ASTRI Inspires a “Smart Future for All” at the Technovation Summit 2019

  • [Hong Kong, 25 November 2019]  At the Technovation Summit 2019, organized by the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), more than 30 technology experts, entrepreneurs and top-level executives joined Mr Nicholas W Yang, GBS, JP, Secretary for Innovation and Technology to explore what a smart future holds in store for Hong Kong.

     

    “Today, Hong Kong is facing big challenges from the global trade war and internal social unrest.  Yet, the Government remains fully committed to developing innovation and technology here in Hong Kong, using innovation and technology as a key economic and social driver to help improve our citizens’ daily lives and diversify our economy,” said Mr Yang.

     

    Acknowledging the important role of ASTRI in collaboration with its industry partners, Mr Sunny Lee, JP, ASTRI Board Chairman said, “It is through working together, and by bringing different technologies to the same place, that we will deliver the best outcome for talents, entrepreneurs and enterprises, and ultimately every Hongkonger and global citizen.”

     

    During the summit, industry leaders and government officials focused on applications of latest technologies  across a wide variety of sectors, including ‘smart government’, ‘smart mobility’, ‘cybersecurity’ and ‘smart manufacturing’. Speakers also addressed topical issues on innovation and technology, and explored ways to encourage all stakeholders in the ecosystem to leverage new technologies for sustainable and inclusive developments.

     

    ASTRI also showcased its latest technologies and solutions, including:

    • Biometrics Optical See Through Head Mounted Display
    • 4Kx2K UHD Augmented Reality Head Mounted Display
    • Diffractive Optics for Anti-Counterfeit
    • Smart Locker 2.0
    • Gem Analyser
    • Unobtrusive Health Checking
    • Canto-English Recognition Chatbot
    • ASTRI Proprietary 5G End-to-End Solution
    • ASTRI C-V2X End to End System
    • AI Medical Platform
    Officiating guests at ASTRI Technovation Summit 2019 (From left: Mr Tony Wong, JP, Assistant Government Chief Information Officer (Industry Development), HKSAR Government; Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology; Mr Sunny Lee, JP, Chairman, ASTRI; The Honourable Mr Nicholas W. Yang, GBS, JP, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, HKSAR Government; The Honourable Dr Lam Ching-choi, SBS, JP, Chief Executive Officer, Haven of Hope Christian Service; Mr Hugh Chow, Chief Executive Officer, ASTRI )
    Honourable Mr Nicholas W Yang, GBS, JP, Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government, speaking at ASTRI Technovation Summit 2019

    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

    Embracing 5G for Innovation and Intelligent Connectivity ASTRI demonstrates latest technologies at PT EXPO China in Beijing

  • [Hong Kong, 31 October 2019] The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is showcasing its latest technologies at the PT EXPO China 2019 in Beijing. The event, hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, is one of  Asia’s leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) event which explores exciting impacts of next-generation ICTs in various industries, as well as trends in the dynamic and fast-growing ICT market.

    At the PT EXPO China 2019, ASTRI adopts the theme “Embracing 5G for Innovation and Intelligent Connectivity”. ASTRI is showcasing technologies behind innovative solutions that enhance the competitive strengths of enterprises across Hong Kong, the Great Bay Area and international markets:

     

    Technology demo Description
    1 ASTRI end-to-end 5G systems supporting stand-alone (SA) and Non-standalone (NSA) networks ASTRI partnered with Anktion (Fujian) Technology Co., Ltd to demonstrate data streaming with commercial 5G smartphone on its end-to-end 5G base station and 5G Core system.

    –    ASTRI’s latest 5G base station solution is on NXP LX2160a platform, which provides a low power and cost-efficient solution for sub-6GHz, 100MHz bandwidth, 4×4 MIMO base station products. The solution has been integrated with Remote Radio Units (RRU) from multiple vendors including Anktion. The solution supports both Standalone (SA) and Non-Standalone (NSA) 3GPP standards with third parties Protocol Stack (PS) software. The highly programable solution can be customized to drive different classes of base station platform such as standalone small cells and O-RAN white box hardware.

    –    ASTRI’s 5G Core is based on Intel x86 platform, and 3GPP Rel. 15 complied with the compelling performance – processing over 200Gbps throughput on standard servers featuring two scalable Intel Xeon processors.

     

    2 Smart mobility technologies ASTRI’s smart mobility technologies covers a wide range of usage scenarios, on Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X), Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) and other Intelligent Transport System (ITS) services.  ASTRI and HKT are working closely on realising the Smart Mobility Technologies in Hong Kong.

