Press Release

[Hong Kong, 9 june 2022] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and the AI Chip Center for Emerging Smart Systems (ACCESS) signed a memorandum of understanding today to jointly promote the R&D and industrialization of AI Chips, with the aim of further promoting the development of AI chips in Hong Kong to the world’s cutting-edge level.

As the first research center under the Hong Kong government’s InnoHK Clusters initiative to formally establish a partnership with ASTRI, ACCESS will jointly develop emerging AI chip technology and hardware-accelerated AI technology, and promote the transformation of advanced technology into products with ASTRI by converging their R&D expertise. Currently, the two parties are embarking on the first research project collaboration, which focuses on advancing the application development of customised AI chips in the field of AI Internet of Things (AI-IoT).

ASTRI has been committed to promoting technological R&D in Hong Kong, and partnering with different institutions and companies in developing innovative technologies. ASTRI’s researchers have devoted themselves to the R&D of next-generation AI technology and the design and application of AI chips for a number of years. In collaboration with ACCESS, ASTRI can directly apply the results of basic research, and transfer AI chip technology and solutions to the industry through mid-stream applied research, helping the development of AI and Innovation and Technology (I&T) industries in Hong Kong, and enabling integrated circuit technology to sublime to another realm.

“One of the missions of ASTRI is to transfer professional technology and R&D to the industry to benefit the entire technological research industry in Hong Kong, and the promotion of this work is in line with the purpose of establishment of InnoHK. The first project has officially commenced since the establishment of the platform, bringing AI chip technology to different fields. I am very happy about this, and I look forward to R&D of different technologies among ASTRI, ACCESS, and other units in the future to bring more cutting-edge technologies to Hong Kong.” said Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI.

With an initial funding of HK$443.9 million from the Hong Kong government’s InnoHK, ACCESS was founded by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in collaboration on research with Stanford University, The University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, sought to realize ubiquitous AI applications in society seeking to create AI chips that are much faster and more energy efficient than that of existing solutions.

“The Center has a world-leading team of interdisciplinary experts. Since its establishment more than a year ago, it has conducted a number of researches in the fields of applied hardware joint design, computing-in-memory, as well as smart sensors and AI-IoT and made technological breakthroughs. By establishing a long-term cooperation with ASTRI, we can leverage its technical foundation and industry channels in AI technology applied research and AI chip solutions to transform these international collaborative research results into AI products more quickly, thereby achieving an efficient I&T development model from basic research to application.” said Professor Tim Cheng, Vice-President for Research and Development of HKUST and Center Director of ACCESS.

Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI（right）and said Professor Tim Cheng, Vice-President for Research and Development of HKUST and Center Director of ACCESS（left）signed a memorandum of understanding today to jointly promote the R&D and industrialization of AI Chips.

The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and the AI Chip Center for Emerging Smart Systems (ACCESS) signed a memorandum of understanding today to jointly promote the R&D and industrialization of AI Chips.

[Hong Kong, 29 April 2022] Rapid progress in scientific research technology has invigorated technical communication and collaboration in scientific research between Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) Shenzhen office has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) to establish a joint laboratory over the next 5 years. It shall be utilised for research and development, as well as application of advanced semiconductors, next-generation communications and more. ASTRI will allocate RMB 5 million, initiate R&D projects, and provide relevant technological advice. This is ASTRI’s first collaboration with a university in the Greater Bay Area to manage a joint laboratory, which marks the beginning of comprehensive collaboration in R&D projects between Hong Kong and GBA.

ASTRI and SUSTech have signed a MoU recently to establish the SUSTech School of Microelectronics – ASTRI (Shenzhen) Joint Laboratory. ASTRI shall initiate R&D projects with funding and relevant technological advice; on the other hand, SUSTech shall provide more than 2,100 feet of laboratory space, 100 patents in electronic design automation, serial high-speed electric circuit inspection facilities, close to 13,000 feet of cleanroom laboratory space, and no fewer than 5 postgraduate students to participate in any joint laboratory project. Through these collaborative efforts, we hope to make a positive impact on nurturing of talents in scientific research, application of technology, and subsequent translation into substantial results across Hong Kong and GBA.

