HKPC and HIT's State Key Lab Signed I&T Development MOU Boosting Environmental Engineering Technological Innovation in Hong Kong and Mainland

(Hong Kong, 1 March 2024) “HKPC Green & Smart Living” and the State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment at Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT’s State Key Lab) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on innovation and technology (I&T) development yesterday (29 February 2024). They pledged to leverage their respective strengths and actively explore collaboration in establishing joint research laboratories or innovation centres to promote the development of I&T in the field of environmental engineering in both Hong Kong and the Mainland.

The MOU was signed at the HKPC Building by Mr Yonghai DU, General Manager of the Green Living and Innovation Division of HKPC, and Professor Tian YU, Deputy Director of HIT’s State Key Lab. Mr Edmond LAI, Chief Digital Officer of HKPC, and Professor Nanqi REN, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of HIT’s State Key Lab, also witnessed the signing ceremony.

Mr Edmond LAI, Chief Digital Officer of HKPC, said, "The 2024-25 Budget released by the HKSAR Government aims to rise as an 'International Green Finance Centre'. With the advantage of enjoying strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world, Hong Kong can serve as a 'super-connector' for green initiatives and provide support to both Mainland and overseas enterprises. As a leading research institution, HKPC possesses expertise and knowledge in various fields. The Green Living and Innovation Division has been dedicated to promoting green technology and innovation development. We continue to collaborate with enterprises, academic institutions, and research institutions to drive the research and development (R&D) of environmental protection technology. HIT’s State Key Lab is a solid partner of HKPC, with remarkable research achievements. I am delighted to continue our cooperation with them. I believe that through in-depth communication and collaboration, we can promote the development of I&T in both cities and build greener and livable smart cities."

Professor Nanqi REN, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of HIT’s State Key Lab, stated, "Harbin and Hong Kong, one in the north and one in the south, though thousands of miles apart, are closely connected in spirit. Currently, the country is implementing the innovation-driven development strategy, continuously deepening the reform of the scientific and technological system, strengthening basic research and key core technology breakthroughs, and achieving new breakthroughs in high-level scientific and technological self-reliance. The country's I&T and ecological conservation are entering a new stage of development. The country has explicitly expressed its support for Hong Kong to build an international I&T centre, once again emphasising the promotion of I&T and sustainability. As environmental practitioners, HIT’s State Key Lab is undertaking its mission, bearing in mind its responsibilities. This is our glory, the glory of technological workers in our era. We will work together, focusing on our cutting-edge technological fields, further enhancing I&T cooperation between the two cities, jointly exploring the application and development of innovative technologies, promoting the participation of young people from both cities in I&T, and driving the construction of Hong Kong as an international I&T centre and the HIT’s State Key Lab."

HIT is a key university directly under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China (the Ministry). Its State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment focuses on meeting national major demands and international technological frontiers, carrying out theoretical I&T practices, and leading and promoting sustainable urban water development in the Mainland. Last year, HIT’s State Key Lab led a joint application with the Green Living and Innovation Division of HKPC and the HKPC Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Centre (Futian) for the National Key R&D Programme of the Ministry of Science and Technology for the 14th Five-Year Plan, titled "Optimisation Technology for Big Data and Recycling Pathways of Regional Multi-source Solid Waste". The application received approval from the Ministry.

Currently, the collaboration between HKPC and HIT’s State Key Lab also includes the joint application and execution of environmental R&D and engineering consulting projects annually. They also organise environmental technology-related training annually, introducing Hong Kong’s and Mainland 's environmental engineering technologies and policies to universities and enterprises through seminars, workshops, and activities of other formats. This includes popularising knowledge of artificial intelligence, new industrialisation, carbon neutrality, and green technologies, as well as enhancing management standards in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects. Building on the existing collaboration, both parties will increase opportunities for mutual exchange and technological cooperation in the environmental field between Hong Kong and the Mainland through in-depth collaboration, bringing more new opportunities for green development in both regions.

HKPC has always fully supported and cooperated with Government policies to provide various support related to ESG and sustainability to the industry. On the same day, the seminar "Tech Decode ESG: SMEs Sustainable Development" was held as part of the series of activities in "Hong Kong Green Week". Aligned with the Government's direction in promoting green technology, the seminar focused on the contribution of technology to environmental sustainability and explored how I&T can drive sustainability. The seminar brought together experts from academia, industry, and financial regulatory fields to jointly seek and explore long-term and stable success strategies for enterprises. Professor Nanqi REN, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of HIT’s State Key Lab, delivered a professional report on smart water development at the seminar. Experts from HKPC conducted in-depth analysis and discussion on topics such as ESG initiation for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enterprise carbon management, and ensuring environmental sustainability in ESG practices through air quality monitoring, providing valuable insights into green technology and sustainability for participants. HKPC also launched a new "ESG One" platform last month, aiming to enhance the awareness and capabilities of enterprises, especially SMEs, in ESG, and to build an ESG ecosystem in the industry for information and resource exchange and collaborative development of ESG strategies, demonstrating the determination of HKPC in pursuing sustainability and leading Hong Kong towards a green future.

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“HKPC Green & Smart Living” and HIT’s State Key Lab signed a MOU on I&T development. The MOU was signed at the HKPC Building by Mr Yonghai DU, General Manager of the Green Living and Innovation Division of HKPC, and Professor Tian YU, Deputy Director of HIT’s State Key Lab. Mr Edmond LAI, Chief Digital Officer of HKPC, and Professor Nanqi REN, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of HIT’s State Key Lab, also witnessed the signing ceremony.

On the same day, the seminar “Tech Decode ESG: SMEs Sustainable Development” was held, aligned with the Government's direction in promoting green technology, the seminar focused on the contribution of technology to environmental sustainability and explored how I&T can drive sustainability.