Digital Policy Office holds Technology Forum (with photos)

     The Digital Policy Office (DPO) held its 19th Technology Forum at the Hong Kong Science Park today (July 30). The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, introduced at the forum the main tasks and future development directions of the DPO. He said he looked forward to inviting more diversified innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises with products and services from the Mainland to set up their businesses in Hong Kong to support the development of the city's digital government and digital economy, with a view to building a smart Hong Kong. The city's highly internationalised platform can also be leveraged to assist Mainland technology enterprises to go global and develop international markets, jointly telling the country's good I&T stories to the world. 

     The forum, with the theme "Empower Public Service Development through National Self-developed Diversified Technologies", attracted colleagues from over 40 government departments and representatives from 12 Mainland I&T enterprises.

     Mr Wong remarked that the DPO would spearhead the implementation of data-driven, people-centric and outcome-based digital policies. The DPO will utilise digital technology and data to drive smart innovation and enhance the Government's efficiency and services, aiming to bring greater benefits to citizens and business sectors. The DPO will also promote the strengthening of project governance and cybersecurity of government digital infrastructure and systems, as well as promote industry development and deepen co-operation with the Mainland.

     At the forum, Mainland I&T enterprises were invited to share information and exchange ideas about their technologies, offering an opportunity for government departments to learn practical examples and gain experience in using various types of products and solutions. This could help provide different departments with more diversified innovative solutions for consideration. Today's forum also enabled the Mainland I&T industry to better understand the development and needs of the local I&T industry, thereby facilitating closer collaboration between the two sides in the future.

     The Technology Forum held today was organised by the Smart Government Innovation Lab (Smart Lab) under the DPO in collaboration with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Hong Kong Cyberport and the Hong Kong Productivity Council. Since its establishment in 2019, the Smart Lab has been actively connecting government departments with the I&T sector, particularly local start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises, to foster a close partnership between the two sides. The Smart Lab regularly organises different promotional activities, including technology forums and technology exchange workshops for government departments and the industry, with a view to encouraging and helping government departments to introduce and apply innovative technology products and solutions, which could in turn facilitate more business matching, achieving a win-win situation.

     The technology forums have so far attracted over 7 000 participants from more than 70 different bureaux and departments as well as more than 600 public and private organisations and enterprises. For more details, please visit the thematic website of the Smart Lab (www.smartlab.gov.hk/en/).