21st Century Business Herald reporter Guo Meiting, Southern Finance All-media trainee reporter Cheng Liyuan reported from Hong Kong and Guangzhou
On 12 April, the inaugural Hong Kong International Innovation and Technology Fair (InnoEX) (“ITF”), jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (“HKTDC”), and the HKTDC’s “Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition” and “Hong Kong International Lighting Fair”, were officially unveiled at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The 21st Century Business Herald reporter learned on the spot that the three major science and technology exhibitions were held with the theme of “smart life and connecting the world” and in the “online + offline” integration mode of “EXHIBITION+”. From April 12 to 15, visitors can walk into the venue with their reservation vouchers to experience the technological innovation products and services brought by nearly 3,000 exhibitors around the world.
Meanwhile, until 22 April, exhibitors, industry players and buyers can conduct business contacts through the Click2Match smart business matching platform.
Bringing together global scientific research results
According to the relevant person in charge of the HKTDC, the three major technology fairs brought together nearly 3,000 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions, including Hong Kong, the Mainland, Asia, Europe and the United States, fully demonstrating Hong Kong’s firm confidence in developing into an international innovation and technology hub at full speed, and demonstrating Hong Kong’s characteristic advantages as an international trade and exhibition centre.
Viva Cheung, Acting Chief Executive of the HKTDC, said, “Hong Kong is a strategic innovation and technology hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. As a leading business platform, the Hong Kong International Innovation and Technology Fair will showcase the next generation of smart solutions and cutting-edge technological achievements, and bring together influential technology professionals, enterprises and investors from around the world to explore cross-regional and cross-industry collaboration opportunities and business opportunities. ”
It is understood that the Hong Kong International Innovation and Technology Fair focuses on a number of themes, including smart city, smart economy, smart environment and facilities, smart government, smart life and smart mobility. Among them, the Office of the Chief Information Officer of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region exhibited more than 100 technological innovation solutions to promote the development of smart cities in Hong Kong at the Smart Hong Kong Pavilion. The Innovation and Technology Commission also showcased the collaborative efforts of 14 research laboratories under InnoHK with top universities around the world, including projects such as artificial intelligence and intelligent robotics.
In recent years, Hong Kong has spared no effort in promoting the development of innovation and technology and building a smart city. “In 2022, the HKSAR Government unveiled the I&T Development Blueprint for Hong Kong, which sets out a strategic plan for I&T development in the next five to ten years, including promoting the development of the digital economy and promoting the construction of smart cities.” Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, introduced the relevant situation of promoting science and technology innovation in Hong Kong. In his view, Hong Kong has made remarkable achievements in the process of building a smart city.
To promote innovation and technology as a new engine for Hong Kong’s development
Since the full resumption of customs clearance, relevant cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology and industry has recovered rapidly, and cooperation in various fields has been deepened. 12 pavilions from 10 provinces and cities in the Mainland, including Beijing, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanghai, Guangdong, Fujian and Sichuan, also rushed to Hong Kong to participate in the in-person exhibition of the Innovation and Technology Fair.
“As an important gathering place for global innovation elements and a key hub of global innovation networks, Hong Kong plays an indispensable role in the national innovation system by virtue of its advantages of ‘connecting the motherland and connecting the world’.” Vice Minister of Science and Technology Zhang Guangjun said that the Ministry of Science and Technology will work closely with the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to implement the Mainland and Hong Kong Arrangement on Accelerating the Development of Hong Kong International I&T Hub and promote innovation and technology as a new engine for Hong Kong’s social development.
ITF has also become a platform for promoting high-level international exchanges and cooperation. Statistics show that more than 100 government representatives from the Mainland, ASEAN countries and other countries and regions responsible for promoting smart city development were invited to visit the exhibition. Some government representatives will also participate in the ASEAN Smart City Development Roundtable on 13 April to share their smart city development experience with representatives of the HKSAR Government and exhibitors.
In addition, the three science and technology exhibitions also have a series of forums, seminars and lectures and other thematic venues to enrich the exhibition experience of visitors. It is understood that the Innovation and Technology Expo is the flagship event of the “Business of Innovation and Technology Week” (hereinafter referred to as “Business Week”) jointly organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the HKTDC. Events such as the HKTDC’s Spring Edition, the Digital Economy Summit jointly organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government and Cyberport, and the 2023 Hong Kong Web3 Carnival will also be featured during Business Week.
In his 2022 Policy Address, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, John Lee Ka-chiu, pointed out that Hong Kong government departments are focusing on promoting e-government audits, and plan to implement 100 projects applying cutting-edge digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and big data analysis by 2025. “This will bring us more convenience, improve our lives, and allow us to feel the benefits of smart cities and innovative technologies for our daily lives.” Sun Dong said.
Post time: Apr-17-2023