Mearsk Logistics, a part of the AP Moller Maersk Group, is teaming up with a number of industry leaders to establish a supply chain innovation centre (SCIC) at the Hong Kong Science Park in Shatin.

The project is being undertaken by Maersk Logistics together with Cisco, the Metro Group and PCCW Solutions plus five other companies.

Jointly initiated by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Co-operation (HKSTP) and GS1 Hong Kong, the 3,000-square-feet SCIC is a supply chain enabling technology centre that is designed to showcase Electronic Product CodeTM/Radio Frequency Identification (EPC/RFID) integrated solutions from around the world.

"Maersk Logistics, as a founding member of the supply chain innovation centre in Hong Kong, has been active users of RFID technology through the RFID Core Competence Centre (CCC) established in 2004, and this initiative will further support RFID development in the market, especially here in Asia," said Steffen Schiottz-Christensen, managing director of Maersk Logistics China.

"Our customers rightfully expect that we deploy the most up-to-date technology, such as RFID, to improve their supply-chains. It has been a positive experience for Maersk Logistics to cooperate with SCIC and we believe this co-operation will enhance our ability to deliver improved supply chain visibility and optimisation to our customers through continuous innovation."

Maersk Logistics said in a statement it is among the first logistics operators to pilot EPC/RFID technology participation in the Hong Kong EPCnetwork Project, which has demonstrated the technical feasibility, applications and value propositions of EPC/RFIC technology to track and trace product data moving from China to world markets via Hong Kong for Maersk's client (Target Stores and Mark International).

The SCIC is intended to provide a focal platform for professionals in supply chain management deploying EPC-standards-based RFID development and application activities. Adopting EPC/RFID technology to improve supply chain management is expected to help foster closer economic integration with Hong Kong and China's manufacturing base in the Pearl River Delta, and bolster the region's economic competitiveness.