In his visit to Kwun Tong District today (June 14), the Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas W Yang, toured the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) Headquarters and the financial technologies (Fintech) innovation lab eXellerator to get a better grasp of the public and private efforts in spurring innovation and technology (I&T).
Accompanied by the Chairman of the Kwun Tong District Council, Dr Bunny Chan, and the District Officer (Kwun Tong), Mr Steve Tse, Mr Yang first visited the EMSD Headquarters. The Acting Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Tai Tak-him, gave a brief account of I&T application in enhancing EMSD services, pushing forward smart city development and supporting commercialisation of research and development (R&D) results of local enterprises.
The EMSD introduced a plan at the end of last year to turn its Headquarters Building and related facilities into a testing ground. Start-ups and universities can make use of this testing ground to field-test electrical and mechanical-related and energy efficiency-related I&T projects. Projects' effectiveness and performance will be measured and verified with a view to promoting their development.
In collaboration with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the EMSD has organised the Innovative Technology Day since 2017. Representatives from start-ups of the Incu-Tech Programme, government departments and public organisations are invited to exchange views on driving realisation of R&D results. Early this year, the EMSD established the Innovation Office and launched the E&M InnoPortal. The platform facilitates matching amongst government departments, public organisations, universities and start-ups to enhance their services through I&T applications and accelerate commercialisation of research outcomes of local universities.
A number of project demonstrations were shown to Mr Yang, including:
(1) The Remote Monitoring System developed in-house by the EMSD to monitor traffic lights, and pumping and lighting systems for underpasses and subways;
(2) A smart thermostat for central air-conditioning systems developed by a team from the City University of Hong Kong with funding support from the Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities;
(3) Passive light-emitting diode lighting technology developed by a team from the University of Hong Kong;
(4) Video analytics on passenger flow for lift operation optimisation developed by a start-up engaged via the E&M InnoPortal; and
(5) The Safematics Smart Safety System supported by the Public Sector Trial Scheme.
This was followed by a visit to the Fintech innovation lab eXellerator in Standard Chartered Tower. Designed and run by co-working space operator WeWork, eXellerator brings together different departments of the bank, clients and start-ups to enhance user experience with Fintech. Mr Yang called for collaboration between eXellerator and the Cyberport Fintech community. Citing Cyberport as the largest Fintech cluster in Hong Kong with over 250 Fintech start-ups, Mr Yang said he believed that promising solutions could be found there.
Before concluding the district visit, Mr Yang met with members of the Kwun Tong District Council to listen to their views on I&T development.
Follow this news feed: East Asia