The merger of Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI) is efficiently accomplished, creating Hong Kong’s largest government-funded research and growth (R&D) centre.
ASTRI is Hong Kong’s largest government-funded R&D heart, based in 2000 by the HKSAR Government with the mission of enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries by means of utilized research.
Specifically, ASTRI transforms high-impact research into sensible improvements. It additionally drives market-driven, interdisciplinary developments throughout sectors.
Meanwhile, NAMI was established and designated because the R&D centre for nanotechnology and new supplies in 2006.
The merger with NAMI will additional strengthen ASTRI’s capabilities, combining ASTRI’s experience in data and communications applied sciences (ICT) with NAMI’s superior supplies capabilities, forming a complete utilized R&D platform comprising round 800 research professionals.
Creating synergy to energy competence
The newly merged research institute will ship end-to-end options throughout ASTRI’s core application areas, that are Smart City, Financial Technologies, Digital Health and Biomedical Technologies, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Advanced Electronics, New Energy and Energy Storage, and Green and ESG Technologies.
Under the brand new construction, ASTRI’s expanded research portfolio will cowl AI platforms and options, communications applied sciences, superior digital parts and methods, clever sensing and management options, alongside digital supplies, battery supplies, building supplies, biomaterials, and purposeful polymer.
ASTRI’s new tagline “Leading Innovation • Breaking Boundaries” absolutely depicts ASTRI’s dedication to driving forward-thinking concepts whereas difficult typical limits. The integration displays a proactive strategy to innovation, not solely pioneering new applied sciences and options, but additionally breaking conventional norms and limitations in its business. It is a imaginative and prescient that evokes groups to transcend the established order and discover unchartered territories in pursuit of excellence and development.
Shaping Hong Kong into a global hub of innovation and know-how
The merger will see extra improvements flip into market-ready options, leveraging ASTRI’s 1,500 world patents together with the Chinese Mainland and the United States, in addition to 2,200 profitable instances of know-how switch.
The merger can be set to come back with extra excellent achievements, recognised by worldwide awards.
For instance, on the latest 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, ASTRI and NAMI gained a complete of 18 prestigious accolades, together with two Gold Medals with Congratulations of the Jury and seven Gold Medals. The award-winning options combine synthetic intelligence with numerous cutting-edge applied sciences, addressing key areas resembling power, good manufacturing, building, schooling, healthcare and sustainability.
Furthermore, ASTRI will proceed to nurture high innovation and know-how (I&T) expertise and foster collaborations among the many I&T ecosystem, contributing to Hong Kong’s high-value financial growth.
Positioning Hong Kong as a world-class good metropolis
Prof Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry
“My sincere congratulations to ASTRI and NAMI on their successful merger!” mentioned Prof Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry,. “The HKSAR Government is implementing the development plans set out in the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint. By optimising and integrating the research strengths of Hong Kong’s R&D institutes, we aim to enhance their complementary capabilities in applied research and increase overall synergy.”
“Following the merger of the two R&D institutes, Hong Kong’s core framework for driving I&T development—centred on ‘three major I&T parks and five key R&D institutions’ —will be further strengthened. I look forward to ASTRI continuing to leverage Hong Kong’s unique research advantages, proactively aligning with the national ‘15th Five Year Plan’, thereby supporting Hong Kong to accelerate the development of ‘new quality productive forces’, and making important contributions to the nation’s pursuit of high level self-reliance and strength in science and technology,” he added.
Ivan Lee, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology
Ivan Lee, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, mentioned, “I warmly congratulate ASTRI and NAMI on their successful merger, which marks a significant milestone in Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) development. The merged institution will become Hong Kong’s largest government-funded R&D centre, strengthening the city’s position as a global I&T hub, foster greater synergy across R&D disciplines, and drive impactful innovations for the Greater Bay Area and beyond.”
Ir Prof Sunny Lee, Board Chairman of ASTRI, mentioned: “The merger of ASTRI and NAMI marks a significant step forward in Hong Kong’s innovation landscape as the cross-disciplinary synergies will accelerate innovation, fuel economic growth, and bolster Hong Kong’s global competitiveness.”
Ir Prof Sunny Lee, Board Chairman of ASTRI mentioned the merger between ASTRI and NAMI will additional improve ASTRI’s R&D capabilities.
Looking forward, he mentioned that ASTRI will proceed to advertise collaborations amongst authorities, business, academia, research and funding sector, expediting the journey from laboratory to market.
Honoured to guide a gifted and skilled crew dedicated to growing superior sensible technological options that form the longer term, Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, described the merger as an injection of recent impetus to Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem.
“We shall focus on impactful applied research, particularly ‘AI Plus’ initiatives that integrate artificial intelligence with diverse technologies, advancing Hong Kong’s vision of becoming a smarter, greener and more resilient city,” he defined.
Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI mentioned he’s honoured to guide a gifted and skilled crew to develop extra sensible applied sciences and options shaping the longer term.