The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is accelerating AI+ applications to shape a “Cognitive City” in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. CEO Ir Dr Ted Suen stresses the need to anticipate challenges through innovation in an uncertain future. This vision aligns with the Chief Executive’s Policy Address and China’s 15th Five-Year Plan.
The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), established in 2000, has remained at the forefront of innovation and technology (I&T), successfully transferring about 1,600 technologies to industries and securing nearly 1,200 patents globally. In 2024, ASTRI is the only Hong Kong-based R&D institution ranked among the Top 60 global non-profit research institutions and government agencies for granted US utility patents, placing 42nd with 27 patents.
ASTRI’s core strengths lie in integrating leading-edge technologies—including AI, IoT, communications, microelectronics, and robotics—to develop tailor-made practical solutions. With a focus on applied research, it specializes in applications and commercialization, distinguishing itself from universities and other research organizations. Its core R&D competencies are grouped under five Technology Divisions: Advanced Electronic Components and Systems; Artificial Intelligence and Trust Technologies; Communications Technologies; IoT Sensing and AI Technologies; and Intelligent Perception and Control Technologies.
CEO Ir Dr Ted Suen says: “The future is uncertain. We cannot afford to react; we must anticipate. Innovation is our compass. It gives us foresight and the courage to experiment.” At the heart of ASTRI’s vision is the creation of a “Cognitive City,” characterized by sustainability, resilience, and human-centricity, building on the foundation of a “Smart City.” This city fosters trust by ensuring citizens have clear visibility into who holds their data and how they benefit from sharing it. “It integrates IoT data across multiple sources for holistic intelligence. It uses AI not just to optimise, but to analyse and learn across systems, enabling proactive and autonomous decisions,” he says.
“Instead of alerts, it delivers real-time recommendations with speed and reliability, anticipating needs before they arise. This shift—from reactive to predictive, proactive, and autonomous—is what will define the cities of tomorrow,” Suen adds. Because a Cognitive City demands technological convergence, AI must be integrated across systems. “We call this AI+, in which AI is combined with IoT, robotics, chips, imaging, and more,” Suen notes. “It’s vital because no single technology can solve the complexity of urban challenges. It’s the synergy that creates transformation.”
AI+ is central to ASTRI’s strategy, with applications spanning healthcare, finance, and smart cities. “In healthcare, we’re advancing AI for diagnostics, medical imaging, and the Internet of Medical Things to improve patient outcomes. In finance, we’re developing AI solutions like large language models tailored for compliance, fraud detection, and customer service enhancements. For smart mobility, we’re pioneering technologies such as Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) for connected vehicles, smart traffic systems, and AI-driven infrastructure monitoring.”
ASTRI achieves IP commercialization through close partnerships with industry stakeholders, flexible licensing models, and tailored agreements with private enterprises, public bodies, and universities to drive technology adoption and real-world impact. “Our IP strategy ensures that innovations are protected, commercialised, and scalable, contributing to both industrial upgrades and economic growth,” Suen notes.
This push aligns with the latest direction in the Chief Executive’s Policy Address, calling for accelerating AI advancement alongside the development of the Northern Metropolis and the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (the Loop). ASTRI plays a unique super-connector role, linking the Chinese Mainland, the GBA, and international markets to foster cross-border innovation. China’s 15th Five-Year Plan sets a vision for high-quality development and self-reliance in science and technology, emphasizing digitizing, automating, and greening traditional industries while fostering advanced manufacturing, high-end technology, and modern services as new engines of growth.