Press Release

[Hong Kong, 27 September 2022] Today marks a special day for the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and the C-V2X development. To fully align with the “Smart Mobility”, one of the initiatives in the “Smart City Blueprint 2.0” published by HKSAR Government, ASTRI has conducted the R&D of C-V2X technology since 2015, and kicked off the world’s largest C-V2X public road test in Hong Kong in 2021. In July this year, ASTRI partnered with Lenovo to carry out the second phase of C-V2X public road tests by leveraging high-speed, reliable and low-latency 5G network technology, and recently established a cooperation with Shenzhen SmartCity Technology Development Group (Shenzhen SmartCity) to release the connectivity roadmap for C-V2X platform crossing the border of the two cities.

To further expedite the integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), ASTRI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shenzhen SmartCity today, 27 September. Under the agreement, ASTRI will conduct the research on key technologies of connectivity of smart transportation in the Greater Bay Area, R&D, design, standardization and testing of C-V2X application in Hong Kong, as well as research on the big data connectivity standards and security system; meanwhile, Shenzhen SmartCity Group will mainly conduct researches on the infrastructure of C-V2X in dominating urban cities scenarios, as well as R&D, design, standardization and testing of C-V2X application in Shenzhen.

ASTRI and Shenzhen SmartCity will collaborate to release the connectivity roadmap in Greater Bay Area, and plan to launch the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Shenzhen-Hong Kong C-V2X I&T Corridor in 2022-2023, carry out connectivity tests and scale applications in specific scenarios, as well as study and develop standard system, technical innovation, smart infrastructure, application service and other systems for connectivity, with an aim to complete the overall design, verification and implementation of C-V2X connectivity, as well as application design, implementation and verification of autonomous driving across the Greater Bay Area, including the establishment of a demonstration area in the border area of Hong Kong and Shenzhen during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, that is by 2025. The roadmap will further outline C-V2X connectivity with Macau, Guangzhou and other places. ASTRI and Shenzhen SmartCity are looking forward to achieving the vision and goal of the coordinated development of smart transportation in the Greater Bay Area in 2035 to create an IoE Greater Bay Area and secure safer and more efficient Mobility as a Service for citizens.

Ir Sunny Lee, Wai-kwong, BBS, JP, the Board Chairman of ASTRI said, “The collaboration between ASTRI and Shenzhen SmartCity will improve C-V2X technology and expand the room for further cooperation in R&D of C-V2X, with an aim to facilitate the mobility for citizens in both cities, enable them to experience the benefits brought to their daily life by smart city and innovation technology. Furthermore, this project can drive the development of commercial transaction between the cities, promote the long-term development strategy of the GBA and coordinate among other cities in this area, so as to enhance synergy effect in terms of manpower, capital and R&D, take advantage of perspective advantages and integrate into the national development by providing unique R&D conditions.”

Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI said, “ASTRI’s C-V2X technology has gone beyond the wall of laboratory long ago. After years of testing on public roads, it has been a sophisticated technology that can bring benefits to the application, including effectively improve the driving safety. To further meet the full-scenario application requirements of autonomous driving and C-V2X functions, in the second phase of C-V2X, the real-time and data load capacity will be greatly improved, adding more testing elements, such as public transportation vehicles and application, to achieve a new level of smart operation and coordination and build up a solid foundation for the development of smart city in the further.”

Professor Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry

Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, BBS, JP, Board Chairman of ASTRI

Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI (left) and Dr. Xiaochun Zhang, Chairman of Shenzhen SmartCity Technology Development Group Co., Ltd.

“2022 Shenzhen-Hong Kong C-V2X I&T Corridor” Press Conference – Kick Off Ceremony include
(in front of the screen from left) Mr Su, Dongzhe Chief Engineer, V2X System, ASTRI, Ms Fan Ho, Chief of Staff, Lenovo Central Asia Pacific and General Manager, Hong Kong and Macau, Lenovo, Mr Ken Wong, Executive Vice President and President, Lenovo Solutions & Services Group, Dr Denis Yip is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ASTRI, Rebecca Pun Ting-ting Director of the Innovation and Technology Commission, Professor Sun Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, BBS, JP Board Chairman of ASTRI, Mr Stephen Ho Wai-chung Board Directors of ASTRI, Mr Edmund Lee Chi-wai Board Directors of ASTRI and Mr Fan Shijun, Chief Technologist, NSOFT, Communications Technologies of ASTRI,
And Remote Distance Participants (Upper of the Screen) Mr Feng Li, Deputy General Manager of Shenzhen SmartCity Communication Co., Ltd., Mr Yang Peng, vice president of Ant Group, Mr Huaping Chen, Deputy Director-general of Shenzhen Bureau of Industry and Information Technology (Member of Party Group of Shenzhen Bureau of Industry and Information Technology), Mr Hongbo Zheng, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Dr Youming Wang, Secretary of Party Group of Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee, Director of Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee, Dr Xiaochun Zhang, Chairman of Shenzhen SmartCity Technology Development Group Co., Ltd., Dr Xin Zhang, Head of Technical Quality Department of Shenzhen SmartCity Technology Development Group Co., Ltd.
And (Bottom of the Screen) Mr LIU Maozhou, Inspector of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR.

