(Hong Kong, 8 June 2010) Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) today announced the establishment of an Intellectual Property (IP) search engine, providing a centralized search capability to locate the latest information on IP listings of local universities. Found within the HKSTPC website (iplist.hkstp.org), the initiative is aimed at encouraging the transfer of technology from academia to industry and ultimately turning the R&D efforts of local universities into practical commercial applications.
Administered by HKSTPC, the search engine features the top research universities in Hong Kong: The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Close to 1,500 IPs are already listed on the platform and the listing will be updated quarterly. Such a user-friendly search engine will allow innovators and the industry to conveniently access information on IPs founded by Hong Kong participant universities, which are gaining global recognition for their inventiveness and contributions to technology advancement.
Mr E. Anthony Tan, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTPC, said, “The IP search engine intends to promote the value of IP as well as encourage innovation, which is one of Hong Kong’s greatest assets. We are truly excited by this major collaboration between academia and industry, and we look forward to working more closely with our university partners to help expedite the commercialisation of technologies and the growth of a knowledge-based economy in Hong Kong.”
Mr Allen Yeung, Vice-President, Business Development and Technology Support, HKSTPC, added, “We have had good IP licensing success stories where Hong Kong industries collaborate with universities. For example, Dunwell Enviro-tech (Holdings) Ltd licensed wastewater purification technology from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and successfully turned into profitable commercial operations and won Hong Kong Awards for Industries - Technological Achievement Grand Award in 2008. Through this centralized IP search engine, we aim to promote even more successes through such collaborations.”
The powerful yet user-friendly search engine allows for easy or advanced searches. In the case of the former, the user simply has to type a keyword, while in the latter, information such as title, abstract, inventor name and patent number can be inputted. The IPs are grouped into six categories, namely, Engineering & Industrial Technologies; Telecom & IT; Physics, Chemistry, Materials & Surface Science; Life Science; Architecture, Building & Construction; and Others. Search results include application title, filing/patent location, filing/application number, abstract and the university’s contact information, enabling users to directly reach relevant parties.
