Press Release | ASTRI - Hong Kong Applied Science And Technology Research Institute Company Limited

Senior executives from the Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre visits ASTRI

Led by Professor Richard Fung, – Chief Executive, a group of senior executives from the Hong Kong Standards and Testing Centre (STC) visited ASTRI on 29 August 2018 including Ms Anne Chuah – Director of Food, Chemical and Textile Products and Dr Franki Lee – Director, Corporate Sales & Business Development. They were warmly welcomed by ASTRI’s Chairman Mr Wong Ming-yam, along with Mr Hugh Chow – Chief Executive Officer and Dr MeiKei Ieong – Chief Technology Officer. During the visit, the STC delegation not only took the opportunity to understand ASTRI’s latest R&D initiatives, but also explored collaboration opportunities between the two organisations.

The group witnessed demonstrations of a series of ASTRI’s smart city technologies and were particularly impressed by the 5G-related applications.

Professor Richard Fung (Centre) – the Chief Executive of STC visited ASTRI.

The delegation was impressed by the naked-eye 3D display technology.

The visitors were also interested in ASTRI’s 5G solutions .

ASTRI took part in the compilation of China’s third-generation semiconductor power electronics roadmap

[30 August 2018, Hong Kong] China’s first “Third-generation Semiconductor Power Electronics Technology Roadmap” (the “Roadmap”) was released by China Advanced Semiconductor Industry Innovation Alliance (CASA) on 31 July 2018. The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) was invited to assist in the Roadmap development process – by providing professional advice, communicating with relevant overseas institutions, and helping with the essential drafting and compilation work. ASTRI has been the only institution from Hong Kong involved in the Roadmap’s drafting and compilation process.

The third-generation semiconductors are core materials for electronic components which facilitate innovative growth, development and transformation of many industries. It has long wielding impact on sectors ranging from mobile communications to Internet of Energy (IoE), new energy vehicles to railway, and even public security to national defence. Major world economies like the US, European Union and Japan strive hard to excel in this area. This Roadmap focuses on power electronics in four areas: substrate /epitaxy/device, packaging/module, application of silicon carbide (SiC) and application of gallium nitride (GaN). It also sets out a recommended R&D direction for China’s power electronics as well as third-generation semiconductor sectors, while analysing the industry’s current and future development trends.

Ms Wu Ling, Chairman of the Strategic Alliance on Innovation and Technology for the 3rd Generation of the Semiconductor Industry, and Director of the Wide Band Gap Semiconductor Programme Office at the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) said, “This latest Roadmap focuses on power electronics with major implications for industries such as IoE, new energy vehicle and consumer electronics.” The Roadmap will help the Government to “better define a national R&D strategy focusing on core priorities, amplify the market’s future development potential, and facilitate effective collaboration between businesses, scholars and R&D centres.” It will also help enterprises to figure out the most optimal timing for initiating and launching new innovations.

The drafting and compilation process of the Roadmap involved working together with local and overseas universities (e.g. Tsinghua University, Peking University, etc), R&D institutions (e.g. Institute of Semiconductors and Institute of Microelectronics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences), leading enterprises (e.g. State Grid Corporation of China, CRRC Corporation), scholars and professionals for more than a year. Led by CASA, the process was supported by, among others, ASTRI. ASTRI has been the only institution from Hong Kong invited to take part in the formulation of the roadmap. It sent a team of six experts to assist in the drafting and compilation work with its Senior Director of Electronics Components Dr Daniel Shi appointed as one of the expert consultants for the Roadmap. Dr Shi also joined other experts and the CASA team in meetings on this topic in Europe and the US, conveying views of the Chinese semiconductor and electronics industry to international organisations on technologies and standards such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). These engagements and views formed the cornerstone of the first international roadmap for third-generation semiconductors soon to be released by the IEEE.

Expressing ASTRI’s delight to be the only institution from Hong Kong participating in the drafting and compilation of the Roadmap, Mr Hugh Chow, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI said: “It is not only a recognition of ASTRI’s talents, technological capabilities and vision, but also a valuable opportunity for us to contribute to the development of the Chinese semiconductor industry. We hope the roadmap will help the industry of the Mainland as well as Hong Kong, to better understand the China’s strategy and pace on the development of third-generation semiconductors. There is a world of opportunities out there which our industry players can leverage and unleash.”

