ASTRI And HKU Join Hands To Expand Research And Development (R&D) Talent Pool To Inject New Impetus Into Development Of Innovation And Technology (I&T) In Hong Kong | ASTRI – Hong Kong Applied Science And Technology Research Institute Company Limited

[Hong Kong, 19 September 2022] The shortage of local scientific and technological talents has long existed, but in recent years, there has been an urgent need for “implementation” of R&D and innovation, and people from all walks of life are proactive to encourage students who are interested in I&T to embark on the R&D road. As a part of the I&T community, the Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the oldest higher education institution in Hong Kong, agree that it is necessary to enhance close cooperation in research and technology transfer, and strive to nurture new R&D talents in the future.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is signed today by Dr. Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, and Professor Max Shen Zuojun, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU on behalf of both parties. Under the agreement, ASTRI and HKU will determine their respective intellectual property rights and ownership of R&D results, so as to facilitate the commercialization of joint R&D or implementation projects under the jurisdiction of both parties or affiliated institutions of HKU, shorten the research time of joint R&D projects, and effectively make use of resources to improve and increase the implementation of R&D results.
ASTRI and HKU will cooperate on project basis to promote the exchange and development vision between them, including the determination of the contribution of each stakeholder in the development of R&D results, as well as the ownership, funding arrangements, project implementation responsibilities and intellectual property protection of R&D results of relevant joint projects, so as to explore opportunities for technology commercialization with the intellectual property owned by both parties, and make the implementation and mass production of local R&D more effective.

ASTRI and HKU are cooperating to focus on and make good use of resources to improve the R&D quality, accelerate and improve the commercialization process, bring more practical technologies to the government, industry and society, and support Hong Kong to become a world-class smart city.

Dr. Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, said, “In recent years, the SAR Government has invested a lot of resources to support the development of I&T and encourage youngsters to embark on the R&D road. The collaboration between ASTRI and HKU this time is providing a better platform for aspirants. We allocate more resources to promote I&T and build Hong Kong into an I&T hub in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Professor Max Shen Zuojun, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU, said, “I am delighted that HKU and ASTRI have signed the MOU. I believe that the in-depth cooperation between HKU and ASTRI will effectively combine the cross-disciplinary R&D strengths of both parties, seize more opportunities for technology transfer and commercialization of results, and nurture R&D talents in Hong Kong, which will be of great benefit to the development of I&T in Hong Kong and the entire region.”

(left) Dr. Denis Yip, ASTRI Chief Executive Officer
(right) Professor Max Shen Zuojun, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU