ASTRI shines at Geneva expo with 16 awards for cutting-edge tech

The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) made waves at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, securing an impressive 16 awards. These included one “Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury,” four gold medals, seven silver medals, and four bronze medals.

The winning projects showcased groundbreaking advancements across multiple technological frontiers.

From artificial intelligence and 5G communications to blockchain applications and visual sensing systems, ASTRI's innovations promise to transform industries and improve lives. These cutting-edge solutions demonstrate the institute's ability to bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical applications.

A highlight of ASTRI's success came through its collaboration with MTR Corporation. Their jointly developed "Automatic Tunnel Inspection System" earned the highest honor - the "Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury."

This AI-powered solution revolutionizes infrastructure maintenance by precisely identifying trackside assets with unprecedented efficiency.

Another collaborative project, the "Power Demand Optimization AI Cohort," took home gold for its real-time monitoring system that optimizes energy usage across MTR stations by analyzing equipment performance and environmental conditions.

Chairman of ASTRI Board of Directors, Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, expressed his delight at the institution's achievements.

He said the success not only reflects the global recognition of Hong Kong's innovation and technology (I&T) research excellence but also underscores ASTRI’s commitment to accelerating the commercialisation of research outcomes.

He said ASTRI remains dedicated to aligning with government policies and strategic development blueprints, while fostering collaboration across government, industry, academia, research and investment sector aiming to support Hong Kong-developed technologies to go global.

Also commenting on the success, ASTRI Acting CEO and Chief Technology Officer Ying Huang said the organization is committed to enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness through technology, ensuring that more people benefit from its research outcomes.

A two-phase immersion cooling system for a high-performance computer workstation, jointly developed by the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), has also won the Prize of the Republic and Canton of Geneva and Gold Medal at the event.

The special award was presented by the Government of the Canton of Geneva, which represents the governmental level of honour and recognition, marking the first time for departments of the Hong Kong SAR Government to receive the prestigious award.

Meanwhile, a Tracking Solution for Outdoor Activity Safety, also jointly developed by the CAD and the EMSD, won the Gold Medal with Congratulations of Jury prize at the exhibition.

Moreover, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute and the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre also achieved outstanding results at Edison Awards 2025, a global authoritative I&T awards event held from April 2 to 3, winning a total of four Gold Awards and three Silver Awards.

The winning technologies cover a wide range of I&T fields, including human-computer interaction, new materials technology and human infrastructure technology, fully demonstrating that Hong Kong's R&D outcomes are highly recognised internationally.

(Chelsea Chan)