Press Release

[Hong Kong, 29 November 2016] Eight teams of young, creative entrepreneurs received acknowledgement as ‘successful graduates’ at the graduation ceremony of ASTRI Innovation Runway (AIR) held on Monday, 28 November 2016. Organised by Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and sponsored by Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government and Microsoft Hong Kong, the AIR platform offers one-stop comprehensive pre-incubation support to young technology entrepreneurs with innovative ideas.

The graduating entrepreneurs were joined at the ceremony by Mr Wong Ming-yam, BBS, JP – Chairperson of ASTRI Board of Directors, Dr Franklin Tong Fuk-kay – ASTRI CEO, Ms Joelle Woo – Director of Business Development and Developer Experience at Microsoft, and Mr Peter Mok – Head of Incubation Programmes at Hong Kong Science and Technology Park.

In his speech, ASTRI CEO Dr Tong congratulated the students for their enterprising spirit and the feat they’ve accomplished. He stressed that in today’s knowledge-driven economy, “we need to do more to advance applied scientific research in Hong Kong in order to contribute more to development of the city, our country, and the region as a whole.”

Since being launched in August 2015, the AIR programme received a total of 206 applications from aspiring start-up entrepreneurs. Multiple rounds of reviews, screening and assessments led to six and two projects being finally chosen to receive comprehensive pre-incubation support from ASTRI including skills training, coaching and mentoring, access to ASTRI labs and other resources, exposure to industry stakeholders and partners, visits to eminent business premises, and introduction to the commercial space. The programme also included training, workshops and other technical support from Microsoft Hong Kong.

The eight teams – comprising a total of 20 members – who graduated at the ceremony presented demonstrations of their business model as well as products and/or services. Over the period of their pre-incubation, these fellows of this programme received a monthly fellowship award of HKD 9,000 as start-up support. They are also allowed to utilise ASTRI’s technology solutions and patents for commercialisation upon graduation.

One behalf of the participants, Michelle Lui – Air Fellow from team Recipio – singled out the fact that “this programme transformed us from struggling undergraduates to confident start-up entrepreneurs who can now dare to dream.” She acknowledged the role played by the mentorship, practical field trips and access to funds in their journey.

Dr Vincent Lau, Director of Intelligent Software and System of ASTRI– one of the programme mentors – commented that “The programme offered various support to the young entrepreneurs, allowing them to focus on the technology development and realize their innovative ideas. If there was any similar program back in my days, it would definitely smooth out my bumpy and grumpy entrepreneurship journey.”

The ideas materialised by these teams are:

1. Trops: A wearable device and app enabling cost-effective motion capture and analysis
2. RECIPIO: An app to issue digital receipts customers at retail stores
3. VRPose: A real-time posture/position estimation system and a virtual reality theme park
4. hk: On-line venue booking platform that enables release of unutilised space
5. eScooter: An original idea of a lightweight, portable and foldable electric scooter
6. Locavel: App platform that facilitates interaction and exchange between students and locals
7. MiniMaps: Precise indoor navigation system that interacts with preinstalled beacon devices
8. MyParents: Social enterprise that enables people to take better, closer care of elderly parents

The programme was supported by an advisory panel which included: Dr Meikei Ieong, Chief Technology Officer of ASTRI, Dr Justin Chuang, Vice President, Next Generation Network of ASTRI, Dr Duncan Wong, Vice President, Financial Technologies of ASTRI, Dr Andrew Chan, Director, Executive MBA Program, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Dr Jack Lau, Former Chief Marketing Officer of ASTRI. In addition, the entrepreneurs’ teams were coached and mentored by domain experts.

More information on each of these teams – including their project details – can be found on the http://air.astri.org/news/

About ASTRI

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research. ASTRI’s core R&D competences in various areas are organised under seven Technology Divisions, namely Communications Technologies, Electronics Components, IC Design (Analog), IC Design (Digital), Opto-electronics, Security and Data Sciences, and Intelligent Software and Systems. Five areas of applications including financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, next generation network, health technologies, and smart city are identified for major pursuit. For further information about ASTRI, please visit www.astri.org

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more.

Group photo with Mr Wong Ming-yam (6^th from right), BBS, JP, Chairman of Board of Directors of ASTRI, Dr Frank Tong (5^th from right), Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, R&D experts of ASTRI, mentors of AIR programme, and graduates of AIR Programme.

Mr Wong Ming-yam (1^st from right), BBS, JP, Chairman of Board of Directors of ASTRI and Dr Frank Tong (^1st from left), Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI present certificate to acknowledge the ‘successful graduates’ of AIR fellows at the graduation ceremony.

Members of RECIPIO present thank you card to Dr. Andrew Wat, one of the programme mentors.

