Press Release

Fujian Provincial Economic and Information Technology Commission, Fuzhou Municipal Economic and Information Technology Commission, Huawei, Prajna IoT Tech Co. Ltd., organised the NB-IoT Memorandum of Cooperation Signing Ceremony in Fuzhou on 21 June, which is a prelude to the implementation of the Smart City NB-IoT project in Fuzhou Province.

Vice Mayor of Fuzhou Mr. Gao Ming, Vice Director of the Fujian Provincial Economic and Information Technology Commission Mr.Chen Jianye, Vice-President of Huawei Mr. Chu Qing, General Manager of Prajna IoT Tech Co. Ltd. Mr. Chen Hong signed the Memorandum of Cooperation under the witness of Deputy Party Chief and Mayor of Fuzhou Mr. Yang Yimin, Secretary-General of Fuzhou Municipal Government Mr. Linxian, Director of Fujian Provincial Economic and Information Technology Commission Mr. Lin Guoyao, Director of Fujian Provincial Communications Administration Mr. Zhang Xin, Director of Fuzhou Development and Reform Commission Mr. Zhang Dabin, Director of Fuzhou Municipal Economic and Information Technology Commission Mr. Huang Jilin and Vice-President of Huawei Mr. Cai Yinghua.

Being the cooperation partner of Huawei and Prajna IoT Tech Co. Ltd. in the area of NB-IoT, ASTRI, as represented by Chief Technology Officer Dr. Ieong Meikei, was invited to be attend the Ceremony.

There was an in-depth discussion on the cooperation of NB-IoT project between ASTRI and Prajna IoT Tech Co. Ltd after the ceremony.

Fujian NB-IoT Memorandum of Cooperation Signing Ceremony

The Intake Selection of ASTRI Innovation Runway (AIR) Program 2016 was successfully completed on 21 June 2016. This year, a total 75 applicants of 25 teams comprising students from different universities including Imperial College London,, University of Virginia, and Cornell University, to name but a few, applied for the program.

After a thorough  deliberation,7 teams were shortlisted to present their ideas and projects to the judging panel which was composed of Ms. Joelle Woo, Director of Business Development and Developer Experience, Microsoft Hong Kong Limited, Mr. So Chun, Administrative Director of EMBA Program, CUHK, Dr. Justin Chuang, Vice President and Group Director (VPGD) of Communications Technologies cum Acting Director of Software & Systems, ASTRI, and Dr. Duncan Wong, Director of Security and Data Sciences, ASTRI. Details of the shortlisted team are as follows:

Project Team Name	Theme	Background
Barrier Free Stations System Design proposal of intelligent MTR stations in solving problems of pedestrian congestion	Smart City	U of Virginia
CLICK  Offer internet users with overseas travel info, shopping info, products through sharing of photos, as well as offering services of second hand goods exchange, coupons, and group buy	Smart City	Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (GZUCM)
Exo-Stabilizer Wearable Robotic Device for Parkinson’s Disease	Medical & Health Technologies	Imperial/HKU/CUHK
MiniMaps Provide precise indoor navigation by interacting with pre-installed Beacon devices.	Smart City	HKU/PolyU
MyParents An elderly-focused social enterprise supporting Sons&Daughters to address needs of the aging parents	Communication Technologies	Cornell/CUHK/UST
The Blueberry Make Music Tag to be evolved into patented innovations on IoT platform, device & blockchain	Smart City & FinTech	HKU/CUHK/PolyU
Vini An online platform that gathers worldwide travelers together to form group tours.	Communication Technologies	PolyU/CUHK

During the Selection Intake, current AIR fellow teams of Venue.hk, Locavel, VRpose, Recipio.hk and eScooter showcased their projects and mentors of the program shared their insights with the candidates. The selection intake results will be announced in a week’s time.

For more info about AIR program, please refer to http://air.astri.org/

Group photo with shortlisted teams and judging panel.

Welcoming remarks by Dr. Justin Chuang, Vice President and Group Director (VPGD) of Communications Technologies cum Acting Director of Software & Systems, ASTRI.

Presentation by shortlisted team.

Existing AIR fellow team showcases its project.

