ASTRI announces appointment of new CEO

  • [Hong Kong, 23 September 2021] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has today announced the appointment of Dr. Denis Shing Fai YIP as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with effect from 5 October 2021.

    ASTRI Board Chairman Ir. Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP, said that he and his Board members are confident that Dr. Yip would lead Hong Kong’s largest applied research and development institute well with a view to developing Hong Kong’s technology-based industries.

    Ir. Lee said, “We are impressed with Dr. Yip’s extensive leadership experience in both the public and private sectors, covering management, strategy, operation, research and development as well as marketing. I am confident that he will lead ASTRI to continue strengthening its research and commercialisation work, and make significant contribution to Hong Kong’s development into a remarkable smart city as well as an international innovation and technology hub.”

    Dr. Yip had worked in Hong Kong, Beijing, Guangzhou, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo, and served at senior positions in a number of large enterprises. He has been serving as the Commissioner for Belt and Road of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau since the end of June 2019.

    From 2017 to early 2019, Dr. Yip served as President and Director of the Digital China Holdings Company and the Fujian Start Group respectively. He steered the development of the enterprises and established their business footholds. He had been the Senior Vice President and the President of Greater China of EMC Corporation since July 2006, and the Senior Vice President and President of Greater China of Dell Technologies Inc. since 2016. He was responsible for the overall business operations in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan during the period. From 1991 to 2006, Dr. Yip held a variety of senior management positions in the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), including as the Vice President of the Asia Pacific Storage Division.

    “I am deeply honored to join ASTRI and look forward to working closely with the team to leverage the opportunities brought by the “14th Five-Year Plan”, which enables us to exert greater influence in Hong Kong, the mainland and beyond with our research and development achievements,” said Dr. Yip.

    Dr. Yip holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from University of California, Berkeley. He also holds an MBA degree from Golden Gate University and completed Doctor of Business Administration degree in University of Management and Technology.

    ASTRI 5G Expertise Recognised

  • ASTRI recently received a letter of thanks from Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC) for helping solve the problem of 5G communications interference. The 3.5 GHz spectrum band, also known as the C-Band, is a core spectrum band for 5G deployment. Many national regulators globally have either assigned the C-Band for 5G or have planned to do so. Conventionally, the C-Band is used in the Asia Pacific region for satellite services and the allocation of C-Band for 5G may adversely interfere with existing satellite services. In 2017, the Hong Kong Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) appointed ASTRI and Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) as consultants to conduct a technical study and to find a solution to the interference problem. Subsequently, ASTRI designed an anti-interference satellite TV receiver that would be adopted throughout Hong Kong. Facing similar interference problems, NCC approached ASTRI and R&S for technical advice and solutions. Once again, ASTRI’s expertise in 5G saved the day!

     

     

    Letter of thanks from Taiwan’s National Communications Commission for helping solve the problem of 5G communications interference

    ASTRI strikes gold in Asia International Innovative Invention Award

  • The “Flexible Integration of Recognition and Semantic” project, led by Dr Arvin Tang, has won Gold Award in the Asia International Innovative Invention Award 2019. The Handwritten OCR technology can recognise handwritten traditional and simplified Chinese, Hong Kong colloquial language and special characters, English block letters and numeric digits. This application is highly accurate in Chinese character recognition, and is especially useful for Chinese address correction, saving time and improving reliability for organisations that have to process large number of handwritten forms.

    In its 9th year, the Asia International Innovative Invention Award recognises the achievements of local companies, research teams and individuals for their patented inventions, as well as promotes the spirit of creativity and innovation.

     

    ASTRI strikes gold in Asia International Innovative Invention Award

    ASTRI showcases its latest technologies at the China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF) 2019 in Shenzhen

  • The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is showcasing its latest technologies at the China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF) 2019 in Shenzhen. ASTRI’s cutting-edge 5G technology provides innovative business solutions that will see Smart City taking shape. ASTRI also domontrated the “VR/AR Smart Maintenance” system which is a great productivity tool for field engineers.

