HKPC Organises “Appreciation Day 2023 - Our New Industrialisation Journey” Event Gathers 200+ Government, Industry, Academic and Research Partners to Embrace New Development Opportunities for Hong Kong

(Hong Kong, 9 March 2023) Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) today organised the “Appreciation Day 2023 - Our New Industrialisation Journey” event to express its heartfelt appreciation for the support and trust from industry partners and the HKSAR Government over the years. More than 200 representatives from the government, industry, academic and research sectors joined the event, which was also held in celebration of the remarkable accomplishments achieved by HKPC and its clients last year. In 2022, HKPC won 98 local, Mainland and international awards and recognitions, and most of the technology-related award-winning projects have been adopted in practical applications to benefit the community. Besides a full house of participants who graced the event in person, over 200,000 joined virtually through a Mainland online platform.

Professor SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, Hon Sunny TAN, Chairman of HKPC and Mr Mohamed BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC, addressed the “Appreciation Day 2023 - Our New Industrialisation Journey” event. Professor SUN Dong said, “2022 was a fruitful year for HKPC. Many joint research projects by HKPC and its partners have been affirmed by world authoritative experts and R&D institutions, which is very encouraging. I believe that HKPC will continue developing more high value-added technology solutions with its partners, to promote the widespread adoption of innovative technologies in various industries and create a smarter and sustainable future.” Professor SUN stated, “Innovation and technology (I&T) is a main growth engine for Hong Kong’s pursuit of high-quality economic and social development. The HKSAR Government promulgated the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint at the end of last year, in which it expressly proposes to promote technology industry development. In order to achieve new industrialisation in Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government will strengthen support for strategic, advanced manufacturing industries to set up R&D and production bases in Hong Kong on the one hand, and will assist the traditional manufacturing sector in Hong Kong to upgrade and transform with the use of I&T to achieve smart production on the other hand. The next five to 10 years will be a crucial period for I&T development in Hong Kong. We will continue working closely with all stakeholders to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages as an international city under ‘One Country, Two Systems’, capitalise on the unprecedented I&T opportunities brought about by the national development, implement the major strategies of new industrialisation, and develop Hong Kong into an international I&T centre with worldwide acclaims.”

The event also featured a panel discussion session moderated by Dr Toa CHARM, Founding Chairman of Data Literacy Association, on the theme of “Tell Good Stories of Hong Kong’s Innovation and Technology - Realisation and Development of New Industrialisation in Hong Kong”. Distinguished speakers included outstanding entrepreneurs from 2 Plus 3 (HK) Industrial Company Limited and Wai Yuen Tong Medicine Holdings, two of the clients with whom HKPC’s innovative technologies developed in collaboration have won prestigious awards and recognitions. Together with two award-winning young engineers from HKPC, the panellists shared their experiences and insights about how Hong Kong enterprises can leverage their strengths and HKPC’s technical support to achieve new industrialisation and elevate the “Made in Hong Kong” brand appeal.

Hon Sunny TAN, Chairman of HKPC, said, “With the motto ‘Innovation Never Stops’, HKPC has always worked closely together with industry partners, providing support for enterprises through advanced technologies, FutureSkills training and government funding, to promote new industrialisation and scale new heights of Hong Kong's I&T development. We greatly appreciate the recognition and continued support from the HKSAR Government, for us to provide services that benefit enterprises. For instance, the Biz Expands Easy (BEE) portal, a one-stop online platform launched last year with the aim to optimise the government funding application process for enterprises, has received over 200,000 visits so far. Going forward, HKPC will continue to fully support the HKSAR Government's policy objectives, especially the measures on attracting top-notch talent and enterprises to boost Hong Kong’s overall competitiveness, and facilitate the implementation of the measures in supporting I&T development as envisioned in the Policy Address, the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint and the 2023-24 Budget. We are committed to promoting the development of new industrialisation, green technology and artificial intelligence, accelerating Hong Kong’s transformation into an International I&T centre, and strengthening the collaboration with industry partners on ‘Our New Industrialisation Journey’.”

Mr Mohamed BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC, said, “It is notable that the proportion of technology-related awards won by HKPC increased to 70% in 2022, and among these projects, nearly 80% have already been adopted in practical applications. By the end of this year, several new smart production lines are expected to become operational in Hong Kong, covering various industries including food, pharmaceuticals, and new materials, etc. to boost Hong Kong's industrial development. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the HKSAR Government and HKPC partners from various sectors for their long-term trust and support, including clients, suppliers, chambers of commerce, HKSAR Government bureaux and departments, universities and R&D institutions around the world, as well as friends from the media and HKPC colleagues. Looking forward, HKPC, as a key facilitator and promoter of new industrialisation, will continue working closely with the HKSAR Government and industries, and acting as the most trusted partner of the business community and the manufacturing industry. We will enhance the quantity, speed, efficiency and quality in the provision of advanced technologies and innovative solutions, to promote I&T development and realise new industrialisaiton, for Hong Kong’s industries to excel and for the economy to prosper.”

The event also showcased many world-class award-winning projects of HKPC, featuring advanced technologies that have incorporated various new industrialisation elements in sectors including advanced manufacturing and new materials, artificial intelligence and robotics, smart and green living technology, and TechEd competencies, etc. Most of these technologies have been commercialised with promising potentials for high market values, and some have been adopted overseas, delivering values for Hong Kong industries.

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Professor SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government (middle), Hon Sunny TAN, Chairman of HKPC (left) and Mr Mohamed BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC (right) at the “Appreciation Day 2023 - Our New Industrialisation Journey” event.

During the panel discussion session moderated by Dr Toa CHARM, Founding Chairman of Data Literacy Association (first from left), Mr Ka-san CHAN, Managing Director of 2 Plus 3 (HK) Industrial Company Limited (second from left), Ms Vivian TANG, Executive Director of Wai Yuen Tong Medicine Holdings (middle), as well as two award-winning young engineers from HKPC - Ms Cadence LAW (second from right) and Dr Haokun YANG (first from right), share their experiences and insights about “Realisation and Development of New Industrialisation in Hong Kong”.