Speech by SITI at opening ceremony of PolyU InnoTech Open Day (English only)

     Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the opening ceremony of PolyU InnoTech Open Day today (July 16):
 
Dr Lam (Chairman of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Council, Dr Lam Tai-fai), Professor Teng (President of the PolyU, Professor Teng Jin-guang), Professor Houghton (Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 2020 and Li Ka Shing Professor of Virology at University of Alberta, Professor Michael Houghton), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
     Good morning. It is my great honour to join you all here today at the InnoTech Open Day of the PolyU. I am very glad to learn that today's event, apart from being the university's first ever InnoTech open day, also carries a special meaning as one of the signature activities to celebrate PolyU's 85th anniversary.

     Over the years, PolyU has been playing a long-supporting and pioneering role in driving the I&T (innovation and technology) development in Hong Kong. I am particularly pleased to see that PolyU is furthering its journey to help shine Hong Kong as a leading I&T hub by leveraging its academic strengths and world-class research competence through various strategic measures, such as setting up the PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), joining the Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance, and supporting our InnoHK initiative to develop three research centres in our two research clusters with world-renowned universities which help transform our city into a global innovation powerhouse.

     With the Government's solid commitment to the I&T development, coupling with our strong capabilities in scientific research and academic excellence of our universities, Hong Kong's I&T ecosystem is flourishing and increasingly vibrant. The number of start-ups and venture capital investment in Hong Kong have substantially increased over the past few years, during which we have also witnessed the birth of more than a dozen of unicorns. Hong Kong is now Asia's largest and the world's second largest fundraising hub for biotechnology companies.

     With the unwavering support from the Central Government in the National 14th Five-Year Plan, and the encouraging support to Hong Kong's I&T development by President Xi during his recent visit to Hong Kong, this term of Government will endeavour to step up efforts in driving the I&T development with the vision to develop Hong Kong into an international I&T centre. We will devise a top-level planning, further enlarge our I&T talent pool, continue to enhance our I&T ecosystem, speed up the progress of the re-industrialisation, and deepen our I&T collaboration with the Mainland thereby bringing continuous impetus to the I&T development of Hong Kong. The concerted effort of all relevant stakeholders, including the academia, research institutes and business community is certainly indispensable. 

     The coming five years will be a crucial time for Hong Kong to advance from governance to prosperity and are particularly important for Hong Kong's I&T development. I look forward to joining hands with you all here to fully seize the golden development opportunities ahead and to build a better and more innovative Hong Kong. Before I close, may I take this opportunity to wish PolyU a happy 85th anniversary, today's event a great success and everyone a very fruitful and rewarding experience.

     Thank you very much.