HKPC Offers One-Stop Design Services to Enhance the Competitiveness of Local Companies

To help local companies leverage on innovation and design as strategic tools to enhance their competitiveness, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) today (21 November 2005) presented a wide range of design services at the HKPC Pavilion of the Innovation & Design Expo (IDE).

Highlighting the role of innovation and design in the international business arena, Mr K K Yeung, Executive Director of HKPC, said, "Innovation and design are key elements for a company to gain a leading edge in today's competitive environment. Product design is gaining importance as local industry evolves from original equipment manufacturing (OEM) to original design manufacturing (ODM) and original brand manufacturing (OBM)."

"In addition, to fully leverage on the advantages arising from the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), products made in Hong Kong are expected to have a higher intellectual property (IP) and creativity content as a major part of their added value. Product design will clearly become a critical success factor for local industries that stand to benefit most from CEPA, including the watch and clock, jewellery, metal and plastics, electrical and electronics, and clothing and textiles industries," Mr Yeung said.

Introducing HKPC's work in supporting local industry, Mr Yeung said, "HKPC provides one-stop services in product design and development for Hong Kong's manufacturing industry, from the adoption of innovation methodologies through technology evaluation, compliance engineering, prototyping and testing to product commercialization, assisting local manufacturers' transition from OEM to ODM/OBM. Through its Intellectual Property Services Centre (IPSC), HKPC offers a range of comprehensive IP services to help local companies and inventors capitalize on their intellectual work through patent registration, concept evaluation and IP protection, including patents, industrial designs, trademarks and copyrights.'

"To enhance the capabilities of local companies in product design and development, we provide a wide range of services in technology transfer. These include the organization of industry-specific training programmes and technology workshops, international conferences and seminars on the latest design trends and methodologies, exhibitions showcasing success stories and products by local designers, publications of design practice manual and handbook, as well as the development of automation equipment," he said.

Open for 21-23 November at the IDE at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the HKPC Pavilion features HKPC's one-stop services in product design and development for local industry. For further details on HKPC's services, please visit the website: www.hkpc.org.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Betty Lee
General Manager
Corporate Communications & Events
Tel: (852) 2788 5036
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
E-mail: emilyc@hkpc.org

HKPC
21 November 2005