Following the launch of the new joint laboratory, ASTRI will immediately begin two projects in scientific research technology in collaboration with SUSTech from April 2022. ASTRI plans to devote HKD 1.5 million of its budget to research on 5G mmWave communication systems in the field of communications, as well as integrated circuits for power management and the relevant systems.

ASTRI plans to carry out different projects to support the government of the People’s Republic of China’s vision to develop the Greater Bay Area as an international innovation hub, which is outlined in the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan. It strives to develop more R&D projects in the Greater Bay Area, working with universities and research institutes in the region to produce substantial and applicable results. At the same time, it also hopes to attract and nurture talents, as well as develop more R&D resources.

ASTRI CEO Dr. Denis Yip says, “This collaboration between ASTRI and SUSTech marks the beginning of scientific research collaboration between Hong Kong and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. There will be a focus on promoting projects in the fields of integrated circuits and communication technologies. Through these collaborative efforts with universities and research institutes equipped with advanced technologies in the Greater Bay Area, we hope to attract and nurture talents as we strive to become an international innovation hub.

ASTRI CEO Dr. Denis Yip says, “This collaboration between ASTRI and SUSTech marks the beginning of scientific research collaboration between Hong Kong and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”

Dean of the School of Microelectronics of SUST, Professor Yu Hong Yu

The photo of SUST

[Hong Kong, 16 April 2022] Mr. John Lee Ka-chiu (SBS, PDSM, PMSM, JP), the former Chief Secretary for Administration who is running for the Chief Executive, visited the Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Centre (CNERC) for Application Specific Integrated Circuit System at Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), the first CNERC branch in Hong Kong, this morning. Through the visit to the CNERC Hong Kong branch (Hong Kong Branch) and ASTRI’s Technovation Centre, Mr. Lee learnt about ASTRI’s progress in applied research and innovation in six key areas: smart city, financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, digital health, application specific integrated circuits and metaverse.

The Hong Kong Branch visited by Mr. Lee today is the first of the six CNERC branches in Hong Kong. It was established on 21 June 2012, with the approval from State Ministry of Science and Technology, and has been operated by ASTRI. The Hong Kong Branch cooperates with the National ASIC System Engineering Research Centre of Southeast University and RF Integrated Circuits and Systems Engineering Research Centre of Southeast University, and specialises in the research of application specific integrated circuits.

The research outcomes of the Hong Kong Branch have won many awards. In November 2021, it won a First-class Prize of the 2020 State Scientific and Technological Progress Award for participating in the research and development project of “Key Technology and Complete Set of Processes for High Density and High Reliability Electronic Packaging”. This is the highest honour received by a research and development institution under the Hong Kong SAR government for participating in the national-level award in the field of electronic packaging, which also affirms the achievements of ASTRI and its mainland partners in industry-university-research cooperation over the years.

In March 2022, the “Novel underwater wireless power charging solution against climate change” developed by the Hong Kong Branch has been awarded a gold medal at the annual “International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva”, the world’s largest innovation exhibition. The Hong Kong Branch garners various awards in Hong Kong and international scientific research fields every year.

Mr. Lee visited ASTRI to learn about its progress in innovation and technology, including one of the world’s largest cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) public road tests, which was to study and test the technology’s application scenarios on the roads of Hong Kong, as well as the network and infrastructure required for the application.

Apart from its commitment to cultivating research and innovation talents, ASTRI has won international recognition for its technological innovation and outstanding contributions to industry and the community. ASTRI won 12 awards at this year’s “International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva”, including 2 gold medals and 10 silver medals. The award-winning inventions include “Novel underwater wireless power charging solution against climate change” and “Making future cities and campuses smarter and more efficient with 5G”. The former is an innovation that extends the operation time of underwater unmanned vehicles, while the latter is Hong Kong’s first 5G end-to-end network full-architecture solution.

Dr. Sunny Chai Ngai-chiu (BBS, JP), Chairman of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, (left) and Mr. John Lee Ka-chiu (SBS, PDSM, PMSM, JP) (right) visited ASTRI’s Technovation Centre to learn about ASTRI’s progress in innovation and technology.