[Hong Kong, 25 September 2022] The Hong Kong SAR government has outlined a clear direction and goals for the future development of innovation and technology (I&T) in Hong Kong, leading Hong Kong to become an international I&T center. The Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) expects to maintain close connection with the academic community and work together to consolidate the upstream competitiveness, vitalize the enthusiasm and initiative of transferring R&D results of the University to applied scenarios, and accelerate the process of implementation and industrialization.

ASTRI and the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “Fostering University Cooperation in Technology Transfer” on 22 September to jointly create a new era of smart living and cross-disciplinary technological development. The extended cooperation covers the areas of smart traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) service system, pharmaceutical R&D, Artech, Fintech, as well as interdisciplinary research and its application, so as to promote technology innovation and transfer. ASTRI, HKBU and its affiliated institutions will jointly develop a number of cooperation models for R&D, including cutting-edge technologies such as AI and big data analysis, as well as intellectual property management and commercialization.

Witnessed by Ir Sunny Lee, BBS, JP, Chairman of ASTRI Board of Directors, and Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, the MoU was signed by Dr. Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI and Professor Terence Lau, Interim Chief Innovation Officer of HKBU on behalf of both parties on the campus of HKBU. Under the agreement, ASTRI and HKBU will enhance collaborative research and promote the transfer and commercialization of technology results. They will also stipulate their respective intellectual property rights and ownership of R&D results, so as to promote the commercialization of collaborative R&D or projects implemented by both parties or affiliated institutions of HKBU. In addition, the partnership aims to reduce the R&D time, improve the utilization of resources and accelerate the application of R&D results.

Ir Sunny Lee, BBS, JP, Chairman of ASTRI Board of Directors said, “Nearly 100 R&D projects are conducted every year in ASTRI with an ultimate goal of realizing commercialization. University is our significantly important I&T partner, and we proactively partner with HKBU to build a R&D commercialization platform, promote mutual cooperation in an all-round way, enhance synergy in talents, resources, R&D, etc. Leveraging on perspective advantages, together we can create unique R&D conditions in key areas such as pharmaceutical R&D, AI and Fintech, so as to seize the new opportunities in the I&T era.”

Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU said, “Transfer of research outcomes is the third mission of universities. HKBU has identified three focused research areas including Creative Media and Practice, Health and Drug Discovery, and Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. The University has also established six interdisciplinary research laboratories to allow all faculties and departments to fully unleash their areas of excellence, stimulate intellectual interaction on common topics, explore and discover new cutting-edge technologies, and provide solutions to cope with challenges in society. The collaboration between HKBU and ASTRI provides ample opportunities for knowledge transfer of these technologies. I hope that both parties can continue to cooperate in different areas, such as art tech, smart traditional Chinese medicine and smart society.”

ASTRI and HKBU will cooperate on a project basis to deepen their mutual vision of technology exchange and development. This include the determination of the contribution of each stakeholder in the development of R&D results, as well as the ownership, funding arrangements, project implementation responsibilities and intellectual property protection of R&D results of relevant joint projects. This will enable both partners to explore opportunities for technology commercialization with the intellectual property owned by both parties. It will also ensure that local R&D can be effectively turned into applied technologies and enlarge the production capacity.

(From left) Professor Terence Lau, Interim Chief Innovation Officer of HKBU; Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU; Ir Sunny Lee, Chairman of ASTRI Board of Directors; and Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI attend the “Fostering University Cooperation in Technology Transfer” MoU signing ceremony.

