Hong Kong has made significant strides in strengthening innovation and technology－both of which are economic growth drivers proposed in the nation's 14th Five-Year Plan.

The central government pledged for the first time in its blueprint for national economic and social development to give full support to the special administrative region's role as an international innovation and technology hub.

It indicates the central government's recognition of Hong Kong's unique advantages in the technological innovation sector, and expresses confidence in Hong Kong's role in the country's future technological innovation development, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong said in a recent suggestion report submitted to the SAR government.

It is a historical opportunity for Hong Kong, and the city should give full play to its advantages such as basic scientific research, financial markets and talent, the report added.

The SAR government is pressing ahead with the "InnoHK" initiative－an innovative measure to develop Hong Kong as a hub for global scientific research collaboration by launching world-renowned institutions and commercial entities in the city.

So far, it has formed the first two InnoHK research clusters in Hong Kong Science Park, namely Health@InnoHK focusing on healthcare and AIR@InnoHK, which specializes in artificial intelligence and robotics.

Laboratory construction on the first batch of 20 R&D centers has been completed and operations are gradually beginning, with another seven centers to be launched this year, said Secretary for Innovation and Technology Alfred Sit Wing-hang at the 2021 World Artificial Intelligence Conference Hong Kong Branch in July.

By attracting more world-class technology and research experts to Hong Kong, we expect to facilitate the industrialization of scientific research results and drive the development of Hong Kong's innovation and technology sectors, Sit said.