About ASTRI

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI) was founded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2000 with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research. ASTRI’s core R&D competencies in various areas are organised under seven Technology Divisions, namely Communications Technologies, Electronics Components, Mixed Signal Systems IC, Advanced Digital Systems, Optoelectronics, Security and Data Sciences, and Intelligent Software and Systems. Five areas of applications including financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, next generation network, health technologies, and smart city are identified for major pursuit. For further information about ASTRI, please visit www.astri.org.

Media enquiries

Ms Joey Chan Tel: (852) 3406 2461 Email: [email protected]

Deputy Governor of Fujian Province visits ASTRI

Mr Li Dejin – Deputy Governor of Fujian Province, led a seven-member delegation to ’ASTRI’s Smart City Innovation Centre (SCIC) on 28 August 2018. Mr Hugh Chow – Chief Executive Officer, and Dr MeiKei Ieong – Chief Technology Officer, along with other senior executives of ASTRI, welcomed the delegation to the SCIC. During the visit, Mr Li was pleased to witness a number of ASTRI’s R&D demonstrations including Naked-eye 3D Display technology and various 5G-related applications. In addition, the visitors took great interest in the ASTRI’s Integrated Circuits (IC) related research and asked a number of questions. The visit was a great opportunity for interaction and exchange between the two parties.

Deputy Governor of Fujian Province Mr Li Dejin (centre) visits ASTRI

The delegation took great interest in our IC research

The group was impressed by our 5G-related solutions

FCAS 2.0 Induction Day gives participants a taste of what to expect from the exciting year-long programme

The Induction Day of the second edition of FinTech Career Accelerator Scheme (FCAS 2.0) took place on Friday, 24 August 2018. ASTRI, along with Hong Kong Cyberport and Hong Kong Science Park, is a co-organiser in this scheme spearheaded by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Mr Hugh Chow – Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, delivered a welcome speech to the participating students who have been selected through a rigorous screening process from among thousands of applicants.

FCAS aims to nurture Hong Kong’s financial and technological talents to meet the emerging and ever-evolving needs of the industry. Last year, in the programme’s inaugural edition, ASTRI joined hands with HKMA, sourcing and grooming potential FinTech talents for Hong Kong. The second edition of FCAS offers even more exciting opportunities and development initiatives for the participating students. The number of students admissible to the programme has also been extended to over 200. FCAS 2.0 involves partnership with publicly-funded tertiary education institutions as well as major local as well as international banks based in Hong Kong. Participants will go through a year-long programme of technical and regulatory trainings, internships placements in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, as well as a gap-year industry placement.

Addressing the students, Mr Hugh Chow said, “FCAS 2.0 is an amazing platform from where you can launch a stellar career in FinTech, through hands-on experience and networking opportunities designed to test and strengthen your capabilities.”

Highlighting ASTRI’s role in this scheme, Mr Chow added that, “FinTech is one of the key pillars in ASTRI’s overall strategy. We work alongside HKMA and other industry players to deliver innovative proofs-of-concept, and applications for the financial sector, with world leading technologies like blockchain, cybersecurity, big data analytic, artificial intelligence, to name a few. And you will get to explore to them all through our experts and researchers.”

He encouraged the students to take this learning opportunity very seriously, because “it is one of the most important investments you will make towards your personal and professional growth.”

Dr MeiKei Ieong, ASTRI’s Chief Technology Officer, also spoke on the occasion and presented an overview of ASTRI’s FinTech initiatives as well as a glimpse of how the Institute will help boost the participants’ FinTech-related knowledge skills and expertise.

Mr Hugh Chow – ASTRI’s CEO, addressed the participants of FCAS 2.0 on its induction day

Dr MeiKei Ieong – ASTRI’s CTO, also spoke on the occasion

Senior leaders from Swiss Government visit Smart City Innovation Centre at ASTRI and explore technological collaboration potential

A high-level Swiss delegation led by Federal Councillor Ms Doris Leuthard, Head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications visited ASTRI’s Smart City Innovation Centre (SCIC) on 10 August 2018. Ms Leuthard was the former Swiss President. Also included in the delegation were Federal Chancellor Mr Walter Thurnherr and Swiss Consul General to Hong Kong SAR Mr Reto Renggli among other Swiss Ministers and top executives of Swiss technology enterprises.