     

    China Hi-tech Fair is being held from 13 to 17 November 2019 at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center. For details of the fair, please visit official website at http://www.chtf.com/english/
    ASTRI showcases its latest technologies at China Hi-tech Fair 2019

    ASTRI unveils optical solution at largest South Korea expo

  • ASTRI has unveiled at VR EXPO 2019, the largest industry expo in South Korea, a reference design for production-ready 4Kx2K augmented reality (AR) Head Mounted Display (HMD), which brings enhanced user experience.

    The latest solution is a collaboration with MAY Display Co. Ltd., a key industry player with proprietary manufacturing technology and mass volume production capability on LCoS micro display. The complete AR HMD solution combines MAY’s world first true 4Kx2K LCoS panel with ASTRI’s reference optical design to provide an industry-leading 70-degree-wide field of view.

    VR EXPO 2019 brings together major industries including VR/AR-related manufacturing, defense, medical, education, architecture, platforms, games, theme parks, and videos using 5G.

    ASTRI joined MAY Display to showcase the latest AR HMD solution.  Kenny Chan, Director (Emerging Sensing & Display Systems ) of ASTRI (Left), Paik Woo Sung,  Chairman of MAY Display  (Middle) and  Eric Jiang, General Manager of MAY Display (Right).
    MAY's world first true 4Kx2K LCoS panel with ASTRI's optical design to provide an industry-leading 70-degree-wide field of view.
    MAY’s world first true 4Kx2K LCoS panel with ASTRI’s optical design to provide an industry-leading 70-degree-wide field of view.

     

    ASTRI delegation visits important scientific research institutions in Beijing

  • Mr Hugh Chow – Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, Dr Daniel Shi – Senior Director, and Dr Xie Bin – Principal Engineer, recently visited several important scientific research institutions in Beijing, including the Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Beijing Collaborative Innovation Institute and the Strategic Industry Alliance for Third Generation Semiconductor Technology Innovation. The visit involved exploration of various applied technology fields such as integrated circuits and systems, 5G and others. ASTRI’s senior executives exchanged views on future collaboration opportunities in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area.

    Third Generation Semiconductor technologies represent an important future development strategy for the country. ASTRI’s delegation met with Ms Wu Ling – Chairperson of the Strategic Industry Alliance for Third Generation Semiconductor Technology Innovation. They discussed the development of Third Generation Semiconductor applications in 5G communications, electric as well as unmanned vehicles, railways, DC buildings, energy routers, photovoltaic inverters, among other topics. The delegation and its counterparts agreed to strengthen collaboration and exchange in the field of Third Generation Semiconductor applications. Promoting a healthy development of this sector in Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area is an important priority in the context of overall national development strategy.

    ASTRI supported the China International Opto-electronic Expo (CIOE)- one of the largest industry shows for Opto-electronics

  • The China International Opto-electronic Expo (CIOE), one of the largest industry events in the sector, took place at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Centre from 4-7 September 2019. This year’s event marked marks the 21th anniversary of the Expo. This annual event gathers experts and professionals from the Opto-electronic and Sensor sectors, facilitation exchange and exploration of future development trends and opportunities. ASTRI was one of the leading participants in the Expo.

    Over 3,200 organisations took part in the Expo, showcasing the latest technologies involving Artificial Intelligence (AI), Intelligent Manufacturing, as well as next-generation display and sensor technologies for Smart City applications. ASTRI showcased a number of newly developed technologies in this mega event:

    Lighting-on inspection for Mura inspection
    Eye-in-Hand Flexible Visual Inspection Technology for Industrial Robots
    3D Automatic Optical Inspection system
    AR Head Mounted Display with Eye Tracking & Iris Recognition Head-mount display
    Head-Up Display Projector
    Multi-sensing demo
    Wireless Jewellery UV Fluorescence Imaging Analyser
    Smartphone spectrometer

    Dr Tsai Chen-jung, ASTRI’s Director of IoT and Sensors, presented a keynote on the development of Optoelectronics technologies at the Expo’s on-line sharing platform. ASTRI hosted three insightful forums at the Expo: (1) 2019 AI, Machine Vision and Industry 4.0 Forum; (2) 2019 AR Display and Human-Machine Interaction Sensing Technology Forum; and (3) 2019 Spectroscopy & Hyperspectral Imaging Technology Forum.

    At another forum on 5G + Industries + Next Generation Information Technology, Dr Justin Chuang, ASTRI’s Vice President of Communications Technologies, was a keynote speaker.

