PolyU Webinar Series (1) - Booting Re-industrialization

 The Institute for Entrepreneurship (IfE), PolyU organized a series of webinar in the theme “Booting Re-industrialization” so as to drive Hong Kong’s reindustrialization.  The first webinar entitled “Is re-industrialization ready to take off in Hong Kong?” was held on 30^th Sep 2020.  Dr. Bobby Liu (President of Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council & Poly-preneurs) was moderator of this webinar.

Dr. Sunny Chai, BBS (Chairman, HKSTP) was the first speaker and his topic entitled “The Innovation & Technology Ecosystem”.  In the beginning, Dr. Chai briefed government commitment to driving I&T development in 8 focus Areas and upto HK$100Billion. 

Dr. Sunny Chai, BBS (Chairman, HKSTP) was the first speaker and his topic entitled “The Innovation & Technology Ecosystem”.  In the beginning, Dr. Chai briefed government commitment to driving I&T development in 8 focus Areas and upto HK$100Billion. 

Then Dr. Chai briefed the current situation of Hong Kong Science Park including office and lab space, tech companies, R&D worker, startups, investment, etc.  Some key milestones in the past 18 years were mentions and the hub for global research collaboration through Health@InnoHK and AIR@InnoHK.

After that he introduced the development and transformation from IE 1.0 to IE 2.0.  It aimed through this new requirement to enhance the re-industrialization in Hong Kong.

Finally, Dr. Chai stated the re-industrialization future in Hong Kong included Innovation & Technology Ecosystems, Smart Manufacturing Ecosystem and Digitalized Industry Future. Lastly, he mentioned the 8 principles of re-industrialization including “Leading Local Output”, “Bring Investment”, “High Skill Employment”, “Product Technology”, “Advanced Process”, “R&D Elements”, “Local Consumption” and “Sustainability” that could be realized through Precision Manufacturing Centre (PMC), Data Technology Hub (DT Hub), Medical Accessory Resilience Supply (MARS) Manufacturing Centre, Microelectronics Centre (MEC) and Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC) in HKSTP.

 

Dr. Daniel Yip (Chairman, FHKI) was the second speaker and his presentation named “The Next Normal of Hong Kong Industries”.  Firstly, Dr. Yip mentioned the background of existing environment such as COVID-19 pandemic, China-US Trade Disputes, External Trade and Dual Circulation.  

Then Dr. Daniel Yip introduced FHKI Strategy 4R and they were Respond, Reset, Revive and Reinvent. He said Hong Kong advantages were always here.  

And then he described 4R as follows:

Respond – to the next normal, China-US trade disputes and opportunities arising from dual-circulation.

Reset – “China+1” strategy for factory diversification and re-industrialization in Hong Kong.

Revive – E-commerce (local, China and overseas markets) and upgrading (automation, product & design)

Reinvent – Consider Market, Education and I&T.

Finally, Dr. Daniel Yip described the next normal of Hong Kong Industries in four steps including 1) Factory Diversification, 2) Exploring New Markets, 3) Developing Hi-Tech Products and 4) Local Productions.  Lastly, he introduced different government support in this four steps.

Prof. H.C. Man (Dean of Faculty of Engineering, PolyU) was the last speaker and his presentation title was “PolyU’s Role in R&D Advancement and Talent Development”. Prof. Man firstly discussed the 15 global challenges facing humanity by the Millennium Project (http://www.millennium-project.org/projects/challenges/)

Then he identified 15 technology industries of the future and asked us which of them were suitable for re-industrialization in Hong Kong.  And then he also mentioned such technologies were not come easily because of political reasons.  

After that Prof. Man pointed out the characteristics of R&D included expensive investment and high risk.  So that university research could help industry R&D to reduce initial investment both in human resources and expensive equipment.  He also briefed the Technology Readiness Levels that PolyU ITDO could assist to fill the gap in technology readiness. 

Lastly, Prof. Man introduced different research, department and collaboration project between PolyU and industry so as to train talent and human capitals to industry.  

Q&A Session:

Dr. Sunny Chai said reindustrialization was no shortcut but the mask production line under COVID-19 demonstrated that our infrastructure changed could be agile such as clean room restructure.  However, AMC and DT Hub was different concept for long term transformation.

Dr. Daniel Yip said Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) manufacturers were small enterprise in Hong Kong.  The high-tech research of TCM was in Macau but quality and brand of TCM were benefit in Hong Kong because of our advanced testing and certification industry.  Dr. Sunny Chai added we could assist them to achieve GMP through light house projects.

Prof. Man said Hong Kong would like to be IP trading hub and we also need technology flagship corporations so as to adopt PhD students.

At the end, Dr. Sunny Chai said there was no short cut path but HKSTP as a platform provided good infrastructure for R&D.

 

Reference:

Re-industrialisation Funding Scheme (RFS) - https://www.itf.gov.hk/en/funding-programmes/facilitating-technology/rfs/index.html

HKSTP AMC - https://amc.hkstp.org/

FHKI - https://www.industryhk.org/en/

20200810: HKPC Webinar - Introduction of Re-industrialisation Funding Scheme - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2020/08/hkpc-webinar-introduction-of-re.html

20191028: CityU Seminar on Hong Kong Reindustrialization - Textiles and Clothing Industry Case (香港再工業化的前景：以香港紡織及服裝工業為例) - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2019/10/cityu-seminar-on-hong-kong.html

20190327: CMATCL & HKSTP Meeting for reindustrialization - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2019/03/matcl-hkstp-meeting-for.html

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