[Hong Kong, 26 June, 2023] Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) “Summer Internship Programme” and “FinTech Future Leaders Academy (Internship)” came back and received the highest number of applications ever from local, Mainland China and overseas students. Nearly 3,000 applications were received, an increase of over 20% compared to last year. About 100 outstanding applicants have been selected to participate in the 8-week internship programmes starting today. The programmes are funded by the STEM Internship Scheme under the Innovation and Technology Fund of the Innovation and Technology Commission to encourage STEM undergraduates and postgraduates to enrich innovation and technology (I & T) related work experience and to foster their interest in pursuing a career in I&T after graduation.
Gain Hands-on R&D experience and learn about Hong Kong I&T ecosystem
To cope with the thriving development of the I&T industry in the future, ASTRI has doubled the number of interns this year, including students from world-renowned universities such as the National University of Singapore, Australian National University, Durham University, Imperial College London, the University of Oxford, University College London, University of Chicago, Columbia University and University of California in the UK and the US, as well as universities in the Greater Bay Area(“GBA”) including four local universities (The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), The University of Hong Kong), CUHK-Shenzhen, Beijing Normal University & Hong Kong Baptist University United International College and HKUST-Guangzhou in Mainland China. The interns are primarily engaged in STEM disciplines, though some non-STEM students are hoping to understand emerging industries such as ecosystem development and technology transfer through working at research institutions.
Under the guidance of experienced researchers, interns will involve in applied research and development (R&D) projects in ASTRI’s six core areas: Smart City, FinTech, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Digital Health, Application Specific Integrated Circuits and Metaverse. In this unique environment, they will learn invaluable hands-on R&D experience in every step from project development, technology research and client communication to knowledge transfer, further exploring the possibility of pursuing a career in research institutions.
In addition to daily duties in R&D departments, interns can attend “Tech Talk” technology seminars and networking events to connect with industry experts from large enterprises and organisations, gaining insight into company operations and the actual situation of Hong Kong I&T industry. Interns of “FinTech Future Leaders Academy (Internship)” will undertake two-week field visits to a variety of prestigious financial and technology institutions including Bank of China (Hong Kong), Cyberport, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Hong Kong Monetary Authority, IBM, Microsoft Hong Kong and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the development of FinTech in Hong Kong.
Nurturing young talent to enhance a sustainable I&T ecosystem
Enlarging the talent pool is critical in enhancing the I&T ecosystem. As Hong Kong has actively integrated into the national I&T development in recent years, more talents with an international perspective and familiarity with the R&D environment in mainland China are needed. ASTRI is committed to building learning and exchange platforms for the new generation, allowing students to experience the working environment of the I&T industry as early as possible, equipping them with the necessary R&D knowledge and innovative mindset, in order to provide sustainable personnel, research capabilities and long-term development momentum for the ecosystem.
Dr. Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, said: “ASTRI’s Summer Internship Programmes receive very positive feedback and reputation every year. More students are interested in studying STEM-related disciplines as it is foreseeable the golden age of the I&T industry in the next five to ten years. Through our “Summer Internship Programme” and “FinTech Future Leaders Academy (Internship)”, we hope students can discover the appeal of the I&T industry through their participation in promoting the implementation of R&D results, allowing them to witness how technology improves the world and enriches life. In the next 8 weeks of the internship, I am eagerly anticipating having close interactions with our interns. I have high hope that our interns will be the inspiration for both themselves and the researchers at ASTRI, by presenting fresh and innovative ideas for our R&D projects.”
A Hundred interns from ASTRI’s “Summer Internship Programme” and “FinTech Future Leaders Academy (Internship”’ stand out from 3,000 applicants and officially commence their 8-week internship.
Dr. Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI welcomed summer interns on the orientation day.
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