[Hong Kong, 11 April 2022] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and City University of Hong Kong (CityU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), deepening their collaboration to develop new research projects by integrating their research and development (R&D) capabilities and intellectual property (IP). The collaboration aims to support the development of start-up companies groomed by CityU’s HK Tech 300 programme, a large-scale flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme, to promote Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) development. Three HK Tech 300 start-ups have signed letters of intent to explore collaboration with ASTRI.

ASTRI Chairman and CityU Vice-President (Administration) Ir. Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP, said, “I am glad to see ASTRI and CityU collaborate to support the incubation of start-up companies in the HK Tech 300 programme by tapping into their enriched R&D experience and abundant IP. I believe the cooperation of academia and the research centre will help nurture more talents and entrepreneurs in the I&T industry. I look forward to witnessing the robust growth of these start-up companies, providing Hong Kong and the whole region with greater momentum to become an international I&T hub.”

Dr. Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, said, “ASTRI has been supporting enterprises, start-up companies, and government departments with high-quality applied research to improve their operational efficiency. I am excited to witness the in-depth collaboration between ASTRI and CityU, which will foster the integration of CityU’s basic research and ASTRI’s applied research, and advance the commercialisation of research outcomes, thus boosting smart city development.”

“CityU’s research and innovation achievements are well recognised, and the University is committed to promoting technology innovation and knowledge transfer. HK Tech 300 provides various forms of support to encourage participating start-ups to convert CityU’s research achievements and technology into products and services. I am glad that CityU and ASTRI are further strengthening their collaboration to synergise each other’s research strengths, join hands in R&D, and promote technology transfer to the benefit of HK Tech 300 start-ups and other start-ups, facilitating I&T in Hong Kong and beyond,” said Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, CityU Vice-President (Research and Technology) and Executive Committee Chairman of HK Tech 300.

Earlier, Dr. Yip and Professor Yang signed an MoU on behalf of ASTRI and CityU, witnessed by Ir. Sunny Lee. Both parties will use their patented technologies and integrate their respective R&D advantages to develop new projects by creating synergy in IP collaboration. They will share any IP derived according to their respective inventive contributions. Both parties will strive to promote the transfer of technology and support various industries in tech-driven transformation. In furtherance of the MoU, ASTRI and CityU will work closely to advance the growth of start-up companies in HK Tech 300.

ASTRI has sophisticated technologies in a number of fields, such as trust and AI technologies, communications technologies, IoT sensing and AI technologies, and integrated circuits and systems. It has supported many start-up companies under the HK Tech 300 programme by providing professional advice on technological innovation and the formulation of technological solutions, and has helped in developing prototypes and conducting subsequent testing.

ASTRI signed letters of intent to explore collaboration with three HK Tech 300 start-ups that are interested in using ASTRI’s patented technologies and IP in their business development. Albacastor Technology Limited, established by CityU alumni, plans to utilise the UVC reflector technology to decompose pollutants in kitchens and public places, and monitor pollution. AniTech Limited, established by CityU alumni and researchers, plans to develop AI screening models to enhance the successful rate of drug development and speed up the commercialisation process, which can be used by universities and R&D departments of pharmaceutical companies. Alpha AI Technology Limited plans to utilise optical inspection technology to detect defects and damage in the automotive and manufacturing process.

ASTRI will continue to provide comprehensive support for start-up companies under the HK Tech 300 programme and bridge them with industry to help them promote their technological solutions in the market.

Dr. Denis Yip (left), Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, and Professor Michael Yang Mengsu (right), CityU Vice-President (Research and Technology), sign the MoU, witnessed by Ir. Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP, (middle), ASTRI Chairman and CityU Vice-President (Administration).

Attending the online MoU Signing Ceremony between CityU and ASTRI are (top row, from left) ASTRI CEO Dr. Denis Yip; Ir. Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP, ASTRI Chairman and CityU Vice-President (Administration); and Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, CityU Vice-President (Research and Technology); (second row, from left) CityU Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research) and Chairman of the HK Tech 300 Investment Sub-committee Professor Michael Tse; ASTRI Chief Technology Officer Dr. Lucas Hui; and CityU Associate Vice-President (Chinese Mainland Affairs Office) and Chairman of the HK Tech 300 Incubation Sub-committee Dr. Laura Lo; (bottom row, from left) ASTRI Strategy Director Mr. Ivan Lam; CityU Knowledge Transfer Office Acting Director Professor Johnny Ho; and ASTRI Marketing Director Ms. Phoebe Yip.

