Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute


The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited was established up by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in 2000 as an R&D centre for information and communications technologies. The Institute states its objective as 'enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness in technology-based industries through applied research'.
ASTRI focuses on applied research by pursuing R&D projects in partnership with public sector bodies or private sector businesses. Over the years, it has built a portfolio of intellectual properties while developing applications for the various industries and sectors. Since, 2000, ASTRI has completed over 500 research projects and been granted around 800 patents in the US, Mainland China and other territories. It has transferred over 750 technologies to the industries.
ASTRI focuses on five areas of applications: smart city, financial technologies, intelligent manufacturing, health technologies, and Application Specific Integrated Circuits through ASTRI's role as the Hong Kong branch of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre.
Over 600 people currently work for ASTRI based in its facility in Hong Kong Science Park.

Board of directors

ASTRI is headed by the Chief Executive Officer and is governed by a board of directors from the business and academic worlds of Hong Kong and Hong Kong SAR government representatives. The Board of Directors has established three functional committees, namely the Finance and Administration Committee, the Science and Technology Committee and the Audit Committee to assist the Board of Directors in governing the Academy.
The current Chairman of the board is Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong, JP. The Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology and the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology represent the Hong Kong Government in the Board.

Senior executives

ASTRI's core R&D competence in various areas is organized under five Technology Divisions, namely Artificial Intelligence & Big Data; Communications; Cybersecurity, Cryptography & Trusted Technologies; Integrated Circuits & Systems; and Internet of Things & Sensors.

Joint initiatives

ASTRI has established multiple joint R&D laboratories to collaborate with other businesses and institutions. Its major joint initiatives include:
Hong Kong branch of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Application Specific Integrated Circuits
ASTRI Cyber Range in partnership with Hong Kong Police Force
ASTRI Cybersecurity Lab in partnership with Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Hong Kong Institute of Bankers
ASTRI-Hong Kong International Airport Smart Airport Joint R&D Center
HKMA-ASTRI FinTech Innovation Hub
Bank of China - ASTRI Joint Innovation Center for Finance and Technology
HSBC - ASTRI Joint Innovation Lab
ICBC - ASTRI Joint Innovation Lab