Professor Sun Dong Visits University of Waterloo to Enhance Innovation and Technology Collaboration

2024-11-07 12:36 Last Updated At：15:36

SITI continues visit to Canada

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, continued his visit to Canada on November 6 (Toronto time).

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SITI continues visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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SITI continues visit to Canada Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Professor Sun visited the University of Waterloo and met with the University's President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Vivek Goel; the Dean of Arts, Professor Alexie Tcheuyap; the Dean of Engineering, Professor Mary Wells; the Dean of Faculty of Health, Professor Lili Liu; the Dean of Mathematics, Professor Mark Giesbrecht; the Dean of Science, Professor Chris Houser; and Associate Vice-President Professor Bernard Duncker. The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive and research-intensive university. It ranked 21st in computer science and information systems and 40th in engineering and technology in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2024.

Professor Sun was briefed on the University's work in transforming research outcomes. He noted that Hong Kong attaches great importance to the co-ordinated development among upstream, midstream and downstream in innovation and technology development. An array of measures have specifically been launched in recent years to provide support to start-ups, including the I&T Accelerator Pilot Scheme, which provides subsidies to attract professional start-up service providers with proven track records in and beyond Hong Kong to set up accelerator bases in Hong Kong.

The University of Waterloo is one of the top quantum computing universities in the world. Professor Sun visited the Institute for Quantum Computing to learn more about the frontier technology developed by this cross-disciplinary Institute in the field of quantum computing, which consolidates Canada's leading position in the quantum research area through promoting research and innovation. The Institute also serves as a strategic partner for the emerging quantum industry and nurtures talent in the research area.

Professor Sun said that to further enhance research on frontier technology in Hong Kong, HK$3 billion has been allocated in the 2023-24 Budget to launch a scheme in support of the relevant development of frontier technology fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology, with a view to better realising basic technology research capabilities for making breakthroughs out of the blue.

Moreover, Professor Sun toured the University's School of Optometry and Vision Science and was briefed on the latest developments, research projects and advanced research equipment of the School by Professor of the School of Optometry and Vision Science and CEO and Scientific Director of the Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) under InnoHK Clusters, Professor Ben Thompson. The University of Waterloo is one of the non-local partners of InnoHK Clusters. It established the CEVR with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to promote vision health by making use of clinical, basic and applied research.

Professor Sun noted that InnoHK is committed to fostering global research and development collaboration, while the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government strongly encourages strengthening academic exchanges to advance translational research and innovative applications, pooling together outstanding researchers from around the globe for the benefit of innovation and technology development in Hong Kong and worldwide.

Professor Sun concluded his visit to Canada in the evening and will return to Hong Kong in the morning on November 8 (Hong Kong time).

APEC Trade Ministers Urged to Support Multilateral Trading System for Regional Economic Integration

SCED calls on APEC member economies to join hands in promoting regional economic integration

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, called on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies' continued support for the multilateral trading system to deepen regional economic integration at the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting in Suzhou today (May 22).

Speaking at the session entitled "Build an Open and Predictable Regional and Multilateral Trade and Economic Order", Mr Yau said that against the backdrop of uncertainty and rising protectionism, the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core provides the much-needed stability, transparency and predictability to international trade.

Mr Yau called on fellow trade ministers to build upon the progress achieved at the WTO 14th Ministerial Conference and expedite follow-up work on those important outstanding issues, such as WTO reform, the extension of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions and the continuation of the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce. He also encouraged all APEC member economies to join the Agreement on Electronic Commerce so as to build the momentum for its eventual incorporation into the WTO legal framework.

Mr Yau noted that APEC member economies have been pursuing trade liberalisation through various means, and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) is one of the long-term visions for deepening economic integration in the region. As the global trade landscape has undergone unprecedented changes since the idea of the FTAAP was first discussed some 20 years ago, Hong Kong fully supports the country's efforts this year to develop an FTAAP document to inject new impetus into the initiative and to demonstrate APEC's ability to lead by example.

Mr Yau stressed that as part of its efforts to contribute to the FTAAP agenda, Hong Kong is actively seeking early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

He said he looks forward to RCEP's next major milestone in setting up the Accession Working Group for Hong Kong as soon as possible within 2026, and to the continued support in Hong Kong's accession bid. Hong Kong's accession to RCEP would add concrete impetus to regional economic integration and help advance the FTAAP agenda.

On the sidelines of the MRT meeting, Mr Yau met with the China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce, Mr Li Chenggan, and the Deputy Minister of Trade of Indonesia, Ms Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, separately to exchange views on issues of mutual concern. He also met with the Mayor of Suzhou, Mr Wang Wei, and briefed him on Hong Kong's latest initiatives to drive economic development.

Mr Yau will continue to join the MRT Meeting tomorrow (May 23).

Professor Sun Dong Visits University of Waterloo to Enhance Innovation and Technology Collaboration

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