Everbright Environment and HKSTP Sign Collaboration Agreement to Launch Green Technology Incubation and Commercialisation Platform, Deploying Technological Innovation with a Focus on Hong Kong

31 August 2021, Hong Kong – China Everbright Environment Group Limited ("Everbright Environment" or the "Company") (SEHK: 257) today entered into a collaboration agreement with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation ("HKSTP") to launch a green technology incubation and commercialisation platform (the "Platform") in Hong Kong to support the development of start-ups in the industry, in a bid to jointly foster the development of green technological innovation in the city.

Mr. Wang Tianyi, Chairman of the board of Everbright Environment; Mr. Luan Zusheng, CEO of Everbright Environment; Mr. Alfred Sit Wing-hang, JP, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("HKSAR Government"); Mr. Michael Lui Hok Leung, Assistant Director (Waste Infrastructure Planning Division) of Environmental Protection Department, HKSAR Government; Mr. Albert Wong Hak-Keung, CEO of HKSTP; Ms. Marjorie Yang Mun-Tak, Member of Chief Executive's Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development; and Mr. Du Yonghai, General Manager for the Green Living and Innovation of the Hong Kong Productivity Council attended the ceremony and witnessed the agreement signing. At the signing ceremony, Mr. Wang Tianyi, Mr. Alfred Sit Wing-hang, Mr. Albert Wong Hak-Keung and Ms. Marjorie Yang Mun-Tak delivered speeches to congratulate and express their expectations for the establishment of the Platform. Mr. Luan Zusheng and Mr. Albert Wong Hak-Keung signed the collaboration agreements on behalf of their companies.

Pursuant to the aforementioned agreement, Everbright Environment and HKSTP will support the incubation and commercialisation of relevant scientific research and technologies in the areas of green technology, clean energy, electronic information technology, precision engineering and bio technology. With more than 500 environmental protection projects, Everbright Environment will offer a variety of scientific research collaboration and business exchange activities to qualified start-ups enrolled in HKSTP's incubation initiatives ("HKSTP Start-ups"), such as technical consulting and business collaboration discussion. In addition, with business presence and entities in over 200 locations across mainland China, Hong Kong and overseas markets, the Company will provide technical support to selected HKSTP Start-ups, including real-world testing and demonstration of their respective research and development ("R&D") results. HKSTP will provide furnished office spaces, world-class R&D equipment and lab services to support those start-ups.

Mr. Wang Tianyi, Chairman of the board of Everbright Environment, said, "The strategic collaboration between Everbright Environment and HKSTP creates an important multi-win situation for both parties and technology start-ups in Hong Kong. Having built its presence in the areas of environment, resources, and energy for more than a decade, Everbright Environment has grown into a world-renowned and China's largest environmental enterprise, with extensive experience in project investment, R&D, application and commercialisation of green technology, as well as operation and management. We look forward to leveraging on the Platform to further collaborate with HKSTP in providing professional, and pragmatic advice and support to local green technology start-ups, in an endeavor to help them better promote the availability, accessibility and commercialisation of their innovative technologies. With green technological innovation as the starting point, Everbright Environment aims to be further committed to Hong Kong and to deploy its green business in the city in line with its recently proposed ‘5G' development model, namely green finance, green investment, green innovation, green manufacturing and the green Belt and Road, with a view to becoming a committed participant and an active contributor to Hong Kong's green and sustainable development."

Mr. Alfred Sit Wing-hang, JP, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Government of the HKSAR Government, said in his speech that it was a pleasure to attend the signing ceremony for the collaboration agreement between Everbright Environment and HKSTP, witnessing an important progress in Hong Kong's green technology development. With a focus on green technologies, the Platform jointly launched by Everbright Environment and HKSTP is expected to nurture more green technology developments, which echoes relevant needs in Hong Kong, China and worldwide, leading to a multi-win situation. He looked forward to fruitful collaboration between the two companies.

Mr. Albert Wong Hak-Keung, CEO of HKSTP, said, "HKSTP has been committed to driving sustainable and green technology development, as well as contributing to the improvement of the quality of Hong Kong's living environment. There are approximately 40 green technology start-ups and partner companies in the Hong Kong Science Park, covering environmentally friendly lithium battery technology, air purification technology, renewable energy applications and electric vehicles. We will support companies across their various stages of growth and enable them to use the park as a living laboratory to test their solutions. With access to extensive laboratory infrastructure and a technical support centre, park companies can now develop and test green scientific research solutions and reduce time to market. HKSTP is very pleased to strengthen its cooperation with Everbright Environment to jointly establish a green technology incubation and commercialisation platform, accelerate the growth of green technology enterprises, and continuously fuel the development of green industries in China and globally. Together with Everbright Environment, we strive to bring innovative solutions in green technology to the international market."

Ms. Marjorie Yang Mun-Tak, Member of Chief Executive's Council of Advisers on Innovation and Strategic Development, said in her speech that it was an honor to witness the signing ceremony for the collaboration agreement between Everbright Environment and HKSTP, further enhancing their industrial-academic collaboration in the area of green technology, which is one of HKSTP's five major development areas. Given that technology companies in the Hong Kong Science Park have strong demands in commercialisation of innovative technologies, and Everbright Environment has strong market resources, the collaboration will bear fruitful results in the future.

Everbright Environment has been actively integrating resources relating to green technological innovation in recent years and continues to drive technological innovation. Since the establishment of China Everbright Green Technology Innovation Research Institute in the Hong Kong Science Park in 2019, the Company has gradually established the "Four-in-One" technological innovation and R&D layout with platforms in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Nanjing and Qingdao. The Company leverages its envirotech sector as the main technological innovation platform to promote relevant technology R&D and innovation across its traditional and new businesses, as well as in its future development. The sector also complements the strategic transformation and structural optimisation of the Company, accelerating Everbright Environment's development. The Company also strives to become a world-class platform dedicated to green technological innovation and commercialisation of technology research results.

The event was attended by representatives from the Innovation and Technology Bureau of the HKSAR Government, the Environmental Protection Department of the HKSAR Government, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Everbright Environment, Esquel Group, China Shandong Hi-speed Financial Group, the University of Hong Kong, and the City University of Hong Kong.