Tech treaty: The Applied Science & Technology Research Institute's Dr Allan Wong signs an MOU with Telcordia Vice-President Dr Marek Rusinkiewicz, in the presence of Commissioner for Innovation & Technology Anthony Wong (second left).

The Innovation & Technology Commission and Telcordia Technologies will jointly develop a framework for Telcordia's participation in the commission's research and development centre programme.

Telcordia of the US, formerly known as Bellcore, is a leading global provider of telecommunications software and services for Internet protocol, wireline, wireless and cable networks.

The Applied Science & Technology Research Institute's Dr Allan Wong signed a Memorandum of Understanding in New Jersey on June 7 with Telcordia to develop the framework for joint research.

Telcordia has also expressed interest in collaborating with R&D centres for logistics and supply-chain-management-enabling technologies, and auto parts and accessory systems.

At the signing ceremony, Commissioner for Innovation & Technology Anthony Wong said with the joint research efforts, Telcordia's technical know-how can be transferred to the industry to meet the growing demand for technology upgrading in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta Region.

"I look forward to seeing more co-operation plans between our R&D centres and overseas technology corporations in future," he said.

Telcordia's Senior Vice-President Dr Adam Drobot believes Telcordia's participation may broaden the company's intellectual property portfolio and lead to expansion of its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Research & Development Centre Programme is a recent initiative launched by the commission to promote applied research and development and facilitate technology transfer and commercialisation under a new strategic framework for innovation and technology development.

Five centres

Five R&D centres will be set up in the second half of this year, covering the fields of information and communications technologies, nanotechnology and advanced materials, textile and clothing, auto parts and accessory systems, as well as logistics and supply-chain-management-enabling technologies.

The centres will conduct industry-oriented research, provide a platform for the exchange of intellectual property and technology; engage in technology development, transfer and knowledge dissemination, and intellectual property commercialisation.

Technology enterprises, research institutes and universities are welcome to participate in the centres as research providers and project investors and they can benefit from the extensive industry links with the Greater Pearl River Delta region.