Over 30 students and 2 teachers from Munsang College Primary School visited ASTRI on 21 June, 2016.  ASTRI’s Chairman Mr. Wong Ming-yam extended a warm welcome to the students and teachers. During the visit, ASTRI’s R&D experts introduced to them ASTRI’s latest technologies including Cyber Range Lab, facial recognition, Naked Eye 3D Display Lab, and AI on Chinese character recognition. The students answered questions actively and showed keen interest in learning different technologies.

Following is the Welcoming Remark by Mr. Wong Ming-yam, BBS, JP, Chairman of ASTRI at Collaboration Agreement Signing of ASTRI-Marvel Digital Joint Research and Development Centre on 20 Jun 2016.

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Herbert (CEO of Marvel Digital), Mr. Con Unerkov (Non-Executive Director of China Integrated Media Corporation Ltd, Parent Company of Marvel Digital), ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon.  It is my pleasure to welcome you here today, to share with us this special moment that marks a new page of cooperation between ASTRI and Marvel Digital.

ASTRI and Marvel Digital have been engaging in a very fruitful strategic partnership for over 3 years and have successfully developed a number of great technologies including glasses-free 3D technology.  As you can see, Marvel Digital is very considerate as they have put up a wonderful TV wall here today for you to view and feel the power of innovation, and the impact of our cooperation.

In a moment’s time, we will be signing a cooperation agreement on the establishment of the ASTRI-Marvel Digital Joint Research and Development Centre, which will focus on advanced technology in 3D imaging covering glasses-free 3D virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence, to name but a few.  In short, it bears the mission possible (not impossible) to bring along novel research and innovative products.  I strongly believe that our combined strengths in R & D expertise will take the quality of entertainment and many aspects of our life to the next level.  Most important of all, we will build a strong and professional IC design team and cultivate research talents together.

Thank you.

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Dr. Herbert Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Marvel Digital also delivered speech at the signing ceremony. The following is his speech.

Thank you Mr. Wong, Chairman of the board of directors of ASTRI, and Dr. Tong, CEO of ASTRI. Thank you for our distinguish guests for coming to this ceremony. Marvel Digital positions itself as a R&D company which focuses on technology research and product development. Our strategy is to cooperate with advanced research institutes like ASTRI, HKU and HKPolyU to do the basic technology research. We then subsequently use this research outcome to develop innovative products and services that have competitive advantage. Our current business focus on glasses-free 3D technology. We have already developed related products that include digital signage, tablet, mobile phone, PC monitor, content conversion software and super-workstation. Our 3D technology has also been applied to the new China National 3D standard that includes glasses-free 3D technology that will be used in the China broadcasting industry in the coming future. This year is a critical turning point for us as our investment and effort on R&D has materialized. We have a very profitable financial year for the first time and we expect the situation will persist in the coming few years.

Today, we are honored to have the chance to cooperate with ASTRI to establish this Joint Research and Development Center. This joint research center will focus on advance imaging technology which includes glasses-free 3D, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI). Through this research cooperation, we shall have an opportunity to further expand our business scope into these domains. We are looking forward to have innovative products to be developed in this area soon. On the other hand, in order to make our products competitive, we have planned to build a professional IC design team. Through this joint research center, ASTRI will help us to fulfill our mission; as we all know that ASTRI is quite renounced in IC design in the Asia Pacific region. We have cooperated with ASTRI for the past 3 years and we are having a very happy relationship throughout these years. We have high hope that this Join Lab will enable us to stay in the technology forefront in the coming years. We look forward to continue this happy relationship with ASTRI in the years ahead.

ASTRI and Fujian Cross-straits Center for Technology Transfer jointly organised the 2016 Smart Medical Forum in Fuzhou on 19 Jun 2016 at Fuzhou National Technology Transfer Cross-straits Center Building.  The forum was co-organized by the Fujian Strait Technology Transfer Centre and International Technology Transfer Network (ITTN).

7 experts from ASTRI, ITTN, Peking University, Chongqing University, China Electronic Technology Group Corporation Information Science Academy and Institute of China Unicom Co., Ltd. delivered keynote speeches and highlighted the R&D achievements at the Forum.  Party members of Fujian Provincial Department of Science and Technology and Mr. Jiansheng You, Deputy Director of the Fujian Provincial Department attended the Forum and gave welcoming remarks. The Forum attracted around 100 participants from Fujian Province enterprises,  high schools, R&D institutes as well as Municipal Science and Technology Bureau in the City.

