Significant R&D activities at science park
I noted Vincent Law's letter ('Science park is attracting plenty of tenants, but not a great deal of R&D', September 13). I am pleased to see members of the public sharing their views about the work of the science park and the development of science and technology in Hong Kong. At the same time, I would like to take the opportunity to provide certain key facts to those who may have a similar interest.
Since it began operation in 2001, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation has worked tirelessly towards realising the vision of helping Hong Kong become a regional technology hub. I am happy to provide some encouraging figures after years of effort. The park is now home to 273 local and foreign technology companies hiring together around 7,000 people, of whom 57 per cent, or 4,000, are directly involved in research and development activities.
It is important to note that partner companies located in the park are required to have significant R&D activities.
For our partner firms, the science park serves them as a technological/R&D base through providing a range of quality facilities and support services.
By attracting global leading technology companies to the park, effective clusters of the chosen technologies are created which will not only facilitate knowledge transfer of cutting-edge technologies, but also offer opportunities for networking and collaboration.
In addition to supporting the more established or global companies, our incubation programme represents our injection of great momentum and effort in assisting local technology start-ups at their inception stage. The science park has to date nurtured a total of 220 start-up companies among which 174 are still operating and four have become listed companies.
