HK-mainland formula for scientific powerhouse
Scientists in Hong Kong believe collaboration between the city and the mainland will strengthen the nation’s science and technology development.
Their remarks follow President Xi Jinping’s call for enhanced bilateral collaboration in science and technology between the mainland and Hong Kong, and support for the region to become an international center of innovative technologies.
Favorable national funding policies mean Hong Kong scientists and researchers can now secure central government backing. National funding can be used in Hong Kong as long as scientific projects have Hong Kong and mainland researchers engaged.
Hong Kong-based scientists are a major force in the country’s technological push. They, therefore, should be allowed to play a more proactive part in the big story unfolding on the motherland, said Chan Chingchuen, founding president of World Electric Vehicles Association.
“A higher level of sciencetechnology cooperation between Chinese mainland and Hong Kong is something inherent in the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. It stands as a living embodiment that the policy has been consistently enriched and developed,” Chan said, who also serves as an honorary professor at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Hong Kong.
Joseph Sung Jao-yiu, Hong Kong scientist and the previous vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said his team was one of the first beneficiaries of the relaxed cross-boundary research fund. His team had been granted 990,000 yuan ($156,228) at the end of last year for ongoing research on digestive cancers.
“President Xi’s instruction opens a door to Hong Kong scientists and researchers,” said Sung. “It gives our research jobs flexibility. Easy transportation between Hong Kong and Guangdong province facilitates the exchanges between scientists and researchers from both sides.”
Sung predicts that: “In the future Hong Kong research teams could apply for State funding directly without the necessity of partnering with the mainland researchers.”
Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, vice-president for research and graduate studies of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said she was moved and encouraged by Xi’s latest instruction.
Ip said it reflected that the nation attached great importance to the Hong Kong’s scientific research, which could create favorable conditions for the city’s development in related fields and facilitate more collaboration between scientists in Hong Kong and the mainland.