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ASTRI Showcases Pioneering Technologies at Inaugural Leap East, Forging Hong Kong-Middle East Innovation Ties

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ASTRI Showcases Pioneering Technologies at Inaugural Leap East, Forging Hong Kong-Middle East Innovation Ties
Business

Business

ASTRI Showcases Pioneering Technologies at Inaugural Leap East, Forging Hong Kong-Middle East Innovation Ties

2026-07-08 16:54 Last Updated At:17:25

  • Hong Kong's largest government-funded R&D centre showcases 17 cutting-edge innovations aligned with the Middle East's aspirations for sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and smart city.
  • HONG KONG, July 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is presenting a range of transformative technologies at the inaugural Leap East (8-10 July), underscoring Hong Kong's leadership in applied innovation and its growing role as a strategic bridge connecting Asia to the burgeoning technology landscape of the Middle East.

    Hong Kong is seizing opportunities to align with the Middle East's visionary blueprints for economic diversification, which target key sectors such as innovation and technology (I&T), renewable energy, and smart city development. With its globally renowned financial services, vibrant I&T ecosystem, and position as a gateway to Chinese Mainland and Asia, Hong Kong offers complementary strengths that can support the Middle East's strategic goals while unlocking new growth avenues for its own economy.

    Fostering Cross-Regional Innovation Partnerships

    Since its establishment in 2000, ASTRI has been at the forefront of innovation, amassing over 1,500 patents and transferring more than 2,200 next-generation technologies to global industry partners. As Hong Kong's flagship government-funded R&D centre, ASTRI remains steadfast in its mission to drive Hong Kong's competitiveness through applied science and technologies.

    "The emergence of cross-regional innovation hubs in Asia and the Middle East presents a transformative global opportunity," remarked Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI. "ASTRI's participation at Leap East exemplifies Hong Kong's pivotal role in building technological bonds with the Middle East, bringing practical, impact-driven innovations that drive sustainable growth and economic diversification."

    "Our disruptive solutions showcase ASTRI's strengths in integrating AI, advanced materials, microelectronics, communications technologies, and IoT sensing to address the region's priorities in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and smart city development. The Middle East offers vast potential for collaboration, and we enthusiastically invite partnerships, dialogues, and exchanges to maximise the mutual benefits our technologies can deliver," he added.

    ASTRI is featuring a curated selection of advanced solutions at LEAP East, including:

    • Renewable Energy: A groundbreaking photovoltaic-storage hybrid inverter designed to tackle challenges in solar energy storage and large-scale grid management.
    • Intelligent Mobility: A cutting-edge low-altitude economic navigation and communication system, coupled with a V2X autonomous system and traffic management platform, addressing infrastructure gaps in urbanising regions.
    • Sustainable Construction: Next-generation materials like lightweight concrete for modular integrated construction (MiC) and self-compacting backfill, advancing both efficiency and sustainability in large-scale infrastructure projects.
    • Green solutions: Future-ready immersion coolant for high-performance computing, essential for expanding data centre infrastructure, and wireless smart water meters supporting resource management in challenging environmental conditions.

    Award-winning innovation on display

    Eight award-winning technologies are also featured at the Hong Kong Pavilion organised by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government, including recent recipients of the prestigious R&D 100 Awards and Edison Awards 2026, demonstrating Hong Kong's excellence in applied research and innovation.

    Future of Physical AI

    Ir Dr Ted Suen will speak on the panel "Autonomous Everything: The Dawn of Physical AI" on 10 July. The session will explore the real-world integration of physical AI, from robotaxis to autonomous urban systems, poised to redefine mobility and infrastructure on a global scale. Key discussions will include regulatory frameworks, public trust, safety standards, and strategies for commercial deployment.

    LEAP EAST: https://leapeast.com/
    ASTRI's technologies on display:
    https://bit.ly/4p0tRZp

    About ASTRI

    Founded in 2000 by the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is the city's largest government-funded R&D centre. Committed to transforming high-impact research into practical innovations, ASTRI drives market-driven, interdisciplinary advancements across sectors, including Smart City, FinTech, Digital Health and Life Sciences, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Advanced Electronics, New Energy and Energy Storage, and Green and ESG Technologies. Following its merger with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, ASTRI has further strengthened its capabilities, with over 1,500 patents and 2,200 successful cases of technology transfer. Recognised with numerous international awards, ASTRI continues to nurture top I&T talent and foster collaborations among the I&T ecosystem, contributing to Hong Kong's high-value economic development. For more information, please visit: https://www.astri.org

    Photos Download: https://bit.ly/3QVaXX8

HONG KONG, July 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is presenting a range of transformative technologies at the inaugural Leap East (8-10 July), underscoring Hong Kong's leadership in applied innovation and its growing role as a strategic bridge connecting Asia to the burgeoning technology landscape of the Middle East.

Hong Kong is seizing opportunities to align with the Middle East's visionary blueprints for economic diversification, which target key sectors such as innovation and technology (I&T), renewable energy, and smart city development. With its globally renowned financial services, vibrant I&T ecosystem, and position as a gateway to Chinese Mainland and Asia, Hong Kong offers complementary strengths that can support the Middle East's strategic goals while unlocking new growth avenues for its own economy.

Fostering Cross-Regional Innovation Partnerships

Since its establishment in 2000, ASTRI has been at the forefront of innovation, amassing over 1,500 patents and transferring more than 2,200 next-generation technologies to global industry partners. As Hong Kong's flagship government-funded R&D centre, ASTRI remains steadfast in its mission to drive Hong Kong's competitiveness through applied science and technologies.

