Smart car: Chief Executive Donald Tsang inspects a project supported by the Innovation & Technology Fund.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang visited the Science Park today for an update on how the Innovation & Technology Commission supports businesses in developing and adopting technology.

Mr Tsang was briefed by Commissioner for Innovation & Technology Anthony Wong and Science & Technology Parks Corporation Vice President Pau Shiu-hung on the commission's work and the park's development.

"I am happy to see that Phase 1 of the Science Park, which was commissioned only four years ago, is now virtually fully occupied, home to 143 research and development companies and 4,000 workers in the four advanced technology clusters. The park also promotes inward investment, with about half the tenants originating from Mainland and overseas companies," he said.

"With Phase 2 buildings coming on stream from early 2007, the park will become one of the largest science parks in the Greater Pearl River Delta region."

He was shown research and development prototypes and products, and was told of the technological roadmaps being pursued.

Applied science research

Mr Tsang then visited the Applied Science & Technology Research Institute, which was set up in 2000 and began operation in 2001. The institute undertakes applied research and development with a view to transferring the developed technology to the industry for commercialisation.

"The institute has successfully brought together talented people to engage in research and development in Hong Kong. Some of the projects they are undertaking are among the world's most advanced and yet have a good market potential. I would encourage Hong Kong industries to more closely engage the institute, as well as the other research and development centres in developing new ideas and products," Mr Tsang said.

He toured the Enterprise & Consumer Electronics and the Material & Packaging Technologies Laboratories and watched demonstrations on cutting-edge technologies.

He visited a project supported by the Innovation & Technology Fund on the development of an Intelligent Omni-directional Hybrid Electric Vehicle, which offers higher fuel economy and lower pollution emissions.