Successful cases

In recent years, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has actively enhanced the technological standards of our electrical and mechanical (E&M) services by effectively applying artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to E&M facilities and services. The effort aims to provide clients with more efficient and diverse E&M solutions, thereby improving their operational efficiency. The E&M I&T Day this year is dedicated to demonstrating and advocating the application of AI, apart from promoting the development of innovation and technology (I&T) as in previous years. 

Organised by the EMSD, with support from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the E&M I&T Day 2024 was successfully held from 9 to 10 July at the Hong Kong Science Park. With the theme of “AI Application in the E&M Industry”, the event this year brought together 19 I&T partners to showcase and exchange AI solutions applicable to the E&M sector, promoting industry collaboration and jointly fostering the development of new technologies.

The E&M I&T Day 2024 was held over two days, featuring seminars, exhibitions and technical visits. On the first day of the event, the thematic seminar showcased a diverse array of AI application solutions presented by various exhibitors, encouraging professional exchanges among the industry. Topics spanned equipment maintenance, large facility management, public service applications and smart energy solutions. In addition, representatives from various government departments, public organisations, the E&M and I&T sectors, as well as tertiary institutions shared their experience in applying AI in the E&M industry and demonstrated the achievements of their technological applications through exhibition booths.

On the second day of the event, the organiser arranged technical visits for participants to tour designated exhibition halls and laboratories at the Hong Kong Science Park and the University of Hong Kong. The two-day event received enthusiastic support, with around 350 participants on site and approximately 15 000 views on the online streaming platform. Through the above engagement activities, the EMSD actively implemented Strategy four, ”Strengthening Innovative Collaboration between Stakeholders”, set out in the third Five-year Strategic Plan of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund (the third Plan), in order to promote the sustainable development of the E&M industry, uplift industry standards and achieve a win-win situation with all stakeholders.

The launching ceremony of the E&M InnoCatalogue was among the highlights of the E&M I&T Day this year. On the occasion, the EMSD officially announced the launch of the E&M InnoCatalogue on the E&M InnoPortal to showcase to the industry and the public I&T solutions that have been successfully tested by the EMSD and hold the potential for commercialisation, with a view to facilitating wider application of innovative E&M technologies and integration of them into the marketplace. The E&M InnoCatalogue enables relevant stakeholders to browse I&T solutions and find the ones that suit their needs more efficiently, and to engage in technical exchange and knowledge sharing. This not only fosters I&T collaboration and drives industry development but also supports development and the realisation of carbon neutrality. At the same time, this initiative aligns with Strategy one, “Providing Customer-oriented Innovative Services”, set out in the third Plan, as it assists clients in implementing innovative solutions to enhance service quality.

Speaking at the opening of the event, Mr Richard Chan, the then Deputy Director/Trading Services of the EMSD, remarked that the EMSD, being the Innovation Facilitator of the Government, fully supports the Government’s policy in promoting I&T development and leverages innovative technologies to enhance services in support of the national initiatives of promoting “new quality productive forces” and “AI Plus”.

In the future, the EMSD will continue to strengthen collaboration with clients, the industry, partners, the Greater Bay Area and overseas organisations, so as to help various stakeholders understand the development and application of I&T, enable the adoption and facilitate the implementation of I&T solutions in real life, thereby enhancing public services for community betterment.