MiCLab
The University of Hong Kong
HKU signs MoU with Building Technology Research Institute (BTRi) (established by Development Bureau, HKSAR Government)
The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn (centre); and the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau (fifth right), witnessing the signing of memoranda of understanding by the Building Technology Research Institute, the Guangdong Provincial Academy of Building Research, the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore, the University of Hong Kong (third left, Prof Wei Pan), the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, at the Summit
The Development Bureau (DEVB) of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government hosted the International Infrastructure and Projects Leaders Summit on 15 November 2024, bringing together more than 500 major infrastructure project leaders and experts in infrastructure from over 20 countries and economies around the globe, including senior government officials from Mainland and overseas countries, and representatives of renowned international organisations such as the World Economic Forum and International Institute for Management Development, to delve into the strategies and policies of infrastructure delivery plans, and addressed the challenges and opportunities in implementing mega infrastructure projects under the theme of Strategic Leadership in Managing Complexity and Uncertainty in Infrastructure Delivery.
The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, addressing the Summit
The Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Ricky Lau, delivering his keynote presentation at the Summit
Organiser and VIP guests at the summit
The event featured a series of keynote presentations and three plenary sessions, gathering prominent infrastructure leaders and experts from various sectors worldwide, including government, academia, construction and finance, to share the latest initiatives and challenges facing infrastructure development. The three plenary sessions included the themes entitled "The Next Growth Curve", "Powerful Partnerships", and "Building Tomorrow". Professor Pan Wei, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Executive Director of the Centre for Innovation in Construction and Infrastructure Development (CICID), and Director of the Modular Integrated Construction Laboratory (MiCLab), was invited as a panelist for the third plenary session. He shared HKU CICID's frontier research achievements in smart construction and sustainable infrastructure development, in particular, the Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) and Infrastructure Sustainability Assessment Tool (iSAT). Also, he highlighted: “Innovation and digital technologies are rapidly changing the infrastructure construction industry, it is critical to integrate multi-discipline and strengthen government-university-industry collaboration to harness innovation and digital technology to reshape infrastructure development, driving the industry to achieve greater efficiency and sustainability”.
Prof Wei Pan spoke at the plenary session of the summit
To drive innovative applications in the construction industry, DEVB established the Building Technology Research Institute (BTRi) in August this year. At the summit, the BTRi signed memoranda of understanding (MoU) with the Guangdong Provincial Academy of Building Research, the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore, and three local universities, namely the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. These MoU would expand the collaboration network of the BTRi for the promotion of innovative applications in the construction industry. BTRi focuses on promoting applied research and development (R&D), reviewing and uplifting standards, as well as providing accreditation, certification and testing. It launched the Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) Manufacturer Accreditation Scheme on 15 November 2024 to promote the application and technology development of MiC in Hong Kong, which would consolidate Hong Kong's leading position in the international leadership of MiC technology. HKU will work closely with BTRi to promote the R&D and application of innovative construction technologies, together enhancing the industry productivity, cost-effectiveness and site safety performance and addressing the critical challenges of the Hong Kong infrastructure development and construction industry.
Mou Singing Ceremony for the BTRi and GDABR, BCA (singapore), HKU (first left), HKUST and PolyU
Source:
Development Bureau, HKSAR Government https://www.devb.gov.hk/sc/sdev/press/index_id_13987.html