The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, began his visit to Shanghai and Suzhou today (January 13).
In the morning, Professor Sun visited the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in Shanghai, where he was briefed on the construction of this national laboratory’s permanent base, its research frontiers and core technological breakthroughs, to learn about its support in the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) industry which realises leapfrog development, including basic models developed by the laboratory like the powerful reasoning model Intern Thinker and the large language model “InternLM”, as well as OpenDataLab.
Professor Sun also visited an innovative medical company with multiple patents for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. He received a comprehensive briefing on the enterprise's industrial layout, businesses in various areas and its research and development (R&D) technology and that the company is exploring to expand its businesses, set up an R&D centre and a production base in Hong Kong.
In the afternoon, Professor Sun departed for Suzhou and visited the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP). He toured the key industrial park's exhibition centre to understand the construction and development of this high technology park. Approved to be established by the State Council in 1994, the SIP was a major co-operation project between China and Singapore. The park has formed a “2+4+1” industrial layout focusing on two pillar industries, namely new generation of information technology and high-end equipment manufacturing, as well as four emerging industries, namely biomedicine and big health, nanotechnology application and new materials, AI and digital, new energy and green technology, with modern services as a focus.
Professor Sun said Hong Kong is actively accelerating the building of the Hetao Hong Kong Park and the San Tin Technopole in the Northern Metropolis. The successful example of the SIP can serve as a reference for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) in planning the development of these two major innovation and technology (I&T) projects.
Professor Sun also visited an industrial testing equipment and whole production line system solution provider in the SIP. The enterprise’s main products are applied in industries of flat panel display, semiconductor and new energy automotive electronics. It also provides customised data-integrated software platforms for industries. He also visited the R&D room and photoelectric laboratory of the enterprise.
Meanwhile, Professor Sun met with relevant leaders of the Municipal People’s Governments of Shanghai and Suzhou respectively and had a work meeting with the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology. At the meetings, Professor Sun introduced the HKSARG's latest policies on leading the development of the city’s I&T industry and the current development. He also learned about the recent development outcomes in I&T and high-tech industrialisation of Shanghai and Suzhou. Both sides exchanged views on issues including fostering exchanges and co-operation in I&T between Hong Kong and the two cities as well as promoting technology innovation.
Last night, Professor Sun attended the innovative development exchange seminar cum annual dinner organised by the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. Addressing the event, he said Hong Kong's I&T development directions and opportunities lie in bringing together talents and resources, combining innovative policies and thinking, and leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantages of having strong support from the Motherland and close connection with the world under the “one country, two systems", with a view to "promoting technology with talents, leading industries with technology, and attracting talents with industries" and injecting new impetus for high-quality developments of the country and Hong Kong.
"We are also actively attracting technology enterprises from both the Mainland and overseas to come to Hong Kong for development. Over the past two years, more than 130 potential and representative I&T enterprises have set up or expanded their businesses in Hong Kong, including leading enterprises and well-known brands from Shanghai. We welcome more outstanding technology enterprises from Shanghai and other provinces and cities in the country to come to Hong Kong for development, making good use of Hong Kong as a platform to venture overseas and achieve mutual development."
The Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology), Dr Ge Ming, who joined the visit, shared with the participants the development and achievements of Hong Kong's I&T in areas such as scientific research, building an I&T ecosystem, attracting talent and enterprises at the dialogue session about the development of start-ups in Shanghai and Hong Kong. He also pointed out the close relationship and seamless co-operation of the two places in I&T, holding that collaboration can be strengthened to jointly build the I&T industry chain to serve national strategies.
Professor Sun will continue his visit to Shanghai tomorrow (January 14).
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