Chen Maobo: For the first time, the BOC Hong Kong Technology Innovation Award has expanded its nomination scope to include research institutions established by Hong Kong universities within the Greater Bay Area.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po attended the BOC HONG KONG Technology Innovation Award Ceremony 2024 today (December 16) and delivered a speech. He mentioned that the BOC HONG KONG Technology Innovation Award recognizes outstanding achievements of researchers and teams, enhances the visibility of excellent research results in Hong Kong, and helps to create a stronger innovation atmosphere in society. This year marks the third edition of the event, and for the first time, the nomination scope has been expanded to include research institutions established by Hong Kong tertiary institutions within the Greater Bay Area, reflecting the increasingly close connection in academia and research within the Greater Bay Area. The national government strongly supports the development of the Hong Kong International Innovation Center, hoping that Hong Kong can leverage its unique advantages to cultivate new productive forces for the country, achieve high-level technological self-reliance, and contribute to the national effort. In order to achieve this, Hong Kong needs to establish a system that supports comprehensive innovation, particularly by efficiently combining upstream basic science with midstream and downstream industries to enhance the innovation and development power. Hong Kong has outstanding basic research capabilities and has attracted top researchers from around the world. Over the past two years, the SAR government has actively promoted closer collaboration between government, industry, academia, research, and investment, encouraging the transformation, commercialization, and industrialization of research results to accelerate the development of a more complete innovation ecosystem. Three key focuses include: First, fully utilizing the advantages of the Hong Kong international financial center to provide comprehensive funding support for the innovation and technology industry. For example, Hong Kong has established the Hong Kong Investment Management Limited, which plays a guiding role with "patient capital" to leverage market funds for investments in related industries. Additionally, this year's Policy Address announced the establishment of a HK$10 billion Innovation and Technology Venture Fund to strengthen the flow of market funds into emerging and future industries. Second, attracting key enterprises to accelerate the development of a vibrant innovation and technology industry while promoting collaboration with upstream research circles, forming a mutually supportive full-chain ecosystem. In this area, Hong Kong has achieved significant results, attracting over 100 companies in the past two years in four key sectors, including artificial intelligence and big data, life and health technology, financial technology, as well as new energy and materials. The total investment of these enterprises in the coming years will exceed HK$50 billion, creating over 17,000 jobs, most of which are in research and management positions. Third, strengthening collaboration with sister cities in the Greater Bay Area to promote interactive development between research and key industries in the region. The Hehua Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone is a good example. At the end of last month, the government issued the "Development Outline" for the Hong Kong Park in the cooperation zone, proposing specific innovative policy measures to promote the flow of people, materials, funds, and data between the Hong Kong and Shenzhen parks, supporting the cooperation zone to become an important source of new productive forces for the country. The most crucial factor in innovation is talent. Over the years, the Hong Kong SAR government has enhanced the STEM education level, encouraged students to study STEM subjects, supported start-up development, and attracted global talent to strengthen and expand Hong Kong's pool of innovation and technology talent. Paul Chan Mo-po expressed his sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Alliance and BOC HONG KONG for establishing the Technology Innovation Award, inspiring more researchers and teams to engage in research, especially in exploring and researching cutting-edge technologies, actively responding to government policies, and contributing to a happier and better life for humanity.