Representatives from the three HK Tech 300 start-up companies that signed letters of intent to explore collaboration with ASTRI: (top row, from left) Dr. Eddie Ma and Dr. Kumar Gajendra from AniTech Limited; and (bottom row, from left) Mr. Peter Cheung from Albacastor Technology Limited, and Mr. Desmond Ho from Alpha AI Technology Limited.

[Hong Kong, 7 April 2022] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration on research and technology transfer as well as to nurture future R&D talent, leveraging the research expertise of both parties.

ASTRI and PolyU will kick-start research projects, capitalising on their respective research experience and strengths to develop impactful innovations. The relevant intellectual properties will then be translated into viable solutions for meeting industrial and societal needs. The two parties are committed to encouraging more interdisciplinary research discussions and strengthening cross-sector technology transfer.

With cultivating young talent as a core mission of the collaboration, ASTRI and PolyU are dedicated to building a strong talent base for the long-term and sustainable development of R&D in Hong Kong. The ASTRI Day @ PolyU scheduled on 13 April will foster exchange and cooperation between academia and industry. Experts from ASTRI will share insights on various hot technology topics such as Trust and AI Technologies, Communications Technologies, IoT Sensing and AI Technologies, Integrated Circuits and Systems, etc. PolyU students will gain a comprehensive understanding of technology trends as well as career prospects in different research fields.

Ir Sunny LEE, JP, Chairman of ASTRI, said, “We are eagerly looking forward to the strengthening of collaboration with PolyU in the areas of research and talent nurturing. This will further promote cross-disciplinary research and the integration of basic and applied research, while expanding Hong Kong’s I&T talent pool. I assure you that ASTRI’s researchers, who are experts in cutting-edge technologies, will do their utmost to impart their knowledge and experience to PolyU’s students. I am also sure that these students will in turn inject new impetus into ASTRI.”

Professor Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, said, “We are thrilled to partner with ASTRI to cultivate research talent in Hong Kong by leveraging our unique strengths to empower our students and graduates with forward-looking technologies through various exchange activities. We will also provide career opportunities for those who are enthusiastic about technology advancement. This MoU will deepen PolyU’s ongoing collaboration with industry and our commitment to transforming research excellence into societal impact for the long-term sustainable development of the city.”

Under this MoU, PolyU’s Department of Applied Physics and ASTRI will jointly design a brand-new Master’s programme focusing on microelectronics technologies. Professor Wing-tak WONG, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, remarked that this new MSc programme in Microeleclectronics Technology and Materials, to be launched in the 2023/24 academic year, will enable students to cope with emerging technology and industry needs. ASTRI’s experts will co-teach three highly industry-relevant subjects, namely Integrated Circuits Design, Microelectronics Packaging and Reliability, and Machine Vision for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Inspections.

Committed to driving translational research and technology innovation as well as talent cultivation, ASTRI and PolyU will continue to collaborate closely on a wide range of initiatives to address real-world challenges for the benefit of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world.

ASTRI and PolyU have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration on research and technology transfer as well as to nurture future R&D talent, leveraging the research expertise of both parties. The MoU was signed by ASTRI CEO Dr Denis Yip (1st from right) and PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) Professor Christopher Chao (2nd from left) and witnessed by ASTRI Chairman Ir Sunny Lee, JP (2nd from right) and PolyU Deputy President and Provost Professor Wing-tak Wong (1st from left).

[Hong Kong, 6 APRIL 2022] As new graduates proceed to join the workforce, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) will be conducting virtual “ASTRI Day” career talks at various universities in April. Graduates will find out more about ASTRI’s areas of research and development, the corresponding career paths, and ASTRI’s plan to nurture talents in a rapidly evolving innovation and technology industry.

