, establishing a clear development path and formulating systematic strategic planning for Hong Kong's I&T development in the next five to 10 years, to chart Hong Kong in moving full steam towards the vision of an international I&T centre. One of the key directions is to enhance the I&T ecosystem and promote "new industrailisation" in Hong Kong by establishing a healthy cycle with positive interactions between the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors. To achieve this, we have officially launched the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme last month, which aims to promote the transformation and commercialisation of excellent deep-tech R&D outcomes from our local universities. It is expected that the results of the first batch of applications will be announced in the first quarter next year. Last month in the Policy Address, we announced setting up a New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme of HK$10 billion to promote the downstream development of new industrialisation by providing funding support for enterprises in the fields of life and health technologies, AI (artificial intelligence) and data science, advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies. Besides, we will continue to invest in world-class I&T infrastructure. This comprises many of the places you have already visited, such as the Science Park and InnoHK research clusters. For Cyberport, where we currently are at, we will support the establishment of an AI supercomputing centre in phases, with a view to supporting the huge demand for computing power from R&D. In addition, other important intangible I&T infrastructures, such as the city's digital connectivity and cybersecurity capabilities, will also be strengthened. Our aim is to create an I&T ecosystem that will sustain scientific and technological innovation. This, in turn, will push forward societal progress and spur economic development. And of course, talent, like all of you, is also crucial in knowledge and technology transfer. I trust that the Chief Executive and the Chief Secretary for Administration have shared a series of talent policies and initiatives with you in the opening ceremony and breakfast gathering respectively earlier this week. For those of you who might harbour the ambition of utilising your scientific knowledge to improve the lives of humankind, there is no better place and no better time than here in Hong Kong. May I welcome you to join us in Hong Kong's I&T journey. Before I close, I would like to express my gratitude to Professor Tong for leading the Hong Kong Laureate Forum Council and Committee in organising a week of exciting activities, enhancing the overall I&T culture and atmosphere in Hong Kong. I look forward to seeing you all again in the near future. Thank you.