On June 30 last year, we welcomed President Xi Jinping to inspect Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Science Park to understand Hong Kong's innovation and technology development and prospects in recent years, and delivered a speech to representatives of Hong Kong scientific researchers and young entrepreneurs, reflecting the country's and President Xi's high regard and affirmation for Hong Kong innovation and technology.
One year later, the atmosphere of innovation and technology in Hong Kong society has gradually formed, and many innovation and technology workers have achieved fruitful results in this year. To this end, the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, together with the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, held the "Forum with the Theme of First Anniversary of President Xi Jinping's Visit to Hong Kong Science Park and Celebrating the 26th Anniversary of Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland: 'Hong Kong Innovation and Technology, Forging Ahead'" to display the major achievements of the current government in innovation and technology and the outstanding achievements of Hong Kong's outstanding innovation and technology talents in winning international acclaim in the past year. The forum invited local academic and technological leaders as guests to jointly explore the future development direction and business opportunities of innovation and technology and share their insights.
Hong Kong's scientific research achievements are prolific and high-profile. The officiating guests took a group photo with teams and individuals who won various international and national science and technology awards this year.
The forum was kicked off by Dr. Sunny Chai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, delivering a welcome speech. The conference played the short film "Top 10 Achievements in Hong Kong's Innovation and Technology Development" produced by the SAR government, reviewing the fruitful achievements of the SAR government and other levels in the past year, including signing a number of cooperation agreements and important documents with the Ministry of Science and Technology and mainland provinces and cities; the country's first selection of payload specialists in Hong Kong, with more than ten candidates from Hong Kong entering the second round of selection; the Policy Address and the Budget also proposed a number of measures to improve the innovation and technology ecosystem. The short film also specifically mentioned that Hong Kong's outstanding scientists have won various awards in the country and overseas, winning glory for Hong Kong. Among them, Professor Vivian Yam won the Bailer Medal; Professor Dennis Lo won the Lasker Award - Clinical Medical Research; Professor Shing-Tung Yau won the Shaw Prize in Mathematical Sciences; Professor Mok Ngai-ming won the Future Science Prize in Mathematics and Computer Science; Professor Chung Kwok-fai won the 3rd National Innovation Award; and Professor Yu Jun's team won the First Prize of the Scientific Research Outstanding Achievement Award (Science and Technology) of Higher Education Institutions of the Ministry of Education. The Hong Kong delegation won great success at the 2023 International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, winning the most awards and special awards in history, as well as the Jury's Commendation Gold Award, including two Grand Prizes (Prize of the State of Geneva and the Award of the International Federation of Inventors' Associations), eight Special Awards, and about 30 Jury's Commendation Gold Awards, showing that Hong Kong's innovation and technology achievements are highly affirmed internationally and nationally.
Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, Professor Wang Weiming, Director of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, and Ms. Wu Cheng, Deputy Director, listened to the introduction of the transformation results of local institutions.
The "Hong Kong Innovation and Technology, Forging Ahead" forum was hosted by Mr. Xu Haishan, President of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre. Professor Wong Yuk-shan, Deputy Director of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the NPC Standing Committee and Chairman of the Research Grants Council; Professor Nancy Ip, Hong Kong Deputy to the NPC, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Mr. Albert Wong, CEO of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; and Mr. Peter Yan, CEO of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, were invited to share how they cooperate with the implementation of the "Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint" in their positions as participants and stakeholders in the government, industry, academia, and research industry chain. The content of the four covered three main dimensions: academic research, achievement transformation, and talent cultivation.
Group photo of guests at the scene.
Hong Kong innovation and technology has set sail, and initial results have been seen after looking back over the year. On the eve of the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the conference thanked the 800 representatives of the innovation and technology industry present for attending and brainstorming together in different institutions, different positions, and different fields, striving to fully realize the "Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint". The Centre believes that with the concerted efforts of the whole society, the innovation and technology industry will surely serve the "country's needs" with "Hong Kong's strengths" and play a greater role in the journey of assisting national development and realizing national rejuvenation.
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Hong Kong Science Popularization and Science Fiction Academy (HKSPSF) promotes scientific knowledge and sci-fi culture, and fosters the popularization and development of science education.