[Hong Kong, 19 September 2022] The shortage of local scientific and technological talents has long existed, but in recent years, there has been an urgent need for “implementation” of R&D and innovation, and people from all walks of life are proactive to encourage students who are interested in I&T to embark on the R&D road. As a part of the I&T community, the Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the oldest higher education institution in Hong Kong, agree that it is necessary to enhance close cooperation in research and technology transfer, and strive to nurture new R&D talents in the future.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is signed today by Dr. Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, and Professor Max Shen Zuojun, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU on behalf of both parties. Under the agreement, ASTRI and HKU will determine their respective intellectual property rights and ownership of R&D results, so as to facilitate the commercialization of joint R&D or implementation projects under the jurisdiction of both parties or affiliated institutions of HKU, shorten the research time of joint R&D projects, and effectively make use of resources to improve and increase the implementation of R&D results.
ASTRI and HKU will cooperate on project basis to promote the exchange and development vision between them, including the determination of the contribution of each stakeholder in the development of R&D results, as well as the ownership, funding arrangements, project implementation responsibilities and intellectual property protection of R&D results of relevant joint projects, so as to explore opportunities for technology commercialization with the intellectual property owned by both parties, and make the implementation and mass production of local R&D more effective.

ASTRI and HKU are cooperating to focus on and make good use of resources to improve the R&D quality, accelerate and improve the commercialization process, bring more practical technologies to the government, industry and society, and support Hong Kong to become a world-class smart city.

Dr. Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, said, “In recent years, the SAR Government has invested a lot of resources to support the development of I&T and encourage youngsters to embark on the R&D road. The collaboration between ASTRI and HKU this time is providing a better platform for aspirants. We allocate more resources to promote I&T and build Hong Kong into an I&T hub in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Professor Max Shen Zuojun, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU, said, “I am delighted that HKU and ASTRI have signed the MOU. I believe that the in-depth cooperation between HKU and ASTRI will effectively combine the cross-disciplinary R&D strengths of both parties, seize more opportunities for technology transfer and commercialization of results, and nurture R&D talents in Hong Kong, which will be of great benefit to the development of I&T in Hong Kong and the entire region.”

(left) Dr. Denis Yip, ASTRI Chief Executive Officer
(right) Professor Max Shen Zuojun, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU

[Hong Kong, 15 September 2022] With the vision of Hong Kong developing into an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub, there will be a huge demand for R&D talents. In order to become a part of this new generation of I&T talents, it is crucial for young people to equip themselves with academic qualifications and professional recognitions, as well as to accumulate work experience to meet the job requirements in research and development (R&D).

To provide workplace learning opportunities for more young people who are eager to develop their future career in the technology sector, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) signed a MOU with Vocational Training Council (VTC) today (15 September). Under this MoU, they will jointly design brand-new professional diploma programmes in Microelectronics and Communications Technologies, aiming to nurture a pool of talents that matches with what the industry needs in response to the huge surge of demand for tech-ready talents brought by the development in smart products, Internet of Things (IoT), and big data. Besides, ASTRI will join the VTC Earn & Learn scheme as an employer. The scheme spans across four semesters for students taking Higher Diploma programmes from the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), a member institution of VTC. During the new academic year, participating students will receive on-the-job training under the guidance from ASTRI’s experienced R&D staff, gaining hands-on experience in the industry, while receiving classroom learning provided by the school. Young people will be able to enhance their capabilities in research and development in terms of work experience and academic knowledge through the scheme, which also allows them to realise their potentials.

Societal needs towards various kinds of technology have been increasing day by day. Creativity and passion from young people have always brought new impetus to R&D sector. This collaboration between ASTRI and VTC happens with the hope of discovering more new blood to I&T sector in Hong Kong and nurturing a new generation of professional R&D talents, so as to expand the local I&T talent pool, provide the research and commercial sector with greater momentum, and keep enhancing the competitiveness of Hong Kong.

As the new academic year begins, the first batch of VTC students will be joining ASTRI’s four Technology Divisions, including Trust and AI Technologies, Communications Technologies, IoT Sensing and AI Technologies, and Integrated Circuits and Systems. With ASTRI’s strong atmosphere in research and development, students will learn about I&T development in Hong Kong through hands-on experience, which would deepen their understanding of R&D work, helping them to make good preparation for future studies or career. Participants will receive a basic monthly salary not less than $9,000 and an average of $2,500 government allowance. The total monthly income will be above $10,000. Participants will also receive an additional subsidy of $30,800 upon completion of the programme.

ASTRI Chairman Ir Sunny Lee Wai-Kwong, BBS, JP, said, “This collaboration sets a new milestone for ASTRI in training the new generation of R&D talents. Young people are an important drive for innovation. We, ASTRI, as the most structured technology research institute in Hong Kong, look forward to seeing the trainees joining our team. We hope that they would enrich our creativity, learn all that they can and make contribution to support Hong Kong in becoming an international I&T hub.”

