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To promote the development of innovation and technology, the Innovation
and Technology Commission (ITC) under the Communications and Technology
Branch is tasked with the mission of spearheading Hong Kong's drive to
become a world-class, knowledge-based economy. The commission formulates
and implements policies and measures to promote innovation and technology;
supports applied research, technology transfer and application; promotes
technological entrepreneurship; facilitates the provision of technology
infrastructure and development of human resources; and promotes internationally
accepted standards and conformity assessment services to underpin technological
development and international trade. The commission works closely with
its partners in the Government, industry, business, tertiary education
institutions and industrial support organisations.
To make Hong Kong a regional centre for innovation
and technology, the Government has been implementing various initiatives
to drive forward innovation and technology. It offers a range of infrastructure
and funding support for applied research and development activities.
The Council of Advisors on Innovation and Technology (CAIT) is a high-level
standing advisory body reporting directly to the Chief Executive. Its
role is to advise and make recommendations to the Chief Executive on matters
relating to innovation and technology so as to optimise their contributions
to Hong Kong's economic development.
The CAIT comprises a total of 17 members; 15 of them
are non-official members mainly from the business and academic sectors,
either locally or externally. All are experts in their respective fields
covering finance, economics, electronic engineering as well as telecommunications
technology and services. Two Special Advisors, renowned in their fields,
have also been appointed to provide expert advice to the council.
The $5 billion Innovation and Technology Fund supports projects that
will help upgrade the technology level and promote innovation in the manufacturing
and service industries. By year-end, the fund had provided financial support
of some $1,432 million to 506 projects undertaken by industrial support
bodies, trade and industry associations, higher education institutions,
professional bodies and locally incorporated companies.
Major efforts have been made to promote technological entrepreneurship.
A $750 million Applied Research Fund was established in March 1998, replacing
two previous schemes to provide equity finance for technology ventures
in the private sector. In November 1998, private venture capital firms
were appointed as managers for the fund. Besides selecting technological
ventures for investment, the venture capital firms provide management
and networking advice to the investee companies. By year-end, $382 million
in financial support had been provided to 23 companies through these fund
managers.
The publicly funded Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research
Institute Company Limited (ASTRI) has been in operation since September
2001. It performs relevant and high quality research and development for
transfer to industry for commercialisation with a view to upgrading the
technology level of industry and stimulating the growth of technology-based
industry in Hong Kong. The ASTRI's current research programmes focus on
photonic technologies, integrated circuit design, wireless communications,
Internet software and biotechnology.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Chinese Medicine Limited (HKJCICM),
incorporated in May 2001 as a subsidiary company of the ASTRI, will take
forward the vision to position Hong Kong as a world centre for the development
of health food and pharmaceuticals based on Chinese medicine. Its mission
is to spearhead the development of Chinese medicine as a high value-added
industry for Hong Kong through promotion and coordination of related activities
and strategic support for scientific and evidence-based development programmes.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has pledged to donate $500 million
to support the HKJCICM's research and development programmes. The institute
has set its programme directions to steer Chinese medicine development
embracing standardisation, technology and product development, safety
appraisal and evidence-based clinical studies.
The establishment of the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) was proposed
by four leading design professional bodies in Hong Kong with a view to
promoting the design industry and its competitiveness in the region as
a service industry. With a grant and support from the Government, and
a donation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the HKDC commenced
operation in September 2002. It is a multi-disciplinary design centre
which aims to promote design as a value-added activity, raise design standards
and foster design-related education, and raise the profile of Hong Kong
as an innovative and creative hub.
The ITC organised the Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition,
coordinated the State Science and Technology Awards and took the lead
in coordinating Hong Kong's participation in the China Hi-Tech Fair 2003
held in Shenzhen. All these publicity and promotional events helped foster
an innovation and technology culture in the community. |
