ASTRI Summer Internship Programme Nurtures I&T Talents Develop Smart Technologies from Scratch

25 August 2025 – The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) concluded its Summer Internship Programme on 15 August. A total of 38 interns from top-tier universities worldwide, selected from 2,500 applicants, have successfully completed an enriching eight-week work experience.

“At ASTRI, we are committed to nurturing young talent and driving innovation forward,” said Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI. “I’m delighted to see how the internship programme has inspired these bright minds to embark on their innovation and technology (I&T) journey in this vibrant city after graduation.”

Industry Engagement
During the programme, ASTRI’s talent acquisition team organised a series of events, including a CTO Dialogue, two “Tech Talk” seminars, a presentation skill training workshop, company visits and networking sessions. These activities offered interns valuable exposures to industry experts and insights into Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem.

Visits to organisations such as Bank of China (Hong Kong), Cyberport, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, IBM and HKSTP Experience Centre provided a comprehensive understanding of the industry landscape.

Funded by the STEM Internship Scheme under the Innovation and Technology Fund of the Innovation and Technology Commission, the programme paired interns with senior researchers to work on hands-on research and development (R&D) projects. These projects spanned diverse areas, including AI-powered solutions, digital health, FinTech, green technologies, robotics and more.

Smart Technologies for Greater Good
Darshbir Singh Kohli developed a real-time monitoring system to track environmental conditions and optimises inverter efficiency. His projects contribute to the development of a solar-powered bi-directional DC-AC inverter and EV charging station, advancing smarter energy management and sustainability.

A first-year engineering student at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Darshbir shared, “I felt deeply motivated knowing that my work could make a tangible impact on improving the environment and achieving carbon neutrality.”

Russell Lam, a second-year life science student at the University of Toronto, contributed to the development of an electronic nose system to classify food waste based on gas profiles. He conducted rough trials, determined the concentration range for spoilage gases, and experimented with flow and diffusion sensor systems.

This low-cost energy solution efficiently sorts food waste for reuse in energy production or animal feed, promoting sustainable waste management. Reflecting on the internship, Russell said: “The opportunity to develop the electronic nose system from concept to prototype taught me the importance of considering both technical feasibility and practical implementation in innovation.”

AI-powered Financial Solutions
Heison Cheung addressed financial fraud by creating a font recognition model to detect fake bank statements. Using real data and a convolutional neural network, he developed a system capable of identifying unusual font styles, even detecting subtle variations that might escape human notice.

A second-year data science and analytics student at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Heison described his experience as transformative: “Working at ASTRI has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic journey. I had the opportunity to apply my knowledge to real-world problems, contribute to meaningful solutions, and learn from seasoned professionals.”