The delegation was welcomed to the SCIC by ASTRI’s Mr Wong Ming-yam – Chairman, and Dr Justin Chuang, Vice President, Next Generation Network; while Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Ltd – ASTRI’s partner in the SCIC – was also represented by its top brass including Dr Sunny Chai – Chairman and Mr Albert Wong – Chief Executive Officer in meeting with the delegation.

The delegation learnt about the innovation drive propelled by the SCIC through its world-class infrastructure and facilities accessible by technology enterprises, start-ups, students and researchers alike. They were shown a series of R&D demonstrations of smart mobility, smart living and smart finance applications. ASTRI has one of the strongest 5G R&D facilities in Hong Kong and the SCIC itself a testbed for 5G technologies – it works in partnership with leading telecom operators and equipment manufacturers. During the visit, ASTRI’s R&D experts shared how the technology can be adopted for applications across road transportation, railway, maritime operations as well as commercial aviation. It is worth mentioning that ASTRI has been one of the key consultants to Hong Kong’s telecommunications regulator, offering technological advisory and recommendations for a seamless introduction of 5G services in the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Wong Ming-yam highlighted the undisputed global reputation of Switzerland as a country leading in innovation. He referred to ever-increasing co-operation between Switzerland and Hong Kong as well as the strong Swiss-Chinese partnerships in the areas of trade, finance and innovation. Mr Wong said, “Hong Kong SAR, with its world-class business environment, infrastructure and international connectivity, acts as a super connector between China and rest of the world. Hong Kong on its own is also an important trading partner for Switzerland. You are our 17th largest trading partner globally, and 5th largest in Europe. More than 55 Swiss businesses have their Asia headquarters based in our city. Switzerland is also the first European economy to have a free trade agreement with Hong Kong.” He commented that driven by the aspiration for innovation, progressive economies, and people-centric development, “Switzerland and Hong Kong can indeed accomplish great things together.”

Senior leaders from Swiss Government visit Smart City Innovation Centre at ASTRI and explore technological collaboration potential

ASTRI’s R&D expert shares innovative insights on AI in Digital Manufacturing at HKEIA Workshop

Dr T. John Koo, Director of Cyber-Physical Systems of ASTRI, shared his insights and experiences on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Digital Manufacturing at a workshop organised by the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association (HKEIA) on 9 August 2018. Dr Koo discussed the applications of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to enable AI-driven innovations in the field of manufacturing.

Focusing on rapid automation and digital transformation in the industrial sectors, the workshop touched upon key challenges and opportunities in the era of Industry 4.0 and Digital Factories. The event attracted representatives from across the industry as well as several technology specialists. Other presenters in the workshop included senior experts from NVIDIA, eFusion Capital and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Photo caption: Dr John Koo shared his insights on AI in digital manufacturing with the audience

Senior officials from the fire services department visit ASTRI

Mr Daryl Li – Director of the Fire Services Department (FSD) of HKSAR Government, visited ASTRI on 2 August 2018, along with the Department’s several senior officials including Mr Joseph Leung – Deputy Director and Ir Andy Yeung – Assistant Director (Headquarters). They aimed to learn about ASTRI’s R&D achievements, and explore advanced technologies that enhance the management and operational efficiency of fire services and also improves safety measures for firefighters.

The FSD officials met several ASTRI technology experts along with Mr Hugh Chow – Chief Executive Officer, Dr Meikei Ieong – Chief Technology Officer, and Dr Justin Chuang – Vice President (Next Generation Network). They visited the Smart City Innovation Centre and Mega Lab facilities, where they witnessed demonstrations of a series of advanced technologies, including the mobile phone spectrometer that can remotely sense flame colours and chemical information in order to detect toxic gas at incident sites, ensuring the safety of firefighters. They also learnt ASTRI’s Virtual Reality and head-mounted display technology which can quickly scan and develop 3D images of buildings, efficiently providing firefighters with useful information. In addition, ASTRI’s Vehicle-to-Everything technologies can greatly facilitate fleet management for the FSD.