Group photo with government officials and guest speakers.

Mr. Jiansheng You, Deputy Director of the Fujian Provincial Department (1^st row, 5^th from right), Dr. Xiaohua Wu, Director of ASTRI (1^st row, 4^th from left) and Dr. John Tsang, Senior Technical Manager of ASTRI (1^st row, 3^rd from left)

Mr. Jiansheng You, Deputy Director of the Fujian Provincial Department gives welcoming remark.

Smart Medical Forum in Fuzhou

Dr. Xiaohua Wu gives a presentation on Medical Image Analysis Aided Diagnosis Technology.

Dr. John Tsang gives a presentation on Smart Healthcare Electronics.

Enterprises mingle with ASTRI’s Director Dr. Xiaohua Wu.

Cyberport Chief Executive Officer Mr. Herman Lam and Chief Public Mission Officer Dr. Toa Charm visited ASTRI on 14 June 2016.  Dr. Frank Tong, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI showed them the latest technologies at ASTRI Security Lab and Cyber Range Lab.

Mr. Wong Ming-yam, BBS, JP, Chairman of Board of Directors of ASTRI was invited as one of the speakers of the panel discussion session of “Global Economy and Business Trend” at the Wise Business Summit 2016 held on 7 June 2016 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

In the discussion session, Mr. Wong talked about Hong Kong’s unique advantages in the development of innovation and technology and related businesses and offered valuable advice to corporate executives on grasping these advantages. Mr. Wong also shared his insights on the future development and application of innovation and technology in Hong Kong. At the Summit, ASTRI set up an exhibition booth to showcase its latest R&D development and technology projects.

The Wise Business Summit 2016 was organized by the Hong Kong Economic Times, Hong Kong Productivity Council and HSBC with the objectives of providing local enterprises with professional expertise and market information to help them take advantage of the opportunities in the fast changing global economy. The theme of this year’s Summit was Innovation Paradigm, New Impetus and Opportunities which attracted over 500 participants.

Mr. Wong Ming-yam, BBS, JP, Chairman of ASTRI (2^nd row, 4^th from right) takes group photo together with the officiating guest Honourable John Tsang, GBM, JP, Financial Secretary, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1^st row, 3^rd from left) and representatives of the organizers and co-organziers.

Mr. Wong Ming-yam, BBS, JP, Chairman of ASTRI shares his insights at the panel discussion session of “Global Economy and Business Trend”.

ASTRI sets up an exhibition booth to showcase its latest R&D development and its latest technology projects.

The 7th Management Committee Meeting of Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Centre (CNERC) for Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) System was held in Hong Kong on 17 June 2016. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Philip Chan, Chairman of the Management Committee and Deputy President and Provost of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.  Participants of the meeting included Prof. Longxing Shi, Director of CNERC for ASIC System, Prof. Shengli Lu, Deputy Director of CNERC for ASIC System, Mr. Vincent Tang, Assistant Commissioner (Infrastructure and Quality Services) of the Innovation and Technology Commission, Ms. Alsa Choi, Senior Manager (Infrastructure) of the Innovation and Technology Commission, Dr. Davy Lo, Member of the Board of Directors of ASTRI, Mr. Chuck Cheng, CEO and President of AppoTech Ltd, Dr. Frank Tong, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, Dr. Meikei Ieong, Chief Technology Officer of ASTRI, Dr. Thomas Liu, Vice President, Intelligent Manufacturing of ASTRI, Mr. Bill Zhang, Director of IC Design Analog of ASTRI, Mr. YK Li, Director of IC Design Digital of ASTRI, and Dr. Daniel Shi, Director of Electronics Components of ASTRI.

The Management Committee unanimously appointed Dr. Meikei Ieong as the new member of the Management Committee and confirmed the 6th meeting minutes. Members reported and summarized various achievements and R&D status for the past year, including ITF project fund, industry income, patent, standardization, and collaboration with Southeast University. The future R&D directions and technology roadmap were also presented and discussed in the meeting. The R&D areas will focus on wireless Internet of Things, video, storage, power semiconductor, and etc. Members also discussed the project and collaboration plans for the next year. At the end of the meeting, it was confirmed that the 8th Management Committee Meeting will be held in June 2017 in Nanjing, China.