ASTRI Chief Executive Officer Dr Denis Yip, emphasised the importance of continual cultivation of talents, and said, “It is our pleasure to be able to collaborate with VTC. To support Hong Kong in becoming an international I&T hub, first and foremost, there needs to be a huge amount of talents with various skillsets in order to cope with future demands in R&D. ASTRI joins VTC’s training and support scheme for the first time, aiming to encourage trainees with passion to get to know about their own strengths and realise their potentials. Upon graduation, they could either choose to become professional staff members or to further study. The scheme is good for both trainees themselves and the industry.”

VTC Chairman Mr Tony Tai, JP noted in his speech, “The VTC offers quality vocational and professional education and training (VPET) to help young people and in-service practitioners acquire industry-relevant knowledge and applied skills for professional development. To meet the demand for tech-savvy talents, the VTC has incorporated I&T elements into the curriculum, enhanced teaching and learning facilities, and more importantly, provided students with workplace learning opportunities to build a talent pool conversant with applied skills. We are delighted to sign the MoU with ASTRI today to leverage the strengths of both sides and work together to nurture I&T talents.

VTC Executive Director Mr Donald Tong, GBS said, “We thank ASTRI for supporting the VTC Earn & Learn Scheme, providing our IVE Higher Diploma students with the chance to receive on-the-job training and learn cutting-edge applied technologies at ASTRI under the coaching of scientific research experts while learning tech-related knowledge at VTC.”

Ir Sunny Lee, BBS, JP, Chairman, ASTRI

Mr Tony Tai, JP, Chairman, VTC

(Front row, from left) Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer, ASTRI; Mr Donald Tong, GBS, Executive Director, VTC
(Back row, from left) Ir Sunny Lee, BBS, JP, Chairman, ASTRI; Ms Rebecca Pun, JP, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology; Mr Tony Tai, JP, Chairman, VTC

(From left) Mr Stephen Ho, Board of director, ASTRI; Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer, ASTRI; Ir Sunny Lee, BBS, JP, Chairman, ASTRI; Ms Rebecca Pun, JP, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology; Mr Tony Tai, JP, Chairman of VTC; Dr Daniel Yip, JP, Deputy Chairman, VTC; Mr Donald Tong, GBS, Executive Director, VTC

[Hong Kong, 5 September 2022] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) today (5 September) signed a University Technology Transfer and Collaboration Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the first time. The two organisations have reached a cooperation consensus on the implementation of commercialisation strategies and a development blueprint in line with the government’s increasing innovation and technology (I&T) resources in recent years and its vision of developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre. The MoU enshrines collaboration between academia and research and development (R&D) centres to develop leading technologies, and leveraging resources to enhance the quality of research, as well as facilitating the commercialisation process. It will help to introduce technology that is useful to the government, industry and society, supporting Hong Kong as it becomes an international smart city.

The collaboration among the government, industry, academia and the R&D sector highlights the importance of full participation and mutual support from stakeholders in the technology ecosystem. Intellectual property (IP) commercialisation is one of the keys to strengthening technology commercialisation. Intellectual property holding institutions can formulate rules and regulations, and implement the corresponding measures necessary to maximise the economic and social benefits of their R&D outcomes.

The MoU was signed by ASTRI Chief Executive Officer Dr Denis Yip and CUHK Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Sham Mai-har. Under the agreement, ASTRI and CUHK will determine the ownership of R&D outcomes through their respective IP rights, hoping to boost the commercialisation of R&D projects developed by both parties and CUHK’s affiliates, and to shorten the research time taken by joint projects, and optimise resources to increase the effectiveness of R&D commercialisation. The close cooperation between scientific research experts from both sides will not only improve the effectiveness of R&D and generate innovative technologies, but will also help cultivate R&D talents.

Meanwhile, ASTRI and CUHK or its affiliates will jointly develop a set of standardised arrangements and procedures to determine inventive contributions, ownership of research outcomes of joint projects, funding arrangement, roles and responsibilities in project execution, IP protection, and others. The respective IP rights owned by ASTRI and CUHK will allow more opportunities for technology commercialisation, help local R&D become more practical and measurable, and advance the development of re-industrialisation.

ASTRI Chairman Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, said, “In recent years, the I&T ecosystem in Hong Kong has been enriched. Interactions among the government, academia, R&D centres and industry have become more mature as well. This provides the best moment for nurturing and enriching the talent pool, and improving the I&T ecosystem and eco-chain of development, furthering smart city development and strengthening the city’s positioning in the Greater Bay Area collaboration.”

