Integration of various cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in the fields of science and technology will unleash enormous potential for cooperation, officials said during a forum on Sunday.
“Potential cooperation in science and technology within the Greater Bay Area will be unparalleled in other urban agglomerations, given that the area is a gathering place for high-end talents both domestically and internationally,” said Leung Chun-Ying, vice-chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People”s Political Consultative Conference.
Leung made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the Greater Bay Area Science Forum on Sunday in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province. The forum, initiated by the Alliance of International Science Organizations and hosted by the Guangdong provincial government, focuses on marine science, nanoscience, high-energy physics, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
“By utilizing Hong Kong’s international financial services, international trade services, international intellectual property protection and trading services, scientific and technological innovation in the Greater Bay Area will be greatly enhanced,” Leung said.
In a video speech delivered to the forum, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said cities in the Greater Bay Area have different advantages and can strengthen collaborative innovation and the development of industry, academia and research.
“The high-end manufacturing industry in Guangdong is thriving, providing solid support for the mass production of scientific and technological research and development achievements,” he said.
The Greater Bay Area has seen a rapid development of science and technological innovation over the years. For example, the area has seen a surge in patent applications, with dominance in overseas patents licensed nationwide, according to a report from the patent index.
The report, released during the forum, also said overseas patents in the Greater Bay Area accounted for more than a quarter of the country’s total licensed between 2017 and 2022.
Technological advantages for the area exist in industries such as next-generation information technology, new energy vehicles and new materials.
Macao will actively participate in the construction of the Greater Bay Area science and technology innovation corridor, strengthening coordinated development of key industries within the area, according to Macao Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng.
Citing the area’s abundant scientific and technological innovation resources, Wang Weizhong, governor of Guangdong, said the province would work closely with the two special administrative regions to promote construction of an international science and technology innovation center and a comprehensive national science center.
Guangdong’s spending on research and development reached about 420 billion yuan ($60.3 billion) last year, with the number of R&D personnel, patents, international patent applications and high-tech enterprises ranking first in the country.
