HKPC Partners with Industry for a Smart Future

With the move to the Fourth Industrial Revolution ("Industry 4.0" or i4.0) era irreversible and gaining in momentum, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) will continue to strengthen its 50 years of partnership with industry in order to build a smarter and a more sustainable future, says HKPC Chairman Mr Willy Lin.

In his message published in the HKPC 2016/2017 Annual Report, tabled today (25 October 2017) at the Legislative Council, Mr Lin said, "Hong Kong industry will not be immune to the challenges of i4.0, but this new era also offers unlimited opportunities for Hong Kong to 're-industrialise' by developing high-end manufacturing industries in the city that can promote sustainable economic growth and create high-quality employment opportunities. Transforming Hong Kong into a smart city will also help to address the challenges of an ageing society and increasing urbanization, ensuring the city can develop in a more sustainable way."

"HKPC will play a pivotal role in pioneering innovative technologies and management best practices to lead Hong Kong enterprises into the new era of smart industry and the smart city," he said.

Under the HKPC 50th anniversary theme of "Partnering for a Smart Future", the 2016/2017 Annual Report outlined HKPC's efforts during the year in helping local enterprises to keep pace with technology and market transformation being brought about by i4.0.

Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC, said, "Amid the gradual global economic recovery and development of transformative technologies, HKPC remained focused on strengthening our support to Hong Kong industries to help capture new business opportunities."

In 2016, HKPC became the first and only professional organization in Hong Kong to acquire the i4.0 credential from the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT) from Germany - further building up its competency in the area of i4.0 to deliver value-added services to industry. During the year, HKPC also collaborated with the Fraunhofer IPT to develop an i4.0 migration model, and provide training and consultancy services to guide local companies through the i4.0 upgrading process. To demonstrate the smart operation in i4.0, HKPC also geared up to establish a new demo centre - "Smart Industry One". The first-of-its-kind in Hong Kong, the centre is in full operation since August 2017.

In 2016/2017, HKPC also announced the collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to set up the MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node at the HKPC Building, which was opened in September 2017. In addition, HKPC was commissioned by the HKSAR Government to establish an Inno Space to provide workspace and technical support to assist startup companies, secondary or university students and graduates in developing their innovative ideas into industrial designs, prototypes and products. Inno Space will commence operation on 27 October 2017.

Other major highlights included organizing the "Hong Kong Secondary Schools 3D Printing Design Competition" to promote creativity and the innovative use of 3D printing among the younger generation in Hong Kong, and implementing the "Social Enterprise Executive Development (SEED) Experiential Programme" to facilitate business enterprises in assisting social enterprises for improvements in their operations and management.

In 2016/17, total service income of HKPC and its subsidiaries amounted to $456 million, an increase of 4.28% from 2015/16. A total of 948 consultancy projects were undertaken in the year.

To download the HKPC 2016/17 Annual Report, please visit the HKPC website: www.hkpc.org. For media enquiries, please contact Felix Chan at tel.: (852) 2788 5036 or email: felixchan@hkpc.org

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Justina Shum
Senior Manager
Corporate Development
Tel: (852) 2788 5895
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: justina@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

25 October 2017