    ASTRI supported the China International Opto-electronic Expo (CIOE)- one of the largest industry shows for Opto-electronics
    ASTRI supported the China International Opto-electronic Expo (CIOE)- one of the largest industry shows for Opto-electronics
    ASTRI supported the China International Opto-electronic Expo (CIOE)- one of the largest industry shows for Opto-electronics
    ASTRI supported the China International Opto-electronic Expo (CIOE)- one of the largest industry shows for Opto-electronics

    10th Management Committee meeting of the Hong Kong Branch for Application Specific Integrated Circuits of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre held

  • The 10th Management Committee meeting of the Hong Kong Branch of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre (CNERC) focusing on Application Specific Integrated Circuit Systems (ASICS) took place in Nanjing on 22 July 2019. The Management Committee unanimously approved its membership changes and confirmed the record of the ninth meeting. The meeting summed up the past year’s progress in the Branch’s work as well as its developments along with the main centre. The future technology roadmap of the Branch was also discussed, particularly the research plans for the coming year. The Committee will host its eleventh meeting in the Greater Bay Area in June 2020.

    10th Management Committee meeting of the Hong Kong Branch for Application Specific Integrated Circuits of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre held

    The meeting was chaired by Mr Sunny Lee Wai-kwong who is also the Vice-President (Administration) of City University of Hong Kong. Other members attending the meeting included: Professor Shi Longxing – Director of CNERC ASICS Centre and Director of Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute for ASICS, Professor Lu Shengli – Deputy Director of CNERC ASICS Centre, Ms Jane Lee – Secretary General, Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification, the Hong Kong SAR Innovation and Technology Commission, Dr Davy Lo – Member of ASTRI’s Board Directors, Mr Hugh Chow – Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI and Director of the CNERC Hong Kong Branch for ASICS, Dr Martin Szeto – Chief Operating Officer of ASTRI, Mr YK Li – Senior Director of ASTRI and Deputy Director of the CNERC Hong Kong Branch for ASICS, and Dr Daniel Shi –Senior Director of ASTRI and Deputy Director of the CNERC Hong Kong Branch for ASICS.

    In June 2012, ASTRI received the approval from the Central Government’s Ministry of Science and Technology to establish the first-ever Hong Kong branch of the CNERC, focusing on ASICS research and development. Application Specific Integrated Circuits form one of the five pillars of ASTRI’s R&D strategy. Through the Hong Kong Branch, ASTRI develops innovative technologies, tools and solutions that are applicable across multiple industries.

    ASTRI joins EMSD’s E&M Inno Zone

  • Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) plays an important role in our smart city journey. ASTRI, a leading innovation centre dedicated to Hong Kong’s smart city development, has partnered with EMSD in the E&M Inno Zone. ASTRI enables businesses and institutions to attain higher productivity and greater success. At the EMSD HQs of the E&M Inno Zone, we unveiled two ground-breaking innovations – a smart locker fitted with Palm Fusion Biometric Authentication system, and an AI-powered handwritten Chinese character recognition system.

    ASTRI’s CEO Mr Hugh Chow joined the launch event also attended by Mr Nicholas Yang – Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit – Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Albert Wong – CEO of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, other senior officials, and member of the media.

    ASTRI joins EMSD’s E&M Inno Zone

    ASTRI’s innovation showcase offers fun and excitement for families over the long weekend

  • ASTRI took part in the Greater Bay Area Festival in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay from 29 June to 1 July 2019. Everyday from 11am to 9pm, large groups of tech enthusiasts and ordinary residents visited ASTRI’s booth.

    People visited us with whole families – often with young children – and experienced our technology showcase and demonstrations. They played ‘Drive the connected car’ and ‘Choose your IoT’ games, unlocked a locker without touching it, and watched a naked-eye 3D TV. ASTRI wholeheartedly thanks all the participants who visited our booth at the Greater Bay Festival, and celebrated the magic of technology.

    ASTRI’s innovation showcase offers fun and excitement for families over the long weekend
    ASTRI’s innovation showcase offers fun and excitement for families over the long weekend
    ASTRI’s innovation showcase offers fun and excitement for families over the long weekend