ASTRI Chief Executive Officer Dr Denis Yip, said, “ASTRI has been striving to be a leader in research and innovation, collaborating with local universities in research and development, and facilitating commercialisation of research outcomes, while providing practical assistance to some other universities in launching more I&T products to the market. This collaboration with CUHK marks the beginning of an era, with the hope of safeguarding the intellectual property of future R&D products, establishing a good foundation for the manufacturing and re-industrialisation process to enhance the efficacy of technological development, people’s livelihoods and the economy of Hong Kong.”

CUHK Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Sham Mai-har, said, “I am delighted that CUHK and ASTRI have signed this five-year MoU, bringing R&D institutes and universities closer together and aligning with the government’s goal of promoting I&T development. CUHK spares no effort in promoting scientific research and knowledge transfer. This collaboration marks a monumental milestone for us. I hope that both CUHK and ASTRI can take advantage of our patented technologies to carry out influential, innovative projects that can meet the technological needs of enterprises and society, making a major contribution to the development of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.”

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by ASTRI Chief Executive Officer Dr Denis Yip (3rd left) and CUHK Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Sham Mai-har (2nd left), and witnessed by ASTRI Chairman Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong (4th left) and Director of CUHK’s Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services Professor Benny Zee Chung-ying (1st left).

[Hong Kong, 19 August 2022] Talent cultivation is the first step to innovation and technology (I&T). It has also been one of the core missions of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI). This year, ASTRI established “Undergraduate Summer Internship Programme” and “Fintech Future Leader Academy” and received over 2,400 applications from 28 universities worldwide. The programmes provided the students or the future I&T leaders with opportunities to be deeply engaged in the field of Hong Kong’s R&D ecosystem, experience ASTRI’s unique culture in scientific research, aiming at enhancing their knowledge and sparking their interests in I&T. Today (19 August), around 50 interns from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, officially complete their internship at ASTRI; some of them hope to contribute to R&D in Hong Kong upon graduation.

ASTRI has always strived to fulfil its mission of nurturing the next generation of I&T talents. In order to strengthen students’ understanding of the development in Hong Kong, the programmes added dimensions to the existing workplan, offering a broad spectrum of R&D projects, activities and various site trips to make the internship more engaged and motivated. During these 2-month programmes, students were assigned to various technology divisions, gaining hands-on R&D experience, and diving deep into the I&T process and Fintech development in Hong Kong. A number of seminars were arranged, where key persons and professional scholars from large corporations and organisations were invited to share their journeys and successful experience. Students had also visited the supporting organisations from the finance and technology industries, including Bank of China (Hong Kong), China Life Insurance (Overseas), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), IBM, Microsoft Hong Kong, Ping An OneConnect Bank (PAOB), and Cyberport to learn about the actual situations and operations of the I&T industry in Hong Kong.

Moreover, ASTRI had arranged a special internship for some interns to its partner ‘Bridge AI’ which is a success case of ASTRI’s tech transfer to the industry. Bridge AI has applied ASTRI’s research outcomes and products in its teaching programmes for children with learning difficulties. Interns gained understandings about the potential of improving the learning difficulties faced by special education need (SEN) students through incorporating ASTRI’s R&D results in AI and IOT into professional education programmes. They experienced first-hand that helping people with the use of science and technology is not a distant dream.

Overseas participants included students from MIT, Harvard University, the University of Chicago, the University of California, Berkeley, and New York University in the United States, as well as University College London, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Among them, there were top students who had attained a near-perfect 44 points on the IB exams. Some overseas top talents came to Hong Kong for the first time, aiming to learn about the I&T ecosystem in Hong Kong and prepare themselves for the industry.

ASTRI CEO Dr. Denis Yip says, “Apart from bringing research and development in I&T sector in Hong Kong, it is also important for ASTRI to nurture a new generation of local I&T talents and help the industry to thrive. Students from the two programmes have shown their enthusiastic participation, willingness to express themselves during sharing sessions, seriousness at work, and their aspirations in future development. This internship experience must have been valuable to them. I hope that they would work for Hong Kong’s technology and development upon their graduation.”

Background of ASTRI’s two internship programmes

This year, ASTRI’s two programmes had received a total of 2,464 applications through recruitment drives at various Hong Kong universities, as well as 28 renowned overseas universities. Interviews were conducted to select 50 candidates for up to 8-week internship at ASTRI from June to August. The second- and third-year undergraduates, and also postgraduate students majoring in Computer Science, Business and Finance related fields from Hong Kong local universities, including (in no particular order) the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University participated in the programmes, while over half of the interns came from overseas renowned universities in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.

