KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The Greater Bay Area Science Forum 2024, marking the first time an event co-hosted by the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, and the Macao SAR government, was held from Nov 16 to 18.
A major topic of discussion at the forum among government officials, international organisations, scientists, and business representatives was the collaborative development of a research powerhouse in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), according to a statement.
Guangdong Province Governor, Wang Weizhong highlighted the progress made over the past five years, including deepened cooperation in institutional frameworks, resource allocation, and major projects.
These efforts have propelled the GBA to the forefront of global technological innovation and talent development. Notably, the "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou" science and technology cluster has been ranked second globally in innovation indexes for five consecutive years.
Meanwhile, HKSAR chief executive, John Lee reaffirmed Hong Kong's central role as a core city within the GBA. He highlighted the city's commitment to complementing the strengths of neighbouring cities and contributing to the region's transformation into an international science and innovation hub.
Macao’s chief executive, Ho Iat Seng emphasised Macao's dedication to scientific innovation and education advancement, particularly its active participation in the "Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao" innovation corridor.
He called for greater collaboration between Macao and the global scientific community to attract top talent, foster emerging industries, and enhance the region's competitiveness.
On the other hand, Nobel laureate Barry J. Marshall shared his decade-long connection with Shenzhen and his collaborative activities in the GBA, expressing optimism about deepening its partnerships in the future.
Additionally, the forum also featured keynote speeches on topics such as emerging productivity, open science, carbon neutrality, artificial intelligence, and life sciences, providing fresh perspectives on technological innovation in the GBA and beyond.
-- BERNAMA
