Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said yesterday that this is a key year for Macau’s economic development and that the government has continuously been devoting itself to pushing science and technology (sci-tech) innovation to new heights by improving the city’s sci-tech innovation system, optimising the environment for innovation and development, while also recruiting sci-tech innovation talents (aka highly qualified human resources) from all over the world, in line with the government’s “1+4” appropriate diversification development strategy, of which, Ho underlined, high-tech is a key part.
The government’s “1+4” development strategy aims for appropriate economic diversification by promoting four main industries – big health, modern finance, high-tech, and conventions and exhibitions, including culture and sport.
Responding to the nation’s development strategy with “practical actions” and President Xi Jinping’s deep concern and ardent expectations in a reply letter last month congratulating faculty and students of the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) on the joint successful launch of the “Macao Science 1” space exploration twin satellites in cooperation with the mainland, Ho stressed that the government is “actively” participating in the construction of the high-tech industry in the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, including accelerating the layout of the technology industry and the agglomeration of enterprises, as well as supporting the holding of various sci-tech innovation activities and the joint research, development and transformation of Macau’s scientific research projects in the zone.
In addition to encouraging Macau’s tertiary education students and sci-tech staff to “actively integrate themselves into the overall situation of the nation’s development, participate in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, and help Macau’s economy develop in an appropriate and diversified way”, Xi’s letter also pointed out, according to Ho, that “building a scientific and technological world power and promoting Chinese-style modernisation will provide a broader space for the city’s tertiary education students and scientific and technological workers”.
Ho quoted Xi’s letter in his speech during this year’s first plenary meeting of the government-appointed Science and Technology Committee at the Macau Science Museum in Nape. As usual, the meeting was held behind closed doors.
Ho also said that the government optimised and adjusted the organisation and operation mechanism of the Science and Technology Committee in April this year to help the government “effectively” absorb more diverse views in its policy formulation process through the establishment of a high-level co-ordination and communication mechanism, adding he expected the committee members’ suggestions to focus on promoting the development of sci-tech innovation industries.
The committee is chaired by Ho, with its membership comprising representatives from various public entities, universities and institutions, as well as experts, scholars and social figures from different fields who pay close attention to Macau’s development of science and technology, in addition to Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong and Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) Director Tai Kin Ip.
3 task forces set up during yesterday’s meeting
Meanwhile, Tai told reporters after yesterday’s meeting that in addition to adopting internal regulations for the committee, during the meeting it was also decided to set up three task forces, namely, the Task Force on Promoting Technology Industry and Applications, the Task Force on Promoting Industry-University-Research Cooperation, and the Task Force on International and Regional Cooperation.
Tai added that during the meeting, Ho appointed co-ordinators to be responsible for each task force, of which the Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT) will be in charge of the Task Force on Promoting Industry-University-Research Cooperation, while his bureau will be responsible for the other two.
The three newly established task forces will soon hold their respective group meetings, while the committee will hold a general assembly at least twice a year, Tai underlined.
Ben U Seng Pan, a member of the committee, said that the committee discussed topics such as sci-tech innovation systems, talents and funds during the meeting, which was attended by 35 members. U also said he believed that with the setting-up of the three task forces, fellow members will soon be able to conduct more in-depth discussions and, thus, assist the government in accelerating Macau’s appropriate diversification in its industrial development.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (centre) delivers a speech yesterday at the opening of this year’s first plenary meeting at the Macau Science Museum in Nape, flanked by Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong (left) and Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) Director Tai Kin Ip. – Photo: GCS
Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) Director Tai Kin Ip (left) and Ben U Seng Pan, a member of the government-appointed Science and Technology Committee, talk to reporters separately after yesterday’s first plenary meeting at the Macau Science Museum in Nape. – Photo combo: Yuki Lei
