Research policy overhaul ‘boosts prospects for city, nation’
The central government’s new funding and policy adjustments strongly boost prospects for both Hong Kong’s and the nation’s science and technology development drive, a leading local scientist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong said.
“This is like the central authorities offering us fuel in snowy weather,” said Professor Leung Ping-chung, director of CUHK’s Institute of Chinese Medicine and the Partner State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China.
His remarks followed President Xi Jinping’s instruction, released on Monday, ordering central government departments to promote scientific cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland, and support Hong Kong’s efforts to become an international innovation and technology hub.
The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance have earmarked funds for Hong Kong-based labs following the instruction.
Moreover, universities and research institutions in Hong Kong can now bid for central government research funds under a newly released sponsorship scheme. The funds, previously only available on the mainland, can now be used within Hong Kong.
Policy adjustments by Beijing will ease local thirst for research funds, help attract more talent into research and enliven the environment for sci-tech research in the special administrative region, said Leung.
Leung’s team is among the current 22 national funding beneficiaries in Hong Kong since the policies have been adjusted.
“The significance of Beijing’s support lies not only in the specific ‘flow of funds across the river’, but also in openings for integrating the advantages of both Hong Kong and the mainland in pushing forward the level of the nation’s overall scientific research and technological applications,” he said.
In recent years Leung’s laboratory has conducted intense three-pronged research to develop evidencebased medicinal supplements to support modern medical practice, particularly in areas of aging, degeneration and prevention. Sufficient funding could enable them to cultivate talent, optimize formulae and gain better quality control.
Leung said the wider access and related adjustments encouraged and aided the local science community in their research, though it is never easy for the bids to succeed as mainland institutions are increasingly competent.
“It portends a bright future for Hong Kong-based scientists to further develop their potential and actively partner with mainland scientists in future applications,” he said.
This is like the central authorities offering us fuel in snowy weather.” Leung Ping-chung,
Collaboration of scientists and industries in Hong Kong and the mainland can lead to breakthroughs both in basic research and in technological industries, which will sharpen their edges in the state-of-theart science and technology the country needs, Leung said.
He said the laboratory he is leading has been combining Hong Kong’s global vision and networking with mainland’s rich natural resources, large talent pool and huge market potential.
The lab has cooperated in its research with Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the top one of its kind on the mainland.
“Our cooperation has been quite complementary by drawing favorable facilities and talents from both sides,” the professor said.
In recent years simple herbal combinations have yielded results in the research for treatments of withdrawal syndrome in methamphetamine addicts, chronic ulcers, cardiovascular problems, tea-extract baths for atopic dermatitis, immunological studies in menopausal syndrome and many other diseases.
Moreover, scientists based in Hong Kong are used to networking with English-speaking partners in Europe and the United States. This experience could be beneficial to future mainland-Hong Kong joint scientific research, particularly with Eurasian links under the Belt and Road Initiative which is aimed at linking continents via infrastructure and flow of goods and personnel.
Leung said thanks to joint efforts, his team and Kunming colleagues are working on cooperative projects in West Asia as well, and the backing of authorities in Beijing has injected new impetus to broader partnerships, and lifted the expectations of local communities.