'Turn R&D into industry-ready innovations'

Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said on Thursday that Hong Kong aims to turn its research strengths in diagnostics, therapeutics and elderly care into practical, industry-ready innovations. His remark followed the budget speech delivered a day earlier by Financial Secretary Paul Chan, who revealed plans to chair a newly established "Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy". The initiative is designed to promote understanding and application of artificial intelligence across all sectors of society. Chan said the committee will bring together experts, academics, businesses and industry park operators, with an initial focus on life and health technologies as well as embodied AI. Sun added that his bureau will provide secretariat support for the new committee. He emphasised that Hong Kong holds strong advantages in several scientific fields, particularly in diagnostics, treatment and elderly health, where local researchers have already achieved promising results. "This is why we proposed establishing a Life and Health Technology Research Institute, hoping to further advance to the forefront of the world in these related areas," he said. "However, for this committee, we mainly emphasise industrial development. For industrial development, we first hope to build on Hong Kong's existing advantages." He also noted that authorities are keen to attract top-tier enterprises to expand their presence in Hong Kong, enabling them to use the city as a launchpad for global growth. In addition, Sun said the AI Efficacy Enhancement Team, led by Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk, will soon introduce several flagship AI projects. "By adopting several ready-made AI solutions, we aim to provide various government departments with basic tools for AI transformation and efficiency improvement," Sun said. Edited by Thomas McAlinden