​The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, led a delegation of representatives from the innovation and technology (I&T) industry to begin their visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on March 3 (Riyadh time).
Upon arrival in Riyadh in the afternoon, Professor Sun, together with the delegation, visited King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and met with its President, Dr Munir Eldesouki. They were briefed on the tech city's innovative projects and solutions for research applications, such as the Saudi semiconductor and genome programmes and water harvesting from thin air, and visited an innovation centre for promoting advanced manufacturing and a number of laboratories, as well as satellite manufacturing facilities. They went on to The Garage in the tech city, an accelerator providing support to local and international emerging start-ups in Riyadh with the required infrastructure and a range of supportive integrated services. Professor Sun also engaged in exchanges with technology enterprises of the accelerator.
Professor Sun noted that support for start-ups is essential to building a vibrant I&T ecosystem. Hong Kong's two I&T flagships, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP) Corporation and Cyberport, have been committed to providing comprehensive support to I&T start-ups, including incubation programmes, rent concessions, workspace, shared facilities, subsidy grants, and marketing and business development support.
Professor Sun then met with Vice Chairman of the Saudi Chinese Business Council, Dr Anas Mohammed Alfadda, to brief him on Hong Kong's latest I&T developments and business opportunities. He expressed hope, through this visit of Hong Kong's delegation, to build up partnership with the Saudi business and technology sectors, and invited Saudi enterprises and investors to explore investment opportunities in Hong Kong.
Members of the delegation include the Chief Executive Officer of the HKSTP Corporation, Mr Albert Wong; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Peter Yan, and representatives of more than 10 technology enterprises from the two I&T flagships and relevant industries. They will continue their trip in Riyadh today (March 4, Riyadh time) to attend LEAP 2024 technology conference.
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