Site safety has always been a priority in the construction industry. For welders, there can be significant health risks from enduring intense light, high temperatures and harmful gases for extended periods.
One local engineering equipment firm recently acquired a welding robot, primarily for connecting foundation piles. Project Manager Ken Lai highlighted that the robot not only enhances worker safety but also accelerates construction times.
Ken Lai (left) explains that the CITF subsidises companies in purchasing innovative technology products, helping the industry to improve safety, environmental protection and efficiency.
Significant benefits
“Traditional welders must work close to the workpieces, exposing them to harmful light and gases,” Mr Lai explained. “By using welding robots, operators can control them from a safe distance, effectively reducing health risks.”
He added: “With programmed operations, we can ensure each procedure is performed under stable conditions, improving efficiency and significantly enhancing the final product’s quality.”
In the current context of labour shortages, Mr Lai believes construction robots can address this issue effectively. “Our operators can control at least two robots simultaneously, significantly enhancing construction efficiency. This allows us to maintain high productivity levels even with a reduced workforce.”
Besides its welding robot, the company has acquired a painting robot, a transportation robot and a cutting robot. For these four purchases, it has been granted funding in excess of $3.3 million via the Construction Innovation & Technology Fund (CITF).
“Our robots have received up to 80% funding assistance from the CITF, which encourages us to explore more applications for construction robots and drive innovation in the industry.”
Operators can remotely control robots in order to perform welding work, thereby maintaining a safe distance from the workpiece and avoiding exposure to intense light.
Extensive programme
The CITF, established in 2018, has channelled $2.2 billion in government funding towards promoting innovative construction methods and technologies. Its objectives include enhancing productivity, improving construction quality, increasing site safety and boosting environmental performance. The Construction Industry Council advises the Government on the fund’s operations and participates in funding approvals.
As of March of this year, the fund had approved applications totalling approximately $1.68 billion, benefitting around 1,330 companies. About 60% of these firms have been small or medium-sized enterprises.
The council’s Executive Director Albert Cheng revealed: “The most popular categories are building information modelling and advanced construction technologies, with over 60% of applications falling into these areas.”
Albert Cheng says the CITF offers a “package” of options for firms to select the most suitable innovative technologies for adoption of the Smart Site Safety System according to different construction environments.
Full menu
In recent years, the fund has run a special programme to support the implementation of the Smart Site Safety System. This programme provides a “package” of options to help the industry select and apply the most suitable innovative technologies to enhance construction site safety across various environments.
“Some contractors lack clarity on the best safety devices to adopt under different conditions and stages,” said Mr Cheng. “The Construction Industry Council aims to assist these stakeholders by creating standard lists of devices.
“We also provide information on the market providers for each device and their pricing, enabling stakeholders to quickly understand the costs and types of devices they need to adopt.”
Speech by CS at Nobel Heroes Forum: Shaping Science and Future
Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Nobel Heroes Forum: Shaping Science and Future today (January 12):
Dr Wong (Chairman of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Council, Dr Peter Wong), Professor Zhang (President and Vice-Chancellor of the HKU, Professor Zhang Xiang), Mr Turner (Executive Director of Foundation Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, Mr Nikolaus Turner), distinguished Nobel Laureates, esteemed scientists,ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you today for the Nobel Heroes Forum: Shaping Science and Future.
To our Nobel Laureates – we are truly privileged to have you with us. You represent the very best of human curiosity and perseverance. Your ground-breaking work expands our understanding of the universe, lights the path for future discovery, and inspires generations. Thank you for joining this extraordinary gathering.
And to all our distinguished guests from around the world – a very warm welcome to Hong Kong.
Today's dialogue is more than an academic event. It is a powerful convergence of the world's finest scientific minds, right here in a city that is determined to play its part in global innovation.
Hong Kong's mission is clear and unwavering: to become a premier international innovation and technology centre. A hub where top scientists, scholars and entrepreneurs can thrive, collaborate and serve the world.
To achieve this, the Government is fully committed. We are building a world-class ecosystem and nurturing the talent to power it.
First, we are building the infrastructure for greatness.
We have established a strategic I&T framework centred on three major I&T (innovation and technology) parks and five key research and development institutions.
Building on the success of the Science Park and Cyberport, we officially launched the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone last month.
The Hetao Co-operation Zone is a major co-operation platform in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. The Hong Kong Park is envisioned as a world-class hub for technological innovation, connecting the Chinese Mainland with the international community, and serving as an important source for fostering new quality productive forces.
Together with our five key R&D (research and development) institutions focus on frontier technologies, these developments will create more favourable conditions for Hong Kong to attract global I&T resources and talent.
Second, we are investing decisively.
We back our words with resources. We have launched significant funding schemes across the entire innovation chain.
To support excellent and impactful research, the Research Grants Council (RGC) under the University Grants Committee administers more than 20 competitive research grant and fellowship schemes.
Furthermore, last year we launched the 3 billion HK dollars Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme to empower ground-breaking basic research led by world-class researchers and academics.
To accelerate the midstream and downstream development, we rolled out three separate 10 billion HK dollars initiatives to drive the commercialisation of R&D outcomes and new industrialisation.
Third, and most crucially, we are nurturing and attracting top talent.
Talent is our ultimate driving force. We are expanding our talent pool through multiple strategies.
On nurturing young research talent, the Government has launched the Young Collaborative Research Grant to support early-stage researchers in leading and managing collaborative research. We are also actively fostering research collaboration between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas research funding agencies through operating various Joint Research Schemes. These partnerships not only foster academic exchange but also provide opportunities to nurture researchers in exploring new frontiers in their respective fields.
On attracting global talent, the RGC Junior Research Fellow Scheme has supported some 300 doctoral graduates from Hong Kong and around the world to pursue research careers at our universities.
Our international research flagship, the InnoHK research clusters, is also there to bring together brilliant minds from all over the world to conduct world-class scientific research. To date, our two existing InnoHK research clusters – one focusing on healthcare technology and another on AI and robotics – have successfully built links with over 30 world-class universities and research institutes from 12 economies, pooling together around 3 000 researchers locally and across the globe.
To go further, the Government is now expediting the development of the third InnoHK research cluster, with the focus on sustainable development, energy, advanced manufacturing and materials.
Our strategy follows a powerful cycle: promoting technology with talent, leading industries with technology, and attracting talent with industries.
And we are seeing results. Hong Kong ranks third globally in "Technology" in the World Digital Competitiveness Ranking. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster ranks first in the 2025 Global Innovation Index Ranking of the World's Top 100 innovation clusters.
Our startup community has grown nearly fivefold in the past decade, producing homegrown unicorns.
This progress is no accident. It is built on Hong Kong's unique strengths. Under "one country, two systems", we enjoy unwavering national support and unparalleled global connectivity. Our robust rule of law, free-flowing capital and vibrant multicultural society make Hong Kong the perfect incubator for scientific exploration and technological breakthroughs.
To every scientist, researcher and innovator here today: Hong Kong is open for you. We provide the platform, the funding, the freedom and the connections to turn visionary ideas into reality.
We invite you to build your legacy here. To join us in shaping not just the future of Hong Kong, but the future of science for humanity.
On this note, let the dialogue begin. I look forward to the fruitful and inspirational exchanges. Thank you.
Source: AI-found images