Apart from organising summer internship programmes, ASTRI will seek to cooperate with key universities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), as well as with the mainland campuses and research institutes of Hong Kong universities in the area. To expand its mainland team, ASTRI will conduct recruitment in the mainland and offer Hong Kong-based employees the opportunity to transfer to its mainland headquarters. Meanwhile, to nurture international-quality talents, ASTRI will engage postgraduate students in the GBA to participate in R&D projects by cooperating with universities and research institutes in the area.

[Hong Kong, 27 July 2022] Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP, the Board Chairman of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited, is awarded BBS today by the Hong Kong Government in recognition of his notable contributions to promoting the development of innovation and technology (I&T) in Hong Kong.

The Honours List appointments introduced Ir Sunny Lee and described how he offered valuable suggestions for improving Hong Kong’s digital information technology strategy and nurturing I&T talents. He also made significant contributions to enriching Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem by serving on the Committee on Innovation, Technology and Re-industrialisation.

Ir Sunny Lee, BBS, JP is the Board Chairman of Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited. He is a veteran of innovation and technology leadership, with over 30 years of experience in business and technology management in Hong Kong and abroad.

Ir Sunny Lee’s distinguished tech-focused career spanned multiple sectors. He is currently Vice President (Administration) of the City University of Hong Kong, responsible for a range of central administrative functions. This May, the MTR Corporation was pleased to announce the appointment of Ir Sunny Lee as the Independent Non-executive Director of the MTR Board. Through his expertise and extensive experience in the industry, he has established himself as a pivotal leader.

Ir Sunny Lee was previously Executive Director, Information Technology (IT) of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Chief Information Officer of The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, responsible for their I.T. strategy and innovation.

He was also Vice President and Systems Director of Bank of America in Hong Kong, where he was instrumental in developing the bank’s I.T. capabilities for business expansion in Asia. Ir Sunny Lee also held key I.T. positions in the financial, management consulting and manufacturing industries in the US.

Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP, the Board Chairman of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited, is awarded BBS today.

[Hong Kong, 21 July 2022] To develop Hong Kong into a smart city, a well-established “smart mobility” network is an important part. The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) announced that it will now enter the second phase of road testing of the Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) Technology. In this test, ASTRI will collaborate with Lenovo to research and test the application scenarios, required networks and related infrastructure of C-V2X technology on Hong Kong roads, with the aim of promoting smart mobility, Improve road safety and traffic efficiency, as well as the development of future connected autonomous vehicles.

The second phase of the C-V2X road test will last for about 9 months. The total length is 14 kilometers from the Science Park to the city center of Shatin. ASTRI also invites public transport vehicles on the road to conduct the test together. Citizens passing along the road will also see ASTRI stickers posted on the road, which are used to transmit information and collect the most valid data.

Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) refers to the real-time information transmission between vehicles and vehicles, vehicles and pedestrians, vehicles and road infrastructure, and vehicles and networks, so that people, vehicles and road infrastructure are connected and coordinated, and road users receives road status and warnings in real time to enhance road safety and assist driving. Following ASTRI’s completion of the first phase of C-V2X road test last year, valid data are obtained. The test this time will further improve the performance of C-V2X, which is conducive to continuously expanding C-V2X to other regions and the Greater Bay Area in the future.

Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP, Chairman of ASTRI, said, “The goal of the Hong Kong government in recent years is to build itself into a smart city. With the popularization of 5G technology, more innovative application technologies will be nurtured rapidly. C-V2X technology is the most promising project in the transportation sector. C-V2X technology plays a significant role in either improving road safety or solving such problems as traffic congestion caused by urbanization.” In the long run, C-V2X can better enhance the development of autonomous driving technology, and further improve the safety of autonomous driving and the public trust in autonomous driving technology.

Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, said, “Hong Kong is a gateway city connecting mainland China, and transportation is a crucial element. This C-V2X test will provide a valuable reference for the development of related technologies in the Greater Bay Area in the future. ASTRI intends to expand related technologies to the Greater Bay Area market. C-V2X technology is the prominent step to achieve smart city development, and ASTRI intends to make Hong Kong become a model of smart city through the improvement of C-V2X technology.”

Mr Ken Wong, President of Lenovo Solutions and Services Group said, “We are delighted to collaborate with ASTRI, Hong Kong’s leading R&D centre for information and communications technologies. Through our collaboration, Lenovo hopes to contribute to improving the quality of life for people of Hong Kong. Lenovo’s end-to-end solutions enable cities around the world to become smarter, safer, and more sustainable. Recently, we deployed various smart city solutions in cities from Beijing to Barcelona. We look forward to working closely with ASTRI to enhance Hong Kong’s urban mobility through development such as C-V2X, which will bring better road safety and travel efficiency for all.”

Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP, Chairman of ASTRI thank you for the support from all units to successfully carry out the C-V2X Test 2.0.

Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP, Chairman of ASTRI(center) ,Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI(Left), Fan Ho, Chief of Staff, Lenovo Central Asia Pacific and General Manager, Hong Kong and Macau, Lenovo(Right) attend Lenovo partners with ASTRI to promote the second phase of C-V2X Improve road safety and traffic efficiency with smart travel press con.

(From left) Dr. Justin Chuang, Vice President, Communications Technologies of ASTRI, Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP, Fan Ho, Chief of Staff, Lenovo Central Asia Pacific and General Manager, Mr Shijun Fan , Chief Technologist of ASTRI attend Lenovo partners with ASTRI to promote the second phase of C-V2X Improve road safety and traffic efficiency with smart travel press con.

Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI attend Lenovo partners with ASTRI to promote the second phase of C-V2X Improve road safety and traffic efficiency with smart travel press con.

[Hong Kong, 13 July 2022] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is collaborating with the Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) to develop at least two projects that will treat patients of different ages suffering from lazy eye and other eye conditions. CEVR was established under the Innovation and Technology Commission’s platform for research and innovation, InnoHK.

Amblyopia is a common visual impairment that reduces one’s vision and ability to see in 3D. To treat this condition the brain must be retrained to use information coming from both eyes. This is especially challenging to achieve in adult patients because neuroplasticity decreases as we get older and the brain fully matures as we get older and the brain fully matures. The breakthrough of this collaboration is the development of novel treatment methods that will incorporate ASTRI’s AR technologies and CEVR’s research on recovering neuroplasticity in the visual cortex. The ultimate goal is to “heal” patients’ eyes and give them hope that they may see clearly again.

ASTRI’s CEO Dr. Denis Yip said: “Digital healthcare is one of ASTRI’s core areas for research. Through InnoHK’s ‘Health@InnoHK’ project, we will join hands with CEVR to provide treatment to many patients suffering from eye conditions and correct their vision, making this is a tremendously meaningful collaboration. I look forward to the ASTRI team’s cooperation with different units to contribute more value to Hong Kong’s research and medical fields.

Vision loss or visual impairment can be defined as reduced vision that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, surgery or medical treatment. Vision loss can broadly be classified into central loss and peripheral loss. Patients may have one or both types of loss.

Patients with central loss typically have difficulty recognizing faces, reading and seeing fine details. Patients with peripheral loss typically have difficulty navigating crowded environments and seeing obstacles on the floor and sides. Everyone responds differently to vision loss, and to the impact that it has on their life.

What causes vision loss?

According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment.  In at least 1 billion – or almost half – of these cases, vision impairment could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed.

The main causes of vision loss in people are:

• Uncorrected refractive error is the largest cause of vision loss, afflicting over 671 million people worldwide. These people can recover their vision with appropriate spectacles, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.
• Dry eye disease is a global problem, afflicting at least 344 million people, and is one of the most frequent causes of patient visits to eye care practitioners.
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes central vision loss is the third-largest cause of visual impairment. Over 8 million people have vision loss due to AMD.
• Glaucoma causes peripheral vision loss and is the fourth-largest cause of visual impairment. Almost 8 million people have vision loss due to glaucoma.
• Diabetic retinopathy is a growing cause of vision loss. Over 4 million people have vision loss due to Diabetic retinopathy.

For every person that experiences vision impairment and blindness from the above causes, there are many more living with the early-stages of AMD/ glaucoma / diabetic retinopathy who need comprehensive and integrated people-centred eye care services to prevent serious vision loss.

ASTRI and CEVR will jointly promote the development of a navigation system for people with vision loss in Hong Kong

People with impaired vision encounter various obstacles in many daily activities. Although people with visual impairment can be aided by walking canes, guide dogs, and mobility training, moving safely through different environments such as community centres, shopping malls and health care facilities remains a major challenge that significantly impairs social interactions, wellness and quality of life.

The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Institute (ASTRI) and the Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) join hands together to develop a comprehensive navigation system for people with impaired vision, it will remove mobility barriers for people with impaired vision and dramatically enhance their wellbeing.

