Sun Dong begins Canada visit

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong began his visit to Toronto, Canada, by touring an innovation hub, the University of Toronto and a startup.

In the morning of November 4, Prof Sun visited MaRS Discovery District and met its Chief Executive Officer Alison Nankivell to receive a briefing on the innovation hub's successful experience in nurturing an innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem.

Located close to major universities and hospitals in downtown Toronto, MaRS focuses on nourishing deep technology industries including clean technology and life science.

It is also the largest urban innovation centre in North America, which supports 1,200 enterprises and renders direct assistance to enterprises, with a view to building communities of innovators and promoting the adoption of new solutions.

Prof Sun then visited the University of Toronto and toured the Centre for Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Engineering of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

He met Faculty Dean Prof Christopher Yip and Acting Associate Vice-President International Partnerships Prof David Wolfe, and was briefed on the centreâs latest developments and research and development (R&D) achievements.

The centre brings together universities and industries to translate the latest advances of artificial intelligence and data analytics into technologies in areas ranging from advanced manufacturing to human health.

Its team also delivers ongoing guidance for advanced analytics projects in industry settings.

Prof Sun encouraged the university to co-operate with universities in Hong Kong to participate in the InnoHK research clusters to strengthen global R&D collaboration.

In the afternoon, the technology chief visited a startup that provides storage and delivery services in North America.

Apart from adopting a smart platform that automatically processes orders and updates inventory levels in real time, the startup also utilises robotic shuttles to manage inventories automatically, thereby reducing the overall cost for logistics and delivery services.

In the evening, Prof Sun attended a networking dinner organised by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Toronto Chapter), where he had an exchange with Hong Kong young people studying and working in Toronto to learn more about their studies and work life.

Prof Sun shared with them Hong Kong's efforts to develop as an international I&T centre and build an international hub for high-calibre talent.

He noted that it is of paramount importance to enlarge the talent pool for Hong Kongâs I&T development, adding that the city is an ideal destination for young people to develop their careers.

He also encouraged Hong Kong youngsters to seize the myriad opportunities.

Prof Sun will proceed to Ottawa and continue his visit.