The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, visited the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) today (May 19) to learn about its latest developments. Also joining the visit was the Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Ms Annie Choi.
Accompanied by the Chairman of the HKPC, Mr Willy Lin, Mr Sit started his visit to the HKPC by meeting with the management team. The Executive Director of the HKPC, Mr Mohamed Butt, gave an update on the HKPC's core areas and latest business initiatives. A tour of smart manufacturing and testing facilities enabled Mr Sit to have a better understanding of the HKPC's efforts in offering technological support to facilitate enterprises in moving towards high value-added production and gradually upgrading towards Industry 4.0. These include co-operating with the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology in Germany to implement the Industry 4.0 Upgrade and Recognition Programme as well as assisting the industry in accelerating the adoption of innovative industrial technologies and promoting the development of smart industry and digital manufacturing via the jointly established Invention Centre.
Mr Sit had a chat with the HKPC's staff working in fields such as smart mobility, food technology and intelligent robotics laboratory. He encouraged them to continue their partnership and collaboration with local industries and enterprises to enhance their productivity and competitiveness through licensing and technology transfer.
The visit also covered the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) managed by the HKPC. The Government Computer Emergency Response Team has been working closely with the HKCERT to promote information security awareness in the community and handle cyber security threats and incidents that could affect the private sector and the general public.
Mr Sit said that the HKPC has been committed to assisting enterprises in upgrading and transformation. It is also the implementation agent for several government funding schemes including the $500 million Distance Business Programme (D-Biz Programme) under the Anti-epidemic Fund. The HKPC is the Secretariat of the D-Biz Programme.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has changed various aspects of life, work, education, entertainment and consumer behavior, inflicting damage on the real economy. Yet online shopping has been getting more popular. As crisis brings opportunities, the pandemic prompts us to rethink the way businesses operate with the aid of technologies. It may help offset the impact of the pandemic on our economy and drive a wider application of technologies. We launched the D-Biz Programme to provide enterprises with funding up to $300,000 in adopting information technology solutions for developing distance business. This in turn can accelerate the digital transformation of enterprises while supporting enterprises and safeguarding jobs," Mr Sit said.
Mr Sit hoped that the HKPC will continue taking forward its mission to enhance productivity and competitiveness of industries and enterprises and provide the impetus to sustain Hong Kong's economic development.
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