Photo: Professor Shen Ping believes that Hong Kong is now “the best time in history to conduct scientific research.” \Photo by Ta Kung Pao reporter Mai Runtian

Shen Ping, deputy director of research and chair professor of the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Southern University of Science and Technology, told a reporter from Ta Kung Pao that the SAR government strongly supports the development of innovative technology. Compared with the past 5 to 10 years, the relevant funding has doubled. He believes that this is “the most suitable time in Hong Kong’s history to conduct scientific research.”

R&D in Hong Kong and production in Mainland China

Shen Ping went on to say that Hong Kong has done very well in scientific research and innovation, but compared to the mainland, Hong Kong has higher labor costs. He cited the successful entrepreneurial experience of his own Singaporean students as an example, pointing out that Hong Kong and Singapore are similar in that they both have the problem of high labor costs. He believes that Hong Kong can be used as a research and development and innovation base, while production can be chosen in the mainland.

“Hong Kong now has a very good opportunity to conduct scientific research in the field of optoelectronics, and some very successful companies have started businesses in the mainland from Hong Kong.” Shen Ping said that many professors and even university presidents in major universities in Hong Kong have research in the field of optoelectronics, and have good scientific research capabilities; Shenzhen happens to provide lower production costs, “so the Greater Bay Area can form a very good industry-university-research chain.”

Ta Kung Pao reporter Wei Rong