Hong Kong held a plaque presentation ceremony for 15 State Key Laboratories (SKL) within the metropolis on Monday, that are anticipated to contribute to the nation’s aim of constructing a scientifically and technologically sturdy nation by pioneering analysis.
The nation’s State Key Laboratories Scheme is managed by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). The 15 Hong Kong laboratories which have been integrated into scheme cowl various fields like medication, quantum research, biology, environmental science, and local weather, and formally started operations on July 1. Each lab is ready to obtain annual funding of as much as HK$20 million ($2.56 million) from the SAR authorities to spice up analysis capabilities.
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Originally, State Key Labs may solely be established on the Chinese mainland. Upon approval from MOST, labs in Hong Kong may solely be Partner SKLs by pairing up with SKLs within the mainland. Since 2018, Hong Kong has been allowed to determine national-level labs independently. In January 2025, MOST authorised restructuring these national-level labs into SKLs they usually started operation on July 1.
These labs are affiliated with the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Attending the ceremony, Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun described the operation of the 15 SKL in Hong Kong as a milestone occasion within the metropolis’s integration into the nationwide innovation system. He stated that this recognition signifies a excessive regard for Hong Kong’s analysis capabilities and improvement potential, whereas additionally reflecting the nation’s expectations for the area. He stated he hoped that these labs would keep centered on their mission and try for authentic breakthroughs to deal with technological hurdles within the nation’s progress.
He additionally careworn the necessity for Hong Kong to uphold an open, inclusive setting fostering tutorial excellence, offering “a stage” for worldwide skills.
Emphasizing the importance of enhancing collaboration with scientific communities and main enterprises within the mainland, he known as for a joint effort to speed up the transformation and software of technological achievements to serve the event of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the nation as a complete.
Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in HKSAR Zhou Ji emphasised the central authorities’s unwavering assist for Hong Kong in enhancing technological collaboration with the mainland and evolving into a world middle for modern know-how. In pursuit of this aim, the central authorities has applied varied insurance policies benefiting Hong Kong, together with measures to streamline fund transfers and promote the sharing of services and tools. He pledged that his workplace will proceed to facilitate technological cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland sooner or later.
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Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu stated he envisions the laboratories as important platforms to propel Hong Kong in the direction of changing into a world middle for top-tier expertise. He added that he wish to see nearer ties amongst Hong Kong’s universities, these SKL and each home and worldwide analysis establishments to foster deeper collaboration throughout business, academia, and analysis. To advance this imaginative and prescient, he additionally pledged to expedite the event of the Hong Kong Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, a twin science parks bordering Hong Kong and the tech powerhouse Shenzhen.
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