HONG KONG, April 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr Tan Tieniu, Deputy Director of the Central People's Government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong SAR, visited ASTRI today (27 April 2018), accompanied by Professor Li Lu, Director General of the Office's Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs. Mr Wong Ming-yam - Chairman, Mr Hugh Chow -- Chief Executive Officer and Dr MeiKei Ieong -- Chief Technology Officer, welcomed the delegation members to ASTRI.
![[From left to right] Professor Li Lu -- Director General of the Central Government Liaison Office’s Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs; Mr Wong Ming-yam -- Chairman of ASTRI; Dr Tan Tieniu -- Deputy Director of the Central People’s Government’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong SAR; and Mr Hugh Chow -- ASTRI’s Chief Executive Officer discussed developments at the CNERC Hong Kong branch specialising in Application Specific Integrated Circuit Systems](https://photos.prnasia.com/prnvar/20180427/2117459-1-b "[From left to right] Professor Li Lu -- Director General of the Central Government Liaison Office’s Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs; Mr Wong Ming-yam -- Chairman of ASTRI; Dr Tan Tieniu -- Deputy Director of the Central People’s Government’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong SAR; and Mr Hugh Chow -- ASTRI’s Chief Executive Officer discussed developments at the CNERC Hong Kong branch specialising in Application Specific Integrated Circuit Systems")
Since being appointed to his current role, it is Dr Tan's second visit to ASTRI. The first one was in January 2017 when he had just arrived in Hong Kong and sought to understand ASTRI's overall technological R&D strategy, and its work in the first-ever Hong Kong branch of the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre (CNERC). This time around, ASTRI's R&D experts took the opportunity to introduce the latest innovations and R&D developments to Dr Tan. Impressed with the demonstrations he witnessed, he highly appreciated what ASTRI has achieved and delivered over the years. Commenting particularly on the progress in the last one year, Dr Tan said "there has been significant progress at ASTRI, delivering tangible benefits to the industry and communities."
An internationally renowned scientist himself, Dr Tan witnessed a number of Smart City applications developed by the ASTRI at its 'Smart City Innovation Centre' including: naked-eye 3D technology; Next Generation Capsule Endoscopy System; Medical Image Analytics Platform; Palm Fusion Biometric Access Control System; and Next Generation Communication Technologies for maritime, land and road transportation, and aviation sectors. In addition, Dr Tan was briefed on developments in the CNERC Hong Kong branch, located at ASTRI, that specialises in Application Specific Integrated Circuit Systems (ASIC). The branch was established in 2012 with approval from the Central Government's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) aiming to drive world-class ASIC R&D, as well as to cultivate future talents to help strengthen the country's semiconductor industry.
Dr Tan took keen interest in ASTRI's R&D initiatives, exchanged views and ideas with its professionals, and shared his own thoughts and insights. Summing up the visit, he thanked ASTRI for the warm hospitality and commended its accomplishments in the field of applied R&D. He praised ASTRI's R&D work as "very important and highly significant", particularly appreciating ASTRI's efforts to transfer technologies, commercialising R&D results, benefiting the industry and communities. He argued that "Hong Kong has an enormous potential to unleash in developing Innovation and Technology, and commercialising the fruits of R&D - ASTRI plays an important role in that."
Dr Tan emphasised that the Central Government attaches great importance to its steadfast support to Hong Kong. Innovation and Technology development plays a very important role for the long-term growth and development of Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government is investing significant resources into the I&T ecosystem to position Hong Kong as a global innovation hub. In the 2018-19 budget, a total of HKD 50 billion was allocated for I&T development. The development blueprint of the Greater Bay Area also provides Hong Kong with an unprecedented opportunity. Dr Tan pointed out that "compared with other global economic clusters such as the Greater Bay Areas of San Francisco and Tokyo, the 'Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macau Greater Bay Area' enjoys greater market potential and has amazing prospects for growth and development." He also disclosed that the Central Government plans to introduce more support measures for companies and entrepreneurs from Hong Kong.
Mr Wong Ming-yam, ASTRI's Chairman, said after the visit: "We are very grateful to have Dr Tan Tieniu visit us for the second time. His words of appreciation greatly encourage our hardwork and commitment. ASTRI will continue to innovate advanced technologies and solutions not only to help Hong Kong's local development, but also to contribute nationally in the 'Greater Bay Area' and 'Belt and Road' programmes."
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.
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180427/2117459-1-a
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180427/2117459-1-b
