EyE on U | From research to products: Commercialization 'key' for HK's I&T development: Alfred Sit

In his first policy address, Chief Executive John Lee said that in order to promote the development of innovation and technology (I&T) in Hong Kong to a higher level, the SAR Government will enhance the I&T ecosystem, enlarge the I&T talent pool to create a strong impetus for growth, promote digital economy development, develop HK into a smart city, and proactively integrate into the overall development of the country. At the same time, HK has the unique advantage of becoming an international I&T hub.

As a city small in size, HK still has its own limitations. In the I&T industry, which is based on cooperation and exchanges, HK should take the initiative to connect with its counterparts in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) to create more synergy, so as to achieve progress in I&T for itself, the GBA and the whole country.

Mr. Alfred Sit, the former Secretary for Innovation and Technology, has extensive experience in the field of I&T. During his tenure, he was committed to promoting innovation cooperation in the GBA and pointed out that "the most important elements of innovation in HK are information flow, talent flow and resource flow." Since the introduction of new regulations by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance in May 2018, local universities and research institutions can participate in science and technology projects under the Central Government's financial plan, and the project funds received can be used in HK. This was a response to the aspirations of HK's scientific research community over many years, and also a major breakthrough in scientific research cooperation between the Mainland and HK.

Today, we are honored to have Mr. Sit share with us his views on the development of HK's I&T industry, the advantages that HK has in becoming an international I&T hub, and his suggestions on the future direction of HK's I&T development.