Nobel laureate says Hong Kong needs to look beyond markets and banking
The city would do well to invest in basic science, a Nobel laureate said in praising moves by a university to train young scientists in infectious diseases around the region.
'Hong Kong is an affluent society in many ways,' said Rolf Zinkernagel, the 1996 prize-winner in medicine. 'Money markets and banking are important but maybe part of this wealth could be used to further basic science investments.
'I am convinced that to add on to money and banking other activities where intellectual productivity is important, like biology, might actually be a very productive way to invest for the future,' said Professor Zinkernagel, of the Institute of Experimental Immunology at the University Hospital in Zurich.
He was speaking after a three-week virology course for 26 young Asian scientists organised by the University of Hong Kong-Pasteur Research Centre.
Professor Zinkernagel said he was convinced there would be good returns in 20 years. 'This is like arts or sports; you need long-term investments and a political system which says 'that is the future, we put in a certain amount of resources'.'
The virology course was one way of investing in young scientists, enabling them to learn from exchanges with international scientists and apply the knowledge in their own research work, he said.