Research institutes and universities have been invited to submit proposals for hosting research and development centres under the new innovation and technology strategy.

The Government plans to set up R&D centres under four technology areas - automotive parts and accessory systems; logistics and supply chain management enabling technologies; textile and clothing; and nanotechnology and advanced materials.

The Productivity Council, the University of Science & Technology, and the Polytechnic University have been invited to submit a proposal to host the centres on automotive parts and accessory systems; on textiles and clothing; and on nanotechnology and advanced materials.

To consolidate its role as a major logistics hub and supply chain management base, Hong Kong should continue to develop the necessary knowledge base in logistics and supply chain management enabling technologies. Competitive bids are invited from research institutes and universities for hosting this centre.

Another five technology areas - communications technologies, consumer electronics, integrated circuit design, opto-electronics and Chinese medicine - will be subsumed under the development plan of the Applied Science & Technology Research Institute.

Meanwhile, the Innovation & Technology Commission has invited Cyberport to submit a proposal on the setting up of an Incubation-cum-Training Centre for Digital Entertainment.

The deadline for submission is March 31, and an assessment panel with members coming from academia and industry will be formed to examine the proposals received.