Hong Kong joins tripartite funding for R&D projects

The Innovation and Technology Fund aims to increase the added value, productivity and competitiveness of Hong Kong’s economic activities.

The Hong Kong, Guangdong and Shenzhen governments will jointly provide funding for 12 applied research and development (R&D) projects under the Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme.

“To further enhance Hong Kong’s technology collaboration with Guangdong and Shenzhen, a category of co-funded projects was introduced in 2007, under which projects are to be funded jointly by the Guangdong and Hong Kong authorities or the Shenzhen and Hong Kong authorities,” said an Innovation and Technology Commission spokesman. “Through closer cooperation and exchanges between the two sides under this category, we hope to enhance the innovative and technological upgrading of Hong Kong and the Guangdong area more effectively.”

A total of 46 applications seeking joint funding from Guangdong/Shenzhen and Hong Kong were received by the July 3, 2009, deadline. The Hong Kong and Guangdong sides or Hong Kong and Shenzhen sides jointly vetted the applications.

Hong Kong will contribute approximately US$7.03 million for the 12 supported projects. These projects involve intelligent industry robots, high-precision manufacturing equipment, data-mining and decision-making technologies, medical biotechnology, research and development of novel medical devices, materials technologies for photovoltaics, core technology for multimedia signal processing and productization, design and applications of high-precision AD converter integrated circuits, and platform technologies for integrated circuits.

“These technology areas are relevant to the needs of industry in the Greater Pearl River Delta region. The project applicants from the Hong Kong and Guangdong/Shenzhen sides will leverage their respective strengths and undertake the projects together,” the spokesman said.

The funding program, launched in 2004 by the Hong Kong/Guangdong Expert Group on Cooperation in Innovation and Technology, serves to enhance the collaboration between R&D institutions and industry in the two places, and to upgrade the technology level of industry in the Greater Pearl River Delta region. Since the establishment of the program, the two governments have supported more than 850 R&D projects, with total funding of US$244.87 million.

Apart from the category of co-funded projects, there are two other categories under the funding program. One is for projects to be funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund of Hong Kong, with Hong Kong institutions as principal applicants and in which Guangdong institutions are encouraged to participate. Applications should be submitted to the Hong Kong side. There were 19 technology areas to be supported under this category in 2009, and 34 applications were received; 12 projects were supported.

The other category is for projects funded by the Guangdong provincial government. This category is for projects with Guangdong institutions as principal applicants and in which Hong Kong institutions are encouraged to participate. Applications should be submitted to the Guangdong provincial government.

Details of the program can be found on the Innovation and Technology Fund Web site [www.itf.gov.hk].