ASTRI enhances Hong Kong's technology competitiveness through innovation

Established in 2000, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute has grown to become the city’s largest research institute. It has been playing a vital role in bridging the gap between research and industry adoption, and is committed to expand the innovation and technology ecosystem for the benefit of the wider community.

One of its latest initiatives was the inaugural Tech Applied Summit, Hong Kong’s premier innovation and technology (I&T) event for 2025, successfully held on February 10 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. By bringing together international experts, ASTRI reaffirmed its commitment to fostering global collaboration in advancing I&T.

With the theme “Leading Tech Forward,” the summit drew over 1,500 attendees, including government officials, industry leaders, and tech enthusiasts. Discussion centred on key topics such as generative AI, the low-altitude economy, and smart cities.

Driving research commercialization

In his welcoming remarks, Ir Sunny Lee, chairman of ASTRI’s board, emphasized ASTRI’s efforts to commercialize cutting-edge research and foster cross-regional collaborations among academia, enterprises, and innovators.

He highlighted ASTRI’s contributions to financial technologies, which have helped sustain Hong Kong’s position as a global financial hub, and its role in smart city development—spanning advances in semiconductors, the Internet of Things, next-generation communications, and smart transportation.

In a media interview, Ir Lee also announced plans to enhance partnerships with R&D centers, with a focus on emerging technologies like generative AI, autonomous driving, and the low-altitude economy.

“The forthcoming merger of ASTRI and the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI), announced earlier by the HKSAR Government, was a key highlight. This integration aims to streamline resources and deliver comprehensive, end-to-end solutions for a broader spectrum of industries,” he concluded.

Low-altitude economy

ASTRI acting CEO and CTO Dr Ying Huang, said that Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to advance its low-altitude economy, leveraging the institute’s extensive expertise in smart mobility, sensor technology and 5G networks. These capabilities can be effectively adapted to support the emerging sector, particularly in integrating 5G and sensor technologies to mitigate drone collisions in high-density environments like Hong Kong.

ASTRI aims to support more organisations in adopting generative AI for internal applications, with a strong focus on safeguarding sensitive data. Dr Huang noted that Deepseek’s advancement in AI computing power, combined with its fully open-source nature, are significantly reducing the costs of AI implementation, making it more accessible for businesses.

Showcasing global expertise

The summit featured renowned speakers from around the world, including professor Dennis Lo, a trailblazer in non-invasive prenatal diagnostics, who shared insights on the commercialization of plasma DNA technology. Other keynote discussions explored the low-altitude economy, generative AI and corporate-startup collaborations, with contributions from Microsoft, Lalamove, Lenovo, SmartMore, as well as China Resources Research Institute of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and more.

Highlighting local innovations

A key attraction at the summit was the Technovation Zone, which showcased innovations from 20 local technology enterprises, including startups and research institutions. Featured projects included a two-way charging system for electric vehicles and drone delivery solutions, underscoring Hong Kong’s growing capabilities in advanced technologies.

The Tech Applied Summit sets the stage for continuous dialogue and collaboration in the I&T sector. It also marked the start of ASTRI’s Technovation Week, running from February 17 to 21 at the Hong Kong Science Park.

The event, funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission, received support from 70 organizations across Hong Kong. By bringing together global expertise and local talent, the summit further solidifies Hong Kong’s position as a global innovation hub, paving the way for future technological advancements.