Smart, efficient IT hub has 'unbeatable' edge (hktdc.com)


	Hong Kong Science Park CEO Carlos Genardini says companies can reap the benefits of Hong Kong's unique blend of East and West

Hong Kong's strengths when combined with the manufacturing skills of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) will turn Hong Kong into a powerful hub for technology and innovation, says the head of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP).

Carlos Genardini, HKSTP Corporation CEO, says that for overseas investors he usually pitches the unbeatable combination of a business savvy Hong Kong complementing the PRD's manufacturing powerhouse, creating a seamless integration between the two. In addition, he tells them that they will have immediate access to PRD's 50 million people.

"I tell them that Hong Kong is 'one country, two systems'. There is rule of law, great infrastructure, a talented workforce, a good place for the protection of intellectual property and good access to China. As for the seamless integration, they can take a bus from the Science Park to Shenzhen and visit their factories, and catch the same bus back to Hong Kong later the same day."

Start-ups a speciality

Phase I of Hong Kong Science Park was opened by the Hong Kong Government in 2002 with a vision to develop Hong Kong as an innovation and technology hub. Situated on the scenic Tolo Harbour, the quality campus-like environment with the spectacular waterfront and hills in the background provides innovative and technology-driven infrastructure and cluster laboratory services and among other facilities. It also offers full service incubation programmes for technology start-ups.

Mr Genardini said it is not a "tough sell" getting tenant companies to come to HKSTP as long as you get in front of the right people and start pitching "Hong Kong as a technology hub that has great synergies and serves their prospective needs with the PRD".

"We have companies from the US, Europe, Japan, Taiwan and local companies setting up their headquarters in Hong Kong and travelling to the PRD for sourcing and production. The facilities here are designed to enable high-technology enterprises and talented people to collaborate with partners around the world and especially among our network of R&D facilities in PRD and beyond," he added.

To date, Hong Kong Science Park has a 96 per cent occupancy rate. Its 135 tenants come from different industries such as telecommunications, electronics, photonics, nanotechnology, IC design, biotechnology and precision engineering establishing Hong Kong as "a world-class engine of research-based growth".

Big name line-up

Global electronics giant Philips has made Hong Kong Science Park its headquarters for several of its research divisions including Philips Mobile Infotainment. Japanese electronics manufacturer Omron and Wavecom, a global leader in wireless technology solutions, have taken space together with Kopin, a US-based leader in micro displays for consumer and military applications. Hong Kong companies such as semi-conductor company Solomon Systech and SAE Magnetics (HK), the largest independent manufacturer of magnetic recording heads for hard disk drives, are also there.

Work on Phase 2 commenced recently and will be completed by 2008. Offering over 78,000 square metres of lettable space, it will have an auditorium and state-of-the art laboratory R&D activities in precision engineering, electronics and biotechnology.

"We're here to provide efficient and effective homes for expanding businesses and we're here to provide a place for people from all over the world to reach their potential," said Mr Genardini, who would ideally like to see a better mix of 50-50 overseas and local companies and more of the medium to small-sized enterprises.

Powerful brand

Hong Kong, he said, is a powerful brand. "Hong Kong is a good blend of the East and the West so we should leverage on this fact. People may compare Hong Kong to Shanghai and Singapore but I choose not to. Hong Kong's geographic location and market access is unmatchable; so is HKSTP's high levels of collaboration with the PRD, for example, the Shenzhen Science Park is an excellent class example that benefits everyone."

Mr Genardini added that his long term vision is to help build a hub for technology and innovation by building world class infrastructure, people capital and market access for Hong Kong's chosen industrial and service sectors.