The Hong Kong and Shenzhen governments will jointly provide funding for eight applied research and development (R&D) projects of 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,” a spokesman for the Innovation and Technology Commission said.
“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.”
As of the October 15, 2008, deadline, 19 applications seeking joint funding had been received. These applications were vetted jointly by the Hong Kong and Shenzhen sides.
Hong Kong’s share of funding for the eight supported projects amounts to approximately US$4.7 million. These projects involve electric vehicles, core technologies for batteries, technologies for RFID applications, rapid bioassay technologies and energy-saving and environmental technologies.
“These technology areas are relevant to the needs of industry in the Pearl River Delta region,” said the spokesman. “The project applicants from the Hong Kong and Shenzhen sides will leverage their respective strengths and undertake the projects together.”
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 regions, and to upgrade the technology level of industry in the Pearl River Delta region.
Apart from the category of co-funded projects, there are two other categories in the funding program. One is for projects funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund of Hong Kong, with Hong Kong institutions as principal applicants and in which Guangdong/Shenzhen institutions are encouraged to participate. Applications should be submitted to the Hong Kong side. The technology areas supported under this category are:
- logistics and supply chain-management enabling technologies
- automotive parts and accessory systems
- textiles and clothing
- nanotechnology for energy savings
- green nanotechnology
- nanotechnology in medical and health-care applications
- nanotechnology in electronic and electrical appliances
- information security
- aircraft parts and appliances
- critical precision manufacturing equipment
- development of high-performance, silicon driver intellectual properties for display panel (TFT-LCD and OLED) applications
- modernization of Chinese medicine, medical biotechnology and medical devices
Fifty-four applications were received in 2008 in this category, and their assessments are under way.
The other category is for projects funded by the Guangdong provincial government/Shenzhen municipal government. This category is for projects with Guangdong/Shenzhen institutions as principal applicants and in which Hong Kong institutions are encouraged to participate. Applications should be submitted to the Guangdong provincial government/Shenzhen municipal government.
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