Successful Conclusion of HKRITA Forum “Partners for Progress”

In the face of complex issues such as global climate change and resource scarcity, it is necessary to gather knowledge and perspectives from different professionals to tackle them. The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) invited experts from a range of industries to its forum "Partners for Progress" on 6 September. Experts shared how partnerships enable them to be more competitive and respond quickly to the fast-changing market and society demands.

In the welcoming remarks, Ms Teresa Yang, Chairman of HKRITA pointed out that we need to work together not only across our own value chains, but also work broadly with different stakeholders from adjacent industries, researchers, academia, and policy makers, among others. The collaboration helps to create a progressive atmosphere and a better business environment.

Ms Teresa Yang, Chairman of HKRITA, thanks industrial partners for their long-term support to HKRITA

Dr Delman Lee, Vice Chair, TAL Apparel Limited, mentions how companies progress through cross-industry collaboration and sharing of resources

 

Partnership x Success

A number of industry leaders shared their experiences of successful collaboration. Dr Delman Lee, Vice Chair of TAL Apparel Limited, introduced the concept of open innovation and its application in business. He cited multiple successful cases of joining forces within and outside the industry. Prof Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, pointed out the importance of engaging different stakeholders in the process of promoting innovative solutions. Two examples were quoted: one is fostering the use of bio-degradable containers in university canteens, and the other is the implementation of the voluntary initiative Fair Winds Charter which encourages ocean-going vessels to switch to clean diesel when berthed in Hong Kong. The success of these cases lies in effective communication with different stakeholders.

Mr Massimiliano Tropeano, Sustainability Expert of GIZ Integrated Expert in EuroCham, shared his experience of engaging various stakeholders along the value chain such as governments and private organisations and leveraging each other’s networks and expertise to foster the sustainability of the textiles and clothing industry. One example he cited is a feasibility study of setting up HKRITA’s recycling facility Green Machine in Cambodia. Mr Walter van Hattum, Head of the Trade and Economic Section of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao, gave an account at the policy level on how to create a market environment favourable for the sustainable development of society.

Prof Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, shares successful collaboration case studies between academic institution and local start-up

Mr Massimiliano Tropeano, Sustainability Expert of GIZ Integrated Expert in EuroCham, talks about his insights on promoting the recycling facility Green Machine in a textiles producing country

Mr Walter van Hattum, Head of the Trade and Economic Section of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao, updates the audience on EU regulations and encourages the participants to tackle environment and climate challenges together

 

Mrs Brooke Roberts-Islam, Founder of a sustainability and innovation consultancy Techstyler, stated that the fashion industry should be more proactive in explaining their works in sustainability to the general public so as to seek collaboration with different disciplines. Mr Li Nan, Vice President of China Resources Enterprise Limited, introduced the three R&D focuses of China Resources Research Institute of Science and Technology, namely life and health, intelligence and digitalisation, and new materials. He also shared their latest developments in Hong Kong. Mr Yohei Konakajima, Senior Manager of Epson Hong Kong Limited, introduced Epson’s commitment to create a sustainable environment by making use of innovative technologies.

Mrs Brooke Roberts-Islam, Founder of Techstyler, urges the industry to be more proactive in moving towards closed-loop production

Mr Li Nan, Vice President of China Resources Enterprise Limited, says that China Resources Research Institute of Science and Technology will become a platform gathering I&T talents from universities, research institutes, and R&D enterprises in the mainland and overseas

Mr Yohei Konakajima, Senior Manager of Epson Hong Kong Limited, introduces Epson’s latest project of using digital printing in textiles production

 

HKRITA x Partners

HKRITA’s partners also shared their collaboration experience with HKIRTA through a video interview. Mrs Christiane Dolva, Strategy Lead Planet Positive of H&M Foundation, recalled that their collaboration with HKRITA began in 2016. She talked about the shared goal of the two organisations - to develop technologies at speed, inspire action and scale with collaboration. Mr Fatih Konukoglu, Chief Executive Officer of ISKO, and Mr Ozgur Atsan, the company’s Circularity and Sustainable Operations Director, detailed how they adopted HKRITA’s Green Machine and their own technologies to foster circular production.

Mrs Christiane Dolva, Strategy Lead Planet Positive of H&M Foundation, mentions that their organisation has been supporting R&D works to promote “planet positive”

Mr Fatih Konukoglu, Chief Executive Officer of ISKO, looks forward to strengthening collaboration with HKRITA to speed up the recycling of PET garments

 

Mr Windson Rao, Chairman and Co-founder of Fast Fish Apparel Company Limited, a casual clothing brand in the mainland, gave an account of the process to set up the green fashion brand The Common Ground in Hong Kong with HKRITA and the production of its winter collection made of HKRITA’s far-infrared functional fibres.

Mr Windson Rao (left), Chairman and Co-founder of Fast Fish Apparel Company Limited, and Mr Edwin Keh (right), CEO of HKRITA, exchange ideas on product development

Mr Simon Wong, Chief Executive Officer of LSCM, indicates that the LSCM-HKRITA collaboration supports the re-industrialisation and environmental sustainability policies in Hong Kong

 

Open Lab is HKRITA’s latest initiative to scale through collaboration. Ms Clara Tse, Senior Manager, Research Project Design of HKRITA, explained that the Open Lab welcomes parties from different sectors to develop agile solutions that can address climate change.

Mr Simon Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM), shared how their robotic arms technologies facilitate the automation of the Open Lab. This partnership between the two centres, by combining their own expertise, helps drive the re-industrialisation of Hong Kong.

Mr Edwin Keh, CEO of HKRITA, concluded the forum by highlighting the benefits of cross-discipline collaboration. He urged that each party works together to benefit from innovation achievement. He also reminded that the industry can make use of Hong Kong’s global network to create new solutions, new business models and new values.

The “Partners for Progress” forum is our third in-person sharing session in 2023 and attracted over 220 attendees.

Ms Clara Tse, Senior Manager, Research Project Design of HKRITA, encourages the industry to join the Open Lab and tap its resources

Mr Edwin Keh concludes the forum by summarising the advantages of cross-industry partnership

Speakers exchange views with audiences

HKRITA showcases products and technololgies co-developed with its partners

HKRITA introduces sustainable work at the annual fashion exhibition CENTERSTAGE by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council held concurrently with the forum