Among which, the talks will touch on the “Top Technology Scholar Programme”, ASTRI’s first-of-its-kind programme to attract master’s and Doctoral degree holders who have graduated within the last two years. Programme participants will take part in important research projects at ASTRI, gaining valuable experience in the Greater Bay Area. Selected talents who have fulfilled their performance targets in the first year will receive a promotion and raise. They will also receive a scholarship upon completion of the two-year programme.

The programme is open to both local and non-local graduate school talents who have graduated within the last two years. Selected talents will participate in important research projects at ASTRI, many of which are carried out in collaboration with enterprises and organisations in the Greater Bay Area. Therefore, participants will be able to visit large enterprises in the industry, gaining valuable work experience and perspectives in the Greater Bay Area. ASTRI may also arrange overseas training and exchange for the participants when the COVID-19 pandemic eases up. Participants will be able to visit start-up companies to learn more about their operations.

Management staff or innovation and technology professionals at ASTRI will serve as mentors, imparting their experience and knowledge to the programme participants. Besides providing training on the programme, ASTRI will also sponsor programme participants to pursue up to 24 hours of external courses. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in important activities organised by the innovation and technology alliance, as well as corporate social responsibility projects.

ASTRI CEO Dr. Denis Yip says, “ASTRI has always strived to fulfil its mission of nurturing innovation and technology talents in Hong Kong. Participants of this programme will be able to obtain practical experience in research and development while visiting corporations in the Greater Bay Area. Together with overseas training and exchange, we can prepare our future generations with a strong foundation and broader perspectives, enriching future development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong.

“ASTRI Day” shall be conducted virtually from April at the following universities (in no particular order): the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Hong Kong Baptist University, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. All students in the relevant fields of study are welcome to attend to find out more and receive the latest updates. Students may also choose to attend a preliminary interview after the event.

ASTRI has developed a variety of technological solutions to resolve difficult problems and improve operational efficiency for the Hong Kong government, public sector, and other corporations. Our applied technologies may be categorised into four influential technological divisions: trusted artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, communications technologies, Internet of Things (IoT) sensing and AI technologies, as well as integrated circuits and systems.

Programme participants who have fulfilled their performance targets after the first year will receive a promotion and raise. Upon completion of the two-year programme, master’s and Doctoral degree holders will receive a scholarship of HK$50,000 and HK$80,000 respectively. Application to this programme is now open until 31 December 2022. For more detail, kindly read the website posted at https://www.astri.org/careers/astri-day/.

“ASTRI Day” Career Day date and time：

[Hong Kong, 28 March 2022] Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has won twelve medals, consisting of two gold medals and ten silver medals, at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva this year.

ASTRI has earned a gold medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2022 for its “Making future cities and campuses smarter and more efficient with 5G” solution. Commonly known as “Easy 5G Solution”, this is Hong Kong’s first end-to-end 5G network solution with world-leading technologies of 5G base station, 5G MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing) and 5G Core. Its flexible design, easy deployment and relatively low cost can lower the entry barriers for small and medium enterprises to enter the 5G market and support 5G applications to roll out in Hong Kong as well as the development of smart city. ASTRI has allowed around 20 local and mainland corporations, including telecommunication service providers, to use its Easy 5G Solution via licensing. More corporations are now in discussion with ASTRI for technology transfer.

ASTRI’s “Novel underwater wireless power charging solution against climate change” has also won a gold medal at the exhibition. To alleviate the impact of climate change on our ocean, ASTRI has achieved major breakthroughs on 3rd generation semiconductor, power converter and wireless power transfer system. ASTRI has proposed a novel and highly-efficient wireless power transfer system to extend the working range and operation time of unmanned vehicles for underwater and offshore applications.

COVID-19 has caused worldwide devastation for more than two years, impacting global communications and logistics development. Our silver medals cover a range of innovative technology that is indicative of a collective desire to adapt to the new normal and pick up where we left off. Among which, we have made advancements in Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain technology to track cross-border transportation of vaccines, medicine and frozen foods. This allows us to maintain stable temperatures and accurate logistical data over long hours, reducing transportation risks by 50%.