"The emergence of cross-regional innovation hubs in Asia and the Middle East presents a transformative global opportunity," remarked Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI. "ASTRI's participation at Leap East exemplifies Hong Kong's pivotal role in building technological bonds with the Middle East, bringing practical, impact-driven innovations that drive sustainable growth and economic diversification."

"Our disruptive solutions showcase ASTRI's strengths in integrating AI, advanced materials, microelectronics, communications technologies, and IoT sensing to address the region's priorities in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and smart city development. The Middle East offers vast potential for collaboration, and we enthusiastically invite partnerships, dialogues, and exchanges to maximise the mutual benefits our technologies can deliver," he added.

ASTRI is featuring a curated selection of advanced solutions at LEAP East, including:

  • Renewable Energy: A groundbreaking photovoltaic-storage hybrid inverter designed to tackle challenges in solar energy storage and large-scale grid management.
  • Intelligent Mobility: A cutting-edge low-altitude economic navigation and communication system, coupled with a V2X autonomous system and traffic management platform, addressing infrastructure gaps in urbanising regions.
  • Sustainable Construction: Next-generation materials like lightweight concrete for modular integrated construction (MiC) and self-compacting backfill, advancing both efficiency and sustainability in large-scale infrastructure projects.
  • Green solutions: Future-ready immersion coolant for high-performance computing, essential for expanding data centre infrastructure, and wireless smart water meters supporting resource management in challenging environmental conditions.

Award-winning innovation on display

Eight award-winning technologies are also featured at the Hong Kong Pavilion organised by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government, including recent recipients of the prestigious R&D 100 Awards and Edison Awards 2026, demonstrating Hong Kong's excellence in applied research and innovation.

Future of Physical AI

Ir Dr Ted Suen will speak on the panel "Autonomous Everything: The Dawn of Physical AI" on 10 July. The session will explore the real-world integration of physical AI, from robotaxis to autonomous urban systems, poised to redefine mobility and infrastructure on a global scale. Key discussions will include regulatory frameworks, public trust, safety standards, and strategies for commercial deployment.

LEAP EAST: https://leapeast.com/
ASTRI's technologies on display:
https://bit.ly/4p0tRZp

About ASTRI

Founded in 2000 by the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is the city's largest government-funded R&D centre. Committed to transforming high-impact research into practical innovations, ASTRI drives market-driven, interdisciplinary advancements across sectors, including Smart City, FinTech, Digital Health and Life Sciences, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Advanced Electronics, New Energy and Energy Storage, and Green and ESG Technologies. Following its merger with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, ASTRI has further strengthened its capabilities, with over 1,500 patents and 2,200 successful cases of technology transfer. Recognised with numerous international awards, ASTRI continues to nurture top I&T talent and foster collaborations among the I&T ecosystem, contributing to Hong Kong's high-value economic development. For more information, please visit: https://www.astri.org

Photos Download: https://bit.ly/3QVaXX8

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

ASTRI Showcases Pioneering Technologies at Inaugural Leap East, Forging Hong Kong-Middle East Innovation Ties

ASTRI Showcases Pioneering Technologies at Inaugural Leap East, Forging Hong Kong-Middle East Innovation Ties

LE CASTELLET, France, July 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Geely Cyan Racing secured three podium finishes at Round 3 of the 2026 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour at Circuit Paul Ricard, France, with Santiago Urrutia retaining his lead in the drivers' championship. Tested by extreme summer heat on the FIA Grade 1 circuit, the Geely Preface TCR delivered consistent pace: Yann Ehrlacher took Race 1 second place, while Ma Qinghua and Urrutia claimed a double podium in Race 2.

From Track to Road: CMA and Engineering Synergies

At the core of the team's performance is the Geely Preface TCR, built on Geely's world-class Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) and developed through proven motorsport expertise. The CMA platform demonstrated exceptional durability amid extreme summer heat at Paul Ricard, withstanding rigorous demands on thermal management and overall reliability. The on-track performance data could contribute to Geely's mass-production development, creating a technology transfer from motorsport to consumer vehicles.

Strategic Footprint: Driving European Market Penetration

Capitalizing on this momentum, Geely Auto significantly accelerated its European expansion during the first half of 2026, positioning the continent as a critical engine for its global growth. Demonstrating remarkable operational agility, it successfully entered seven European markets including Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and France within 45 days.

To sustain this market presence, signature models such as the Geely E5 (EX5) and Geely STARRAY EM-i have now been introduced across over 20 European nations. Geely has solidified its commercial ecosystem by forging strategic distribution partnerships with leading automotive dealership groups in Portugal, Austria, and Switzerland.

Long-Termism in Practice: Local Capabilities Strengthened

Operating under a philosophy of long-termism, Geely focuses on high-quality, mutually beneficial development with European partners. This commitment is backed by robust infrastructure investments, including a new spare parts distribution center in Amsterdam, Netherlands, establishing a logistics network servicing the Netherlands, France and other countries.

Global Growth Momentum: Global Innovator Position Reinforced

The European advances reflect Geely's broader global growth momentum. In the first half of 2026, the company posted record overseas sales of 474,228 units — a 158% year-on-year increase that already exceeds its full-year 2025 overseas total.

Top-tier motorsport acts as a trusted anchor for Geely to build technical recognition in mature markets. By executing an integrated strategy of race-validated technology, competitive product portfolios and localized operational capabilities, the company is evolving into full value-chain globalization.

 

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

GEELY CLAIMS THREE FIA TCR PODIUMS AT PAUL RICARD, REINFORCING EUROPEAN EXPANSION MOMENTUM

GEELY CLAIMS THREE FIA TCR PODIUMS AT PAUL RICARD, REINFORCING EUROPEAN EXPANSION MOMENTUM

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