Budget Speech

Innovation and Technology

113.      Innovation and technology give impetus to economic development and enhance our competitiveness. Regarding infrastructure, Science Park Phase 3 is due for completion in phases starting 2013. We are now conducting a comprehensive review of the Innovation and Technology Fund with a view to improving its assessment criteria and application procedures, thereby encouraging enterprises and R&D institutions to conduct more research activities with good commercial potential. We will also continue to review the work and role of R&D centres and promote collaboration among academia, R&D institutions, business community and the Government.

114.      With the advent of the National 12th Five-Year Plan, we will strengthen our collaboration in scientific research with the Mainland and encourage the participation of more research personnel of Hong Kong in national science and technology programmes, complementing the development of our country. From April, we will provide an annual sum up to $2 million to each of the 12 Partner State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong to support their operation and enhance their research capability.

115.      To show the support and recognition we give to innovation and technology,
I have agreed to take up the chairmanship of the Steering Committee on Innovation and Technology. The Committee will pull together the efforts of the industry, academia and research institutions to co-ordinate the formulation and implementation of innovation and technology policies. We hope this will generate greater synergy among various policies and programmes.

116.      Hong Kong is a telecommunication hub in the region. In the past year, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation granted about eight hectares of land in the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate for the setting up of high-end data centres. In a knowledge-based economy, data centres constitute an essential part of the infrastructure. The Government is exploring appropriate measures to facilitate the development of more high-end data centres in Hong Kong.

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