Digital Health: An ageing population will become a major issue for many countries. One of our technological innovations provides aid in research of hereditary conditions, which can be implemented in senior healthcare technology. Users may monitor changes in their retina at home, allowing for medical diagnosis with artificial intelligence solutions to determine suitable treatment options in future. Seniors can seek prompt diagnostic and treatment options at medical institutions for just one-fifth of the current price, reducing treatment costs for the elderly.

Smart Mobility: Utilisation of 5G and C-V2X technologies to improve smart mobility infrastructure with a higher level of accuracy and reliability in the future development.

ASTRI Chairman Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP, is proud of the researchers for their achievements and adds, “The world’s brightest innovators gather at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva every year. We are honoured to be awarded and recognised for our efforts at one of the most prominent global exhibitions for inventors. We shall continue to work hard and create influential technological innovations that will bring about greater contributions to the public.”

ASTRI CEO Dr Denis Yip says, “The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about drastic changes to many aspects of everyday life across the globe for the past two years. However, opportunities arise in the face of adversity. Our researchers are able to create a range of technological innovations to help us adapt to this new environment. These accolades serve to remind us of the relentless spirit in humanity despite unprecedented changes and obstacles. Our researchers continue to work hard in the development of new technological innovations and ideas while keeping up with the times. In recent years, ASTRI has focused on nurturing researchers across different disciplines. Our achievements at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva serve as recognition of Hong Kong’s outstanding talents in research and technology. We are also deeply honoured to have received recognition for four consecutive years.”

Since its founding 22 years ago, ASTRI has strived to promote technological advancement and innovation, as well as research contributions in Hong Kong. Our research findings are applied in both public and private organisations in Hong Kong. We have amassed a significant intellectual property portfolio of around 800 innovation and technology patents with years of hard work. Among which, around 750 have been utilised and applied in the relevant industries. In recent years, we have focused on nurturing research talents in collaboration with the respective industries, in hopes of promoting technological industrialisation and smart transformation to improve Hong Kong’s competitiveness.

The International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva is jointly organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the Swiss federal and state governments, as well as the city of Geneva. With its coveted global standing, it is regarded as the world’s biggest and most prestigious exhibition for inventions. The International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2022 has attracted an estimated 800 inventions from 25 countries and regions for judging on its online platform.

In order to maintain close ties with innovators and inventors across the globe during the pandemic, the organisers of the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva have decided to hold a virtual judging of the exhibition in 2022. Inventors from all over the world have submitted a 3-minute video presentation of their technological innovations to a panel of professional judges.

The full list of awards accorded to ASTRI at this year’s International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva is as follows:

Gold medal

1. Making future cities and campuses smarter and more efficient with 5G
2. Novel underwater wireless power charging solution against climate change

Silver medal

1. The generation of knowledgeable chatbot
2. Mass real-time data stream processing for digital marketing
3. Building blocks for future digitization of paper documents
4. Evolution of cross-boundary compliance ecosystems in pandemics
5. Enhancing future smart mobility infrastructure with low latency, high precision and reliable C-V2X system
6. Low carbon emission design optimization for AI computing
7. Give batteries a second life
8. Rapid charging technology for reducing downtime and increasing productivity for mobile robotics
9. Low-cost AI night vision technology for life saving
10. Popularizing preventive eye retina checking solution

[Hong Kong, 4 March 2022] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) garnered four awards at 2021-22 Hong Kong Awards for Industries (HKAI) for its highly efficient platform for quality control, camera system for enhancing safety of construction sites, world-leading 5G network solution, and energy-efficient direct current technology.

“The research and development team at ASTRI has been striving to solve problems for enterprises in various sectors and enhance their operating efficiency through applications of cutting-edge technology and advanced research,” said Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI. “I appreciate very much the dedication and perseverance of my research and development (R&D) colleagues for constantly exploring the possibility of innovation. Let’s go forward for making Hong Kong and the Mainland smarter and contributing to the advancement of the Greater Bay Area as an international innovation hub.”

ASTRI won the Equipment and Machinery Design Award at HKAI for its “End-to-end AI-Powered Visual Inspection Platform for Quality Control”. Leveraging deep learning and machine vision technology, the platform can be used to train computers and applied to production lines to extensively raise the efficiency of quality inspection. It can thus save cost for the industrial sector and help promoting re-industrialisation for Hong Kong.

