ASTRI’s “2021 Advanced Semiconductor Innovation and Development Conference” brings together industry stakeholders from Mainland and HK for innovation and collaboration

[Hong Kong, 3 January 2022] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Research Technology Institute (ASTRI) successfully held the first “Advanced Semiconductor Innovation and Development Conference”. Under the theme ” The Power of Greater Bay”, the Conference brought together well-known experts online to discuss ways of fostering R&D collaborations and new applications of advanced semiconductors in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, with a view to developing the Greater Bay Area (GBA) into an international Innovation and Technology (I&T) hub. Nearly 2,400 industry participants from Hong Kong and the Mainland signed up for the Conference. 

 

In his congratulatory speech to the Conference, Mr Cao Jianlin, former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology and now Director of Jihua Laboratory, noted that the GBA is the region with the highest volume of chip sales in China and indeed in the world. Given the chip shortage, many cities in mainland China have increased their investment in the semiconductor industry. He added, “I sincerely hope that today’s Conference participants will engage in in-depth exchanges of views, enabling them to forge consensus, deepen cooperation, contribute ideas and make concrete plans for advancing the semiconductor industry in the GBA.”

 

Mr Alfred Sit, Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government, noted in his congratulatory speech that advanced semiconductors are core electronic components supporting innovative technology developments in fields such as mobile communications, new energy vehicles and rail transit, therefore making this an important technology that countries all over the world are competing hard to excel. He said, “It is essential to enhance the semiconductor industrial chain in the GBA to facilitate product development and inspire more new technologies and more new products in support of national technology advancement. Achieving this will rely on active discussion and cooperation among stakeholders.”

 

In his speech, Mr Liu Maozhou, Inspector of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in HKSAR, said, “The GBA represents a huge market for advanced semiconductor end-use applications. Hong Kong can take advantage of its proximity to mainland China and seize opportunities to lead in terms of key technologies and cutting-edge basic research. It can also leverage support from various National Key Research and Development Programs to develop innovations that serve the needs of enterprises and contribute to the close integration of different sectors of the industrial chain.”

 

In his welcoming remarks, Ir Sunny Lee, JP, Chairman of ASTRI, congratulated ASTRI for its R&D achievements regarding third-generation semiconductors, including its contributions to an innovation project that obtained a First-class Prize of the “2020 State Scientific and Technological Progress Award”. He said, “ASTRI will continue to pursue success by forging ahead to seize opportunities brought by China’s development, while also contributing to the construction of an international I&T hub in the GBA.”

 

Dr Denis Yip, CEO of ASTRI, said in his opening remarks: “ASTRI will actively complement the National 14th Five-Year Plan, leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths to fully participate in the I&T development of the GBA and help meet the country’s needs. The goal of this Conference is to bring together partners from various spheres in order to strengthen collaboration among I&T players in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and help in developing GBA into a global I&T hub.”

 

This online Conference received nearly 2,400 registrations, and enjoyed a high attendance rate. In addition to attracting officials from the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in HKSAR and the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, it also brought together many stakeholders from the semiconductor industry in Hong Kong and the mainland, as well as members of academia and students. 

 

Speakers enthusiastically shared their thoughts at the Conference. Under the 14th Five-Year Plan, China’s third-generation semiconductor industry is developing rapidly. Given the strong basic research capabilities of universities in Hong Kong, and ASTRI’s large third-generation semiconductor research team (the largest in Hong Kong) with its mastery of cutting-edge chip design technology, Hong Kong is expected to play an important role in the development of the industry in the GBA. 

 

The city also aims to attract more leading overseas experts and talent, and strengthen collaborations with overseas researchers, enterprises and universities, which will help it to drive innovative R&D work, attract R&D funding, and strengthen its role as a bridge between the mainland and the rest of the world.

 

The Conference, successfully held on 10 December 2021, was organised by ASTRI, Jihua Laboratory and the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Center, and supported by many other organisations.