Media enquiries:

Ms Cherry Au               Tel : (852) 3406 2993              Email : [email protected]

– END –

Mr. Ma Shu, Inspector of Guangzhou Science Technology and Innovation Commission led a delegation of 40 persons to ASTRI on 24 November 2016. Dr. Frank Tong, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. YK Li, Senior Director, IC Design (Digital) and Ms. Tina Yang, Senior Manager, Business Development of ASTRI extended a warm welcome to them. The delegates were given an introduction of ASTRI’s background, latest technologies and new facilities such as Naked-eye 3D technology, blockchain technology, Intelligent Head-up Display and Cyber Range Laboratory.

 

 

By the invitation of 5G Technology Programme Office under the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan, Dr. Ieong Meikei, Chief Technology Officer and Dr. Justin Chuang, Vice President, Next Generation Network of ASTRI visited National Taiwan University (NTU), Institute for Information Industry (III) and Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) from 16-17 November 2016. They shared ASTRI’s R&D results and introduced its 5G testbed to the three organisations. They also had in-depth discussions on collaboration opportunities.

35 delegates from Guangdong Foreign Science and Technology Exchange Center visited ASTRI on 23 November 2016.  They were warmly received by Dr. Frank Tong, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ieong Meikei, Chief Technology Officer and Dr. Justin Chuang, Vice President, Next Generation Network.  The delegates were briefed on R & D projects conducted by Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Application Specific Integrated Circuit System (Hong Kong Branch) and Next Generation Network Laboratory.

From left: Dr. Ieong Meikei, Dr. Justin Chuang, Mr. Fang Shaowen, Director of Songshan Lake Science & Technology Innovation Bureau, Dr. Frank Tong, Mr. Luo Shaoling, Bureau Chief of Guangdong Qingyuan Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone Science and Technology Bureau, and Ms. Brenda Lee from Hong Kong Productivity Council.

Dr. Thomas Liu, Vice President, Intelligent Manufacturing and Dr. CJ Tsai, Director, Opto-electronics of ASTRI visited Advantech’s headquarter in Taipei on 16 November 2016. They introduced ASTRI’s R&D projects in the fields of intelligent manufacturing and IoT to the senior management of the company and explored the opportunities of future collaboration. Advantech is a world leading manufacturer in industrial computers and Taiwan’s largest developer in IE4.0 and IoT related products.

Dr. Liang Lu-hong, Principal Engineer, IC Design (Digital) of ASTRI was invited to give a speech on “Hardware accelerator for Depth Learning Video Processing” at the Machine Perception Innovation Application Forum held on 19 November 2016 at Shenzhen. The forum was jointly organised by Shenzhen – HK Microelectronics Consortium and Shenzhen Wearable Device Industry Technology Innovation Alliance, and co-organised by ASTRI and Micro & Nano Institute. Representatives of the industry and renowned scholars shared their research results and discussed the trend of development of Machine Perception technology.

Shenzhen HongKong Microelectronics Consortium was established in April 2015. It aims at providing an open platform for industries, research institutes and universities to share their technologies and resources and facilitate collaborations in microelectronics area. ASTRI and Micro & Nano Institute act as director-general organizations in HongKong and Shenzhen respectively.

Dr. Frank Tong, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI was interviewed by TVB programme to introduce ASTRI’s R&D on cyber security.

To watch the programme, please click here. (in Chinese only)

Dr. Duncan Wong, Vice President, Financial Technologies of ASTRI was invited to be one of the executive panelists in Singtel Cyber Security Forum held on 15 November 2016 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The panel discussion titled “Actionable Cyber Threat Intelligence to Plan, Respond and Conquer” aimed at providing actionable intelligence with effective defensive and containment strategies for enterprises to proactively reduce exposure to cyber threats.

Mr. Shiva Loccisano, Head of Technology Transfer and Industrial Liaison Area, and Mr. Luca Emanuel, Business Analyst & Developer, Technology Transfer of the Polytechnic University of Turin , Italy (Italian: Politecnico di Torino) visited ASTRI on 17 November 2016. Mr. Dennis Lee, Director of Technical Marketing of ASTRI extended a warm welcome to them.

The Polytechnic University of Turin is a leading institution for studying engineering and architecture in Europe. The delegates and Mr. Lee had fruitful exchanges on the development of smart city and the automotive industry.

From left: Mr. Dennis Lee, Mr. Shiva Loccisano, Mr. Luca Emanuel and Mr. K C Lam of Invest HK

Mr. YK Li, Senior Director, IC Design Digital of ASTRI was invited to give a speech at the Fujian Province Innovation and Startups Exchange Symposium held on 16 November 2016 at Fuqinglong Huatian Holiday Hotel, Shenzhen. The symposium was co-organised by Fujian Provincial Department of Science & Technology, Fujian Development and Reform Commission and Fujian Provincial Commission of Economy and Information Technology. Representatives of enterprises and research institutes in Fujian, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai, etc. attended the event to explore collaboration opportunities and share their experience on innovation and start-ups.