R&D cash rebate program launched

To encourage companies to invest more in research and development (R&D) and to collaborate with public research institutions, Hong Kong’s Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) has launched the Research and Development Cash Rebate Scheme. The program provides a cash rebate equivalent to 10% of a company’s investments in two types of applied R&D projects: projects funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund and projects funded entirely by companies and conducted in partnership with designated local research institutions.

In his 2009-10 Policy Address, Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang announced the program to reinforce the research culture among companies and to encourage them to establish stronger partnerships with local public research institutions. In January, the Legislative Council Finance Committee approved a funding commitment of US$25.64 million for the program.

Details of the program will be available on the Web site [crs.itc.gov.hk].

115 candidates join fellowship program

More than 100 elite candidates have accepted offers in the first round of the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme, established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) for admission to local doctoral programs in the 2010-11 academic year.

The fellowship program was launched in September 2009 to attract the best and brightest students from around the world to pursue their Ph.D. studies and research in University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded institutions in Hong Kong.  A total of 2,996 applications from 100 countries /regions were received. 

The seven participating institutions — City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, Lingnan University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the University of Hong Kong — nominated 370 applicants to compete for the fellowships.  

Twenty-one overseas and 15 local academics with recruiting experience comprised the two selection panels charged with evaluating the nominated candidates. The local academics assessed the applications by means of a blind review to avoid any conflict of interest.  Of the overseas panel members, 16 came to Hong Kong in late February to examine the shortlisted applications further at a two-day meeting.  

After a rigorous evaluation process, 148 candidates were offered fellowships, and 115 accepted.  Among these awardees, 71 (62%) candidates are from the Mainland and 10 (9%) from Hong Kong.  Of the remaining,  13 (11%) are from Europe, 12 (10%) from other Asian countries, six (5%) from the United States, two (2%) from Africa and one (1%) from Australia.  Most of the awardees will study in the fields of engineering (31%) and physical sciences (27%), while others will study in areas relating to biology and medicine (16%) and humanities, social sciences and business studies (26%).  

Chinese medicine to benefit from certification

The participation of the academic and Chinese medicine sectors in certification programs for Chinese medicine will bring new business opportunities to the testing and certification industry and benefit the trade through enhanced confidence in Chinese medicine, said Commissioner for Innovation and Technology Janet Wong.

Speaking at the March 29 opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Authentication Centre of the School of Chinese Medicine of Hong Kong Baptist University, Miss Wong said Hong Kong’s testing and certification industry is recognized internationally and provides quality and safety assurance for products and services, making significant contributions to the economic development of Hong Kong.

She noted that the Institute for the Advancement of Chinese Medicine of Hong Kong Baptist University has been involved in quality certification work in Chinese medicine and established the “A-Mark Quality Chinese Medicines Authentication Scheme” in 2007.

Miss Wong said Hong Kong has long been a trading center for Chinese medicine. In 2008, the total import and export of Chinese medicine amounted to approximately US$294.87 million and US$282.05 million, respectively.

To further develop the testing and certification industry — one of the six advanced economic areas identified by the Task Force on Economic Challenges — the government set up the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification in September 2009. In conjunction with the industry, the council is mapping out a market-oriented, three-year development plan and will submit its report to the government soon. The report will make recommendations on how to increase the competitiveness of the industry, enhance promotion on the Mainland and overseas, improve human resources and find business opportunities.

Firefox browser includes HKPCA certificate

The Hongkong Post Certification Authority (HKPCA) announced April 19 that its root certificate has been included by Mozilla in its latest version of the Firefox web browser.   

The HKPCA is a recognized certification authority under the Electronic Transactions Ordinance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The HKPCA's root certificate represents the trusted identity of the HKPCA on the Internet. Since 2000, the HKPCA has been issuing various types of recognized digital certificates (branded “e-Cert”) to facilitate individuals and businesses to establish secure communications over the Internet.

Common web browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Apple Safari and Mozilla Firefox now come with the HKPCA root certificate included or available. Users of these web browsers visiting Web sites that are installed with the Hongkong Post e-Cert (Server) certificate will be free from certain alert messages or manual intervention when their browsers establish a secure connection to these Web sites.

Information about the e-Cert services can be found on the HKPCA Web site [www.hongkongpost.gov.hk].