IP Co-Operation Continues Between Hong Kong, Shenzen

by Mary Swire, LawAndTax-News.com, Hong Kong

05 May 2008

Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Frederick Ma, co-chaired the second meeting of the Steering Group on Shenzhen-Hong Kong Co-operation in Innovation & Technology today, saying that the two jurisdictions had embarked on extensive technological co-operation in recent years.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen co-operation in radio frequency identification technology and intellectual property protection, to promote technology development and transfers, co-operation in technology affecting people's daily lives, and the exchange of talent and sharing of resources.

The first meeting of the Group was chaired last October by Mr Ma and the Executive Vice-Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr Liu Yingli. The steering group was set up under the co-operation agreement on "Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle". Members of the steering group comprise senior government officials as well as representatives of relevant departments and technology support organisations of both places. The key function of the steering group is to facilitate high-level deliberations in mapping out the details for the implementation of the "Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle".

Following the signing of a co-operation agreement on the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle the two Governments last year launched several co-operative measures, including launching the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Technology Co-operation Funding Scheme to jointly finance collaborative research and development projects for the first time.

After assessments of applications received the two sides supported four projects in core technologies for radio frequency identification and integrated circuits with a total funding of about HK$35 million. Both sides have organised technology exchange activities and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Productivity Foundation also came into full operation at the end of last year.

The science and technology parks of Shenzhen and Hong Kong are actively encouraging admission of research institutes and enterprises from the other side. Both places have also enhanced technological co-operation in control of infectious disease, pharmaceutical research and development, and food tests.

"Given the geographical proximity and close economic relations, there is room for co-operation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in innovation and technology. The steering group is an important platform in co-ordinating technology collaboration and exchange between the two sides," Mr Ma said at the first meeting. "The two sides have organised various activities to promote technology exchanges since the signing of the co-operation agreement on 'Shenzhen/Hong Kong Innovation Circle' including a technology forum, project promotion seminar and joint technology funding scheme to encourage co-operation between R&D institutions of the two places. These laid a good foundation for the implementation of the co-operation agreement."

On intellectual property protection, the parties have agreed to strengthen communication and law enforcement on the basis of existing co-operation mechanisms and to join in combating piracy, particularly infringement of intellectual property rights of Hong Kong products, to create an environment conducive to the development of innovation.

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