The delegation was impressed by ASTRI’s R&D achievements and found strong relevance of the technologies with the practical operations of the FSD. The two parties will continue to engage and explore for further potential collaborations.

ASTRI helps boost technical capabilities of participating start-ups in the Accenture FinTech Innovation Lab Asia-Pacific

ASTRI is a supporting organisation in the FinTech Innovation Lab Asia-Pacific, an annual 12-week mentorship programme organised by Accenture. At the training workshop attended by the programme’s finalists on 31 July 2018, ASTRI facilitated several training sessions for the 2018 cohort. Dr MeiKei Ieong – Chief Technology Officer, Dr Lucas Hui – Senior Director of Security & Data Sciences, Dr James Lei – Acting Director of Advanced Digital Systems, Dr Yu Tao – Director of Data Analytics and Mr Barry Yen – Director of Commercialisation individually shared their knowledge and insights, and presented on core technologies related to FinTech applications. The workshop was designed to promote the participants’ technological know-how and help them to have an understanding of ASTRI’s work in Cybersecurity, Blockchain, Big Data Analytics and industry commercialisation.

As a programme partner, ASTRI is facilitating technological trainings and workshops for the participating start-ups, helping to enhance their technical expertise and enabling them to develop intuitive and industry-relevant FinTech solutions. FinTech is one of the five pillars in ASTRI’s technology strategy. Through this programme, ASTRI joins hands with Accenture along with global banking giants like Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, JP Morgan, Macquarie Group, Morgan Stanley, Nomura, Societe Generale, Standard Chartered, Sun Life Financial and UBS.

The FinTech Innovation Lab Asia-Pacific 2018 programme is designed to provide FinTech start-ups with related technological, strategic and commercial guidance as well as the opportunity to build connections with over 250 key decisions makers and industry leaders from the financial services sector. The 2018 cohort received a record number of applications from over 160 start-ups with eight of them making it to the finals. The finalists are: Bereev, BetterTradeOff, Checkbox.ai, Gekko Lab, Hyper Anna, Know Your Customer, NoPassword, Tookitaki. Each start-up developed and collaborated on innovations, ranging from identity authentication to Artificial Intelligence, throughout the duration of the programme under the guidance of FinTech experts.

Delegation from the Central Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs visits ASTRI

Mr Miao Deyu – Deputy Director-General, Policy Planning Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People’s Republic of China visited ASTRI on 1 August 1 2018. Mr Miao was accompanied by Mr Wong Wang-wah – Assistant Commissioner of the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR Government. They were joined by several officials from the Ministry. The delegation was welcomed by Mr Hugh Chow – Chief Executive Officer and Dr Meikei Ieong – Chief Technology Officer.

The Central Government actively supports Hong Kong’s development into an international hub for Innovation and Technology (I&T). Explaining the purpose of the visit, Mr Miao said “We wish to better understand Hong Kong’s I&T endeavours and developments in that direction”. He said that Hong Kong’s role as a global city, its unique advantages are tremendously important to the Central Government. “We are confident that Hong Kong will successfully leverage these competitive edges to build a leading international I&T hub and contribute to the nation’s overall development,” he added.

During the visit, Mr Miao and the delegation members visited ASTRI’s Smart City Innovation Centre, and left with a clearer picture of ASTRI’s R&D and innovative technologies.

HKTDC Senior Executives Visit ASTRI

Ms Sophia Chong – Assistant Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), along with Mr Daniel Lam – Senior Exhibitions Manager and Ms Maggie Cheung – Manager of Exhibition Department, visited ASTRI on 26 July 2018. They were welcomed to ASTRI by Mr Hugh Chow – Chief Executive Officer and Dr Meikei Ieong – Chief Technology Officer. During the visit, the HKTDC delegation was briefed about ASTRI’s various R&D initiatives. The two parties also explored future cooperation opportunities.

With the strong support from the HKSAR Government as well as the Central Government, Hong Kong is actively developing into an international hub for Innovation and Technology (I&T). This development is aligned with the long-term development strategy of the city, and for the Great Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. ASTRI and HKTDC share the common goal to help enhance the competitiveness of industries and to promote Hong Kong’s economic development. The two organisations look forward to closer cooperation in the future including exhibitions and promotional activities, in order to create more development opportunities for Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem.