[Hong Kong, 21 April 2023] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) held a launch ceremony of the ASTRI Technovation Centre (ATC) today, providing an I&T collaboration platform among the government, industry, academic and research sectors to showcase leading R&D outcomes from Hong Kong. Attended the ceremony were the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, professors and research teams from six local universities, including City University of Hong Kong (CityU), Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and University of Hong Kong (HKU). They witnessed the establishment of long-term collaboration and partnership between local universities and research institutes, which promotes university technology transfer and implementations of R&D outcomes, enhancing the Hong Kong I&T ecosystem and contributing to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre.
Local universities build the foundation of the R&D ability of Hong Kong, nurturing countless R&D talents and technology startups. This launching ceremony historically gathered leaders who have immense contributions to R&D in Hong Kong and have obtained great achievements in academia, including Professor Alexander Wai, President of HKBU; Professor Rocky Tuan, President of CUHK; Professor Sham Mai-har, Vice-President (Research) of CUHK; Professor Christopher Chao Yu-hang, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU; Professor Michael Tse, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research) of CityU; Dr Shin Cheul Kim, Associate Vice-President for Research and Development (Knowledge Transfer) of HKUST; and Professor Anderson Shum, Associate Vice-President (Research and Innovation) of HKU. They showed support and attached great importance to the direction of enhancing the I&T ecosystem advocated in the “Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint”, jointly facilitating a closer connection between upstream, midstream research to downstream markets in the ecosystem.
ASTRI has been seeing “implementation of R&D outcomes” as its mission since its establishment, actively promoting collaboration among the government, industry, academic and research sectors, and fostering I&T development in Hong Kong from multiple dimensions across upstream, midstream and downstream sectors. As the top-notch universities in Hong Kong, they provide advanced equipment and academic resources for researchers and utilise their influence in internationalization, innovative and cross-disciplinary research, attracting international talents to start their careers in Hong Kong. ASTRI and universities will strengthen collaboration to build an R&D commercialisation platform together. Regarding the upstream sector, we will continue to support advanced and basic research in universities. As for the midstream sector, we will promote technological innovations, collaboration among the industry, academic and research sectors, and accelerate the “from 1 to N” transformation and commercialisation of R&D outcomes. For the downstream sector, we will implement facilitation policies on technology industries focusing on the development of priority industries including life and health technology, AI and data science, advanced manufacturing and new energy, exploring and discovering cutting-edge technologies to provide solutions to cope with challenges in society.
Ms Lillian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, said, “Leveraging Hong Kong’s international advantages under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, as well as the innovation and top-notch research capabilities of local universities, Hong Kong’s scientific research achievements can surely accelerate the development of smart cities and improve the quality of life for residents, as long as all parties work together across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. Coupled with the huge development potential of the Greater Bay Area, the Hong Kong I&T sector will undoubtedly seize the opportunity to contribute to the country’s technological development.”
Ir Sunny Lee, Chairman of ASTRI, was in high spirit and felt encouraged from witnessing ASTRI’s collaboration with universities and said, “Nearly 100 R&D projects are conducted every year in ASTRI with the ultimate goal of realising commercialisation. University is our significantly important I&T partner. Today, ASTRI cooperates with six local universities in all-rounded scientific research to actively support development directions proposed in the “Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint”. In the future, we will continue to partner with universities to build an R&D commercialisation platform, with cooperation in aspects such as talents, resources, and R&D, to create a unique environment and opportunities for technological knowledge transfer, so as to seize the new opportunities in the I&T era together.”
Dr Denis Yip, CEO of ASTRI, said they had always kept close connection and communication with the academic sectors, “ASTRI and local universities will carry out more influential I&T projects that can meet the technological needs of enterprises and society, fostering the commercialisation of R&D outcomes, assisting in launching more I&T products into the market, and continue to support startups from universities to convert research achievements and technology into products and services. We will launch various recruitment schemes and Joint PhD programme in order to raise the competitiveness of local R&D talents globally, enhancing the I&T ecosystem from the perspective of nurturing talents and R&D capacities, so as to build Hong Kong into a smart city and make contributions to the I&T development in both Hong Kong and China.”
(From Left) Dr Shin Cheul Kim, Associate Vice-President for Research and Development (Knowledge Transfer) of HKUST; Professor Anderson Shum, Associate Vice-President (Research and Innovation) of HKU; Professor Sham Mai-har, Vice-President (Research) of CUHK; Professor Alexander Wai, President of HKBU; Ir Sunny Lee, Chairman of ASTRI; Ms Lillian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Dr Denis Yip, CEO of ASTRI; Professor Rocky Tuan, President of CUHK; Professor Christopher Chao Yu-hang, Vice-President (ResearchInnovation) of PolyU; Professor Michael Tse, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research) of CityU
(Front row, from Left) Dr Shin Cheul Kim, Associate Vice-President for Research and Development (Knowledge Transfer) of HKUST; Professor Anderson Shum, Associate Vice-President (Research and Innovation) of HKU; Professor Sham Mai-har, Vice-President (Research) of CUHK; Professor Alexander Wai, President of HKBU; Ir Sunny Lee, Chairman of ASTRI; Ms Lillian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Dr Denis Yip, CEO of ASTRI; Professor Rocky Tuan, President of CUHK; Professor Christopher Chao Yu-hang, Vice-President (ResearchInnovation) of PolyU; Professor Michael Tse, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research) of CityU; Ir Dr Samson Tai, ASTRI Board Member
(Second row, from Left) Dr T. John Koo, Director of Cyber-Physical Systems, ASTRI; Mr Alan Cheung, Senior Director of TAIT, ASTRI; Dr Daniel Shi, Vice President of ICS, ASTRI; Mr David Chan, Chief Operating Officer, ASTRI; Ir Prof Joseph Ng, ASTRI Board Member; Mr Anthony Tong, ASTRI Board Member, ASTRI; Dr Justin Chuang, Vice President of Communications Technologies, ASTRI; Dr Chen Jung Tsai, Senior Director of IOTSAI, ASTRI; Ms Jamie Cheng, Director of Ecosystem and University Technology Transfer, ASTRI
（Third right）Ms Lillian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry learns about projects co-developed by ASTRI and universities.
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