     

    3 Intelligent Blockchain-based IoT Platform The Hong Kong SAR government has stepped up its Smart City development efforts in recent years. Aligned with the increasing trends to leverage shared data, China Mobile Hong Kong and ASTRI have partnered to introduce industry pioneer application of Blockchain-based Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The platform uses secured data exchange for data provider to share IoT data with integrity. Through connecting the data providers and consumers, the platform can monetise and strategically exploit the potentially enormous value of the vast amount of IoT data. The platform can help companies and individuals to unleash huge business potential by acting as a trusted intermediary to offer data exchange with integrity among third parties.

     

    4 Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) Chip This demonstration showcases the latest low-cost, low-power NB-IoT chip solutions for a wide range of 3GPP-compliant low-cost and low-power IoT services. ASTRI’s NB-IoT chip adopts a unique polar transmitter architecture and integrates on-chip high efficiency CMOS power amplifier, power management unit and digitally controlled crystal oscillator.。

     

    5 LoRaWAN Application ASTRI’s LoRaWAN system can use internal batteries to power the sensors, solving the problem of data collection in remote areas (no power, no solar energy). It has the characteristics of low power consumption, long transmission distance and easy installation. It can work continuously for 3 to 5 years depending on the internal battery. This project is supported by Hong Kong Water Supplies Department (WSD) and Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD).
    6 Smartphone Spectrometer ASTRI’s smartphone spectrometer becomes a powerful molecular analytical tool to ordinary consumers. It can obtain the spectrum with a snapshot and analyze the food composition or material quality conveniently.

     

    7 4Kx2K UHD Augmented Reality Head Mounted Display ASTRI’s 4Kx2K UHD Augmented Reality Head Mounted Display (AR HMD) offers unprecedented experience to users by the way that the display content superimposes over the real world. The complete AR HMD solution combines MAY Display Co. Ltd’s world first true 4Kx2K LCoS panel with ASTRI’s reference optical design to provide an industry-leading 70-degree-wide field of view. With this solution, ASTRI’s AR HMD provides the consumers an extraordinary product experience across different user scenarios in a variety of application areas such as education, industrial and manufacturing, museum, engineering, retail and advertising.

     

    PT EXPO China 2019 will be held from October 31 to November 3 in Beijing, China, showcasing a world of 5G and other next-gen ICTs. More than 60,000 attendees from all of the ICT ecosystem’s sectors are predicted to gather, as well as over 400 leading companies and organizations that will exhibit or speak at the conference sessions.

     

    The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is showcasing its latest technologies at the PT EXPO China 2019 in Beijing
    The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is showcasing its latest technologies at the PT EXPO China 2019 in Beijing.

    ASTRI Announces Appointment of New Chairman

  • [Hong Kong, 17 October 2019] Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) today (17 October) announced the appointment of Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP as the new Chairman of the Board for a two-year term effective 21 October 2019.

    Mr Lee is succeeding Mr Wong Ming-yam, SBS, JP, who has been serving as the Board Chairman of ASTRI since 2013.

    “I am deeply honoured to have been appointed as ASTRI’s new Chairman,” said Mr Lee. “It is indeed a uniquely empowering role with an organisation that has immense importance for the future of our city and our next generations. I look forward to working closely with my fellow Board members and the ASTRI management led by CEO Mr Hugh Chow.”

    “With the Government’s policy support and financial commitment towards innovation and technology, I envisage an exciting time ahead as ASTRI continues to build world-class technologies that put Hong Kong on the global map of innovation,” Mr Lee added.

    Mr Lee is a veteran in innovation and technology leadership, with over 30 years of experience in business and technology management in Hong Kong and abroad. He is currently Vice‑President (Administration) of the City University of Hong Kong, responsible for a portfolio of central administration functions.

    Over his distinguished tech-focused career across multiple sectors, Mr Lee was Executive Director, Information Technology (IT) for the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Chief Information Officer of The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, with overall responsibility for IT strategy and innovation. Previously, he was Vice President and Systems Director of Bank of America in Hong Kong, where he was instrumental in building up the bank’s IT capabilities to support its business expansion in Asia. Mr Lee has also held key IT positions in the financial, management consulting and manufacturing industries in the US.

    Mr Lee is a graduate of Cornell University where he studied for both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering.

    In congratulating Mr Lee on his appointment, the out-going Chairman Mr Wong said, “It has indeed been my honour and privilege to have served as ASTRI’s Chairman.  In the past six years, I have witnessed tremendous growth and development of ASTRI, all of which has contributed to the innovation and technology leadership ASTRI enjoys today. It is the result of the concerted efforts of many people, especially my fellow Board Members and all ASTRIANs who have been working together in great spirit of common vision to take forward our mission.”

     

    Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP (right) is succeeding Mr Wong Ming-yam, SBS, JP (left), who has been serving as the Board Chairman of ASTRI since 2013.

    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