More than 30 million yuan (US$3.75 million) will be allocated this year for a joint technology innovation and development program between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, Shenzhen's technology and information bureau said at a conference on Wednesday.

The fund, contributed equally by the two cities, will mainly be used to sponsor companies, universities and research centers listed as part of the planned program, said Zhou Jianjun, a spokesman for the bureau. The Shenzhen municipal government will contribute 30 million yuan.

The bureau has also confirmed that an integrated professional database between the two cities will be created.

"We are expecting to found an organization with officers from both sides to build up long-term communications on technology innovation issues," he said.

Other measures include regular visits by officials from the labor education and training departments, high-tech industrial parks and universities on both sides.

The idea of cooperation in technology innovation between the two cities was first advocated by the Shenzhen municipal government last year and a blueprint was drawn earlier this year.

Currently, there are some 200 Shenzhen companies that are in talks with six medium-scale research and development centers in Hong Kong about possible cooperation.

Five Hong Kong universities have recently set up offices at the Shenzhen virtual university park, and an institute focusing on development between Shenzhen and Hong Kong was also set up by Peking University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in the Shenzhen High-tech Park in April.

Statistics provided by the local checkpoints show that the two cities have a close link with more than 440,000 commuters traveling between Shenzhen and Hong Kong on a daily basis.

(Shenzhen Daily June 22, 2006)