In addition to raising the efficiency of quality inspection, the platform can reduce manpower by 80%. Compared to manual inspection, it can increase the speed of inspection by more than 20 times and reduce the omission rate by 25%. The platform has been adopted by corporate partners of ASTRI for quality inspection of various products such as semiconductor wafers, surface mount devices, laser diodes, touch panel glass, mobile phone display glass, and optical isolators.

ASTRI has also earned the Technological Achievement Certificate of Merit at HKAI for its “Easy 5G Solution – Leading 5G Technology in the World”. It is Hong Kong’s first end-to-end 5G network solution with world-leading technologies of 5G base station, 5G MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing) and 5G Core. Its flexible design, easy deployment and relatively low cost can lower the entry barriers for small and medium enterprises to enter the 5G market and support 5G applications to roll out in Hong Kong.

ASTRI has allowed around 20 local and mainland corporations, including telecommunication service providers, to use its Easy 5G Solution via licensing. More corporations are now in discussion with ASTRI for technology transfer.

The AI-powered and intelligent vision-based monitoring system NEXCAM 360, jointly developed by ASTRI and its partner Nexplore Hong Kong Limited, was honoured with the Equipment and Machinery Design Certificate of Merit at HKAI for enhancing the safety of construction sites.

Equipped with advanced AI and optical technologies, the system is used for heavy mobile machineries in construction sites to monitor all situations in specific areas. Whenever it is inspected that collisions may occur between the machinery and nearby vehicles or passers-by, the system will automatically alert the machinery operator and passers-by to prevent accidents. NEXCAM 360 has been applied in many construction sites and in the process of further commercialization.

ASTRI received the Innovation and Creativity Certificate of Merit at HKAI for its “Energy-efficient Direct Current Power Supply Solution for Carbon Neutral Buildings”. While buildings in Hong Kong are currently powered by alternating current (AC), its research team utilised the third-generation semiconductor technologies to change the power supply to direct current (DC) instead. The system, consisting of a high-efficiency power converter and a digital DC circuit breaker, can allow electrical equipment (including household and commercial electrical appliances) to be powered by DC efficiently and safely. As a result, energy consumption can be reduced by 15% to 20%.

This system has been applied to a conference room in the premises of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. A power equipment manufacturer in Mainland China has also adopted this technology for further commercialisation, allowing property developers in different cities to adopt it for their properties.

Supported by Hong Kong SAR Government, the HKAI aims to recognise the outstanding achievements of Hong Kong enterprises in pursuit of high technology and high value-added activities.

The “End-to-end AI-Powered Visual Inspection Platform for Quality Control” project is led by Dr Wong Ka Yiu, ASTRI’s Senior Lead Engineer of Intelligent Machine Vision, IoT and Sensors. Team members include Mr Liu Weizhi, Mr Wong Chi Shing, Dr Shu Jiayu and Mr Chui Wai Hun.

The “Easy 5G Solution – Leading 5G Technology in the World” project is led by Dr Justin Chuang, Vice President, Communications Technologies at ASTRI. Team members include Dr Eddy CHIU; Dr HAN Wei; Mr Walter Tsui; Mr Leo Wong; Dr Yuxian Zhang; Mr Ricky Liu; Ms Jia NI; Dr Yolanda Tsang; Mr Liang DONG; Dr Ying DONG; Mr Jianjun Zhang; Mr Liao Qifeng and Mr Wang Haiman.

The “NEXCAM 360” project is led by Mr Kenny Chan, Director of Emerging Sensing and Display System at ASTRI. Team members include Mr Calvin Chan, Ms Wendy Zhang, Mr Sultan Malik Saad, Mr Zhang Zhuanyun and Mr Zheng Linhan.

The “Energy-efficient Direct Current Power Supply Solution for Carbon Neutral Buildings” project is led by Dr River Li, ASTRI’s Deputy Director of Smart Power and Energy Systems, Integrated Circuits Systems. Team members include Dr Victor Cheung, Ms Li Qingchun, Mr Terence Lau, Mr Andy Yeung, Ms LI Xin and Ms Katrina Lam.