Professor Sun Dong Strengthens Hong Kong-Slovakia Ties Through Innovation and Technology Collaboration

SITI commences visit to Slovakia

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, commences his visit to Bratislava, Slovakia, in the afternoon of September 22 (Bratislava time).

Professor Sun met with the Minister of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, Mr Samuel Migal’, and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest. Professor Sun said that Hong Kong is keenly interested in strengthening ties with the fast-growing Central and Eastern European region, including the Slovak Republic. The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science, Research and Innovation, signed in April 2025 by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Slovak Republic Government, has laid an important institutional foundation. He looks forward to enhancing collaboration of enterprises, start-ups, higher education institutions, and research institutes in both places. He was briefed on the Slovak development in AI and smart city. The Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic in Hong Kong, Mr Willy Lin, also attended the meeting.

Professor Sun then met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency, Mr Egon Zorad, to learn about the Agency’s professional services in promoting investments and invite Slovak enterprises to establish operations in Hong Kong. Under the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, the Agency is Slovakia’s national agency responsible for promoting foreign investments and handling foreign business affairs, tasked with attracting foreign investments, promoting foreign trade, and assisting the internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises.

On September 23, Professor Sun met with the State Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister for the Recovery Plan and Knowledge Economy of the Slovak Republic, Ms Alena Sabelová, to learn about the latest development of Slovakia in innovation and technology (I&T) areas including AI and robotics industry, start-ups ecosystem and traditional industry and the relevant policies. Professor Sun said that Hong Kong, with unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle, serves as an important gateway connecting the world and the Chinese Mainland and is striving to develop into an international I&T centre. He said that there is an immense opportunity for collaboration between Hong Kong and Slovakia. Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science, Research and Innovation between the two governments, Professor Sun expects the enhanced exchanges between scientific research institutes, scientific and technological talent and enterprises in both places, and the promotion of co-operation in scientific research and innovation as well as the transfer of technology and innovation outcomes, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of the two places.

Professor Sun then visited the Slovak National Innovation and Technology Centre, which was converted from a large shopping outlet. Professor Sun learned about the centre’s efforts in combining the strengths of the Government, academia and research institutions as well as the industry to promote technology transfer, industrial innovation and commercial applications, with a focus on sustainable growth and production process modernisation. The centre signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hong Kong Productivity Council in September 2025 to forge closer ties in I&T development, while facilitating talent nurturing and enterprises to go global.

In the afternoon, Professor Sun visited the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, which is the country’s leading modern research university dedicated to technical, engineering, and architectural disciplines. He was briefed about the university’s industrial partnerships, intellectual property commercialisation, technology transfer ecosystems, and strategic institutional development projects.

Professor Sun also visited Innovatrics to learn about its latest research and development technologies and business development. Headquartered in Bratislava, Slovakia, Innovatrics is an independent, European-based provider of trusted biometric identity management solutions.

After concluding his visit that day, Professor Sun proceeded to Vienna, Austria, in the late afternoon to continue his visit.

Healthcare workers and patients unite in Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, public hospitals have thoughtfully organised a range of celebratory activities for patients and their carers. While patients may be unable to return home during the festive period, the company of healthcare workers, fellow patients and volunteers ensures that patients can still taste the warmth of togetherness during the festive season.

The healthcare workers of psychiatry at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital recently joined the Hospital Authority Chinese Orchestra to host a concert titled “Melodious Tunes to Welcome Mid-Autumn” within the hospital. Traditional Chinese music followed by a saxophone performance brought a harmonious blend of East and West, delivering festive blessings to mental health recovery patients and their carers.

Cheshire Home, Shatin, also organised a celebration gathering for long-stay residents and their families ahead of the festival. The venue was decorated with lanterns as well as moon and rabbit motifs. The healthcare workers and volunteers presented patients with seasonal fruits, while specially prepared soft mooncakes were individually fed to patients with swallowing difficulties.

Patient volunteers at Tuen Mun Hospital crafted hundreds of delicate snow-skin mooncake ornaments which served as a token of care to patients and visitors, offering the experience of festive joy even within hospital walls. Through these little gifts, the hospital wishes to foster a vibrant festive atmosphere throughout the hospital.

The Hospital Authority wishes members of the public a joyful Mid-Autumn Festival, and all patients a speedy recovery.