Sinopharm Tech Holdings Limited announced that on 1 September 2020, the Group, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries ("FHKI") and the Vocational Training Council ("VTC") signed a memorandum of understanding to launch the course "Smart Manufacturing Training Programme for Personal Protection Equipment Industry" (the "SMT Programme"). To support the employee development training in advanced technology, the HKSAR Government launched the Reindustrialization and Technology Training Programme ("RTTP") under the Technology Talent Scheme while the SMT Programme will be under the RTTP, and the SMT Programme will provide practitioners in the personal protection equipment industry with both theoretical and practical training.

The SMT Programme will include practical operation know-how on automated mask production lines and mechanical assembly, and the introduction of new technologies to improve production quality under the trend of digital transformation, such as an overview of Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence production monitoring system, remote data collection and analysis of Industrial Internet of Things, etc. In addition, the SMT Programme will also cover Hong Kong "Q-Mark" Scheme and related international standards of testing knowledge and certification.

With the advent of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-2019), there is a strong demand for personal protective equipment such as masks and has led to the emergence of the local personal protection equipment manufacturing industry in Hong Kong. However, the large professional talent gap and insufficient technical support in the industry have become major challenges for the industry. Through training programmes on production, processing, and quality monitoring, the practitioners will be able to put theory into practice to effectively ensure the efficiency and quality of the manufacturing process. The knowledge from the education chain of smart manufacturing of personal protection equipment manufacturing industry continually benefits the practitioners, while this continuous supply of professional talents to the market will help to further Hong Kong's reindustrialization.

As a pioneer in the local personal protective equipment manufacturing industry in Hong Kong, the Group's practical experience and technical resources can be learned from and be used for reference, by industry participants or potential entrants through the courses. This will help accelerate the overall improvement to the management and production excellence of the industry. The Group will become closer to other industry participants and can work and grow together to build the personal protective equipment manufacturing industry. This will also help to increase the Group's participation and prestige in the industry, and enhance the Group's brand value.