ASTRI has been committed to promoting technological R&D in Hong Kong and partnering with different institutions and companies in developing innovative technologies. With the collaboration between ASTRI and CEVR, ASTRI’s IT expertise can directly apply the results of applied research from CEVR’s investigators and translate navigation technology and solutions to the digital health industry helping to improve the quality of life for the people with visual impairment in Hong Kong.

CEVR’s CEO and Scientific Director Professor Ben Thompson expressed: “Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment. In almost half of these cases, vision impairment could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed. CEVR gathers top researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the University of Waterloo in Canada to collaborate synergistically, expand research, and make advancements in eye health and treatment. In working with ASTRI, we hope to make use of AR technologies to increase the development of lazy eye patients’ 3D vision abilities and ultimately improve patients’ overall eye health.

ASTRI and the Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) are cooperating in research and development that can help patients with different ages and degrees of amblyopia and other eye diseases. There will be multiple patents developed. With the help of technology, the goal of “treatment” is to bring hope to patients.

ASTRI uses Augmented Reality (AR) technology in conjunction with CEVR to study neuroplasticity in the visual area of the brain, with the goal of “treatment”.

ASTRI Chief Executive Dr. Denis Yip(Left)and CEVR Chief Executive and Research Director Prof. Ben Thompson(Right) introduced the cooperation plan between the two parties.

[Hong Kong, 16 April 2022] With the rapid advancement of global technology development, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is engaging more enterprises in the cooperation and common development of “industry, academia and research”, ASTRI hence launched the “IPs and Service Offerings for Technology Start-ups and SMEs”, selected 20 innovative technological companies from a varying categories of entry services, including 8 hardware, 6 software and 6 consulting service companies, with the entry price of HK$50,000 to HK$150,000.

ASTRI focuses on transferring technology to the industry, transforming it into commodities, developing high-quality and affordable patents, information and communication technologies, and creating important and far-reaching influence. In cooperation with research institutions, enterprises and academia, ASTRI researches important technologies that the industry pays attention to, and assists enterprises to enhance their competitiveness. The relevant scientific research projects selected have a wide range of content, mainly to solve company evaluation, technology and network security issues, writing, electronic technology and electricity issues, etc. Private institutions in Hong Kong can contact relevant professionals and engineers at ASTRI for assistance and enquiries.

Hong Kong’s scientific research has undergone many years of development. However, many start-ups, and even small and medium-sized enterprises that have been rooted in Hong Kong for many years striving to improve the field of technology, have been paying high fees for the solutions to technical problems. There was no platform that provided cost effective solutions for them, and their business needs were not understood. The support provided in the “IPs and Service Offerings for Technology Start-ups and SMEs” caters to the needs of enterprises and the program is expected to help the industry to solve their difficulties. Interested Hong Kong enterprises can contact the relevant professionals for details.

Since its establishment 22 years ago, ASTRI has provided different innovative technology software, hardware or technical support to various government departments, public organizations and many private enterprises in Hong Kong, contributing to the smooth enhancement or assistance in their development processes. With the industrialization of technology and the intellectualization of industries, a new era of competition in Hong Kong will emerge.

Some Selection from the SMEs items:

Cybersecurity awareness and benchmarking assessment
General cybersecurity awareness training for users of all walks of life covering from general IT users, technical employees to management level of IT professional to reduce cyber risk at human level.
General cybersecurity assessment and brief benchmarking covering from web, mobile applications, network, security architecture, cloud infrastructure for SMEs to have a clear visibility of cyber defense maturity.

ESG compliance analytics
Industry specific (e.g. financial, energy) ESG benchmarking report listing average or distribution of listed companies in different ESG metrics as well as the top performers in each metrics or category.
Based on SME’s own ESG metrics, its performance or status in the industry as compared to its peer companies will be reported, along with improvement suggestions. Helps SMEs generate reports automatically by filling in minimum required information.

Mixed language speech recognition & audio indexing
Based on client-supplied audio records as training data, help train a preliminary mixed language model supporting Cantonese, English and Mandarin for applications in specific industry domains such as insurance, media, telecom, banking and/or KOL.

Other items includings:

• Speech recognition & audio indexing
• Financial document analysis
• Smart OCR & document processing
• Behavior and emotion analysis for driving safety
• Smart indoor and outdoor Geographic Information System
• IoT technologies and device communications
• Retired battery screening solutions
• Eco-friendly power system
• Safe energy storage solutions
• Analog IC design for medical devices
• 3D Integration power electronics modules
• ASTRI AR Glass
• Wearable technologies
• Gantry Free Electronic Road Pricing
• ESD protection design consultancy
• Digital document processing
• DC solutions for energy saving and protection