On the morning of September 24, 2017,“InnoTech EXPO 2017”- Exhibition of Chinese Civilization and STI Achievements was held in Hong Kong. The expo was organized by Our Hong Kong Foundation, with support from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Innovation and Technology Bureau, the Education Bureau and the Home Affairs Bureau of Hong Kong, and Education and Science Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People‘s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). CPPCC Vice Chairman and Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang attended and addressed the Expo. The opening ceremony was also attended by Tung Chee-hwa, CPPCC Vice Chairman & Chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation, Carrie LAM CHENG Yuet-ngor, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, Chen Ning Yang, Nobel Prize laureate in physics, Huang Liuquan, Deputy Director of the Office of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the State Council, Tan Tieniu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, Zhang Jie, Vice President of CAS, Wang Weizhong, Party Secretary of Shenzhen Municipality, Wu Haiying, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of China Association for Science and Technology, He Minghong, Vice President of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Lau Kong-wah, Secretary for Home Affairs of Hong Kong, Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung, Secretary for Innovation and Technology of Hong Kong, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Secretary for Education of Hong Kong, Fanny LAW FAN Chiu Fun, Chairperson of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Lap-Chee Tsui, President of the Academy of Sciences of Hong Kong, and representatives from the science, technology and business circles.

In his address, Minister Wan Gang remarked that the Chinese civilization has a long and glorious history and the Chinese science and technology (S&T) civilization is long-standing and enjoys great fame in the world. From ancient to modern times, the innovation and development of S&T in China fully shows that S&T is the cornerstone of national prosperity and innovation is the soul of national progress. InnoTech Expo 2017 organized by Our Hong Kong Foundation embodies Hong Kong compatriots’ strenuous efforts for excellence and innovation. In his address, Minister Wan Gang elaborated on the overall framework and main goals of China‘s science, technology and innovation (STI) development, looked back at the tremendous STI achievements accomplished by the country in recent years, and explained the overall thinking behind China’s innovation-driven development strategy. Minister Wan Gang stressed that Hong Kong is a global STI center with outstanding advantages in STI development, and is fully qualified to build itself into a more influential STI cluster in the world. Finally, Minister Wan Gang made three suggestions on promoting mainland-Hong Kong STI cooperation: firstly, seize development opportunities and build innovation networks; secondly, pay attention to youth and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship; and thirdly, refine cooperation mechanisms to promote STI.“InnoTech EXPO 2017”- Exhibition of Chinese Civilization and STI Achievements was divided into five exhibition areas, including three theme exhibition areas of “Astronomy”, “Informatics” and “Oceanography”, and “Light of Hong Kong” and“Interactive Exhibition Area”. Taking the development of Chinese S&T in the past 5,000 years as the main line and displaying both ancient S&T inventions and modern STI results, the Expo presented a systematic showcase of China’s ancient S&T achievements and corresponding STI achievements today, showing 5,000 years of Chinese S&T development and progress. During the exhibition, 5 expert forums, 2 theme events, 25 popular science lectures, 35 maker demonstrations, 36 science shows, 164 science movies, and 2 InnoTech parent-child events were also held.

The Expo was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with an exhibition space of 9,000m2. The exhibition was officially opened to the public on the afternoon of September 24 and lasted until October 2, with visitors estimated to exceed 100,000 person-times.