The conclusion of the three-year action plan under the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle has demonstrated the staunch support given to the co-operation arrangement by the research and development sectors in both places, Commissioner for Innovation & Technology Janet Wong says.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Shenzhen-HK Innovation Circle Pavilion today, Miss Wong said the action plan comprised 24 co-operation projects covering such fields as biomedical, integrated circuit, radio frequency identification technology, solar energy and industrial design.

She said collaborative R&D projects were jointly funded, covering electric vehicle technology, core technologies for batteries, RFID applications, rapid bioassay technologies as well as energy saving and environmental protection technologies.

As the first major technology project established in Hong Kong and Shenzhen under the circle's framework, DuPont set up its global photovoltaic solar energy business headquarters and R&D centre in Hong Kong in March. Its manufacturing facilities in Guangming, Shenzhen, will be opened tomorrow.

"Both places will continue to work on this co-operative model to attract more overseas enterprises to come to Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

"We will make use of the world-class R&D advantages in Hong Kong and Shenzhen to promote co-operation between the two places and the world," Miss Wong added.