ASTRI Fully Supports HK's Inaugural Five-Year Plan and 2026 Policy Address

Aligning with National Strategy and Fully Leveraging Applied Research
to Accelerate the Development of New Quality Productivity Forces

HONG KONG, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) welcomes the HKSAR Government's publication of the "First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026–2030)" (the "Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan") and The Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address (the "Policy Address"). Closely aligned with the national "15th Five-Year Plan" and its strategic development framework, Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan sets out a clear vision and direction for Hong Kong's development over the coming five years, guiding the city towards high-quality growth. In the field of innovation and technology (I&T) in particular, ASTRI fully supports the strategic initiatives outlined in the Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan and will play an active role in realising the vision of establishing Hong Kong as an international I&T hub by 2030 — one rooted in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, radiating across the nation and connecting with the world.

As one of the "five key research and development (R&D) institutions", ASTRI is encouraged by the direction set out in the Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan, which proposes elevating Hong Kong's I&T development through the establishment of "three major I&T parks and five key R&D institutions" and the optimisation of the city's I&T development framework. This reflects the Government's firm commitment to strengthening Hong Kong's R&D capabilities in frontier technology and supporting the nation in achieving critical breakthroughs in these fields. ASTRI will work closely with the HKSAR Government to enhance the local innovation ecosystem and contribute further to establishing Hong Kong as an international I&T hub.

ASTRI also welcomes the Policy Address proposal for the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau to set up a new Task Group on Frontier Technology to plan for the development of frontier technologies covering artificial intelligence, new energy, new materials, aerospace technology, quantum technology and other areas to explore technology and industry development. It will report to the "Committee on Innovation, Technology and Industry Development" (the "Committee"), supporting policy formulation and industrial planning. As an ex officio member of the Committee, ASTRI will continue to provide advice and insights to support the Government in formulating policies and measures that foster I&T development.

In alignment with the national "15^th Five-Year Plan" and Hong Kong's future development blueprint, ASTRI has positioned itself as an integrated applied technology platform dedicated to advancing new quality productive forces and serving as an applied technology hub bridging national strategies with international innovation. It focuses on key technology areas including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, new energy, low-altitude economy, next-generation communications, and digital finance, leveraging technological innovation to drive industrial upgrading.

Promote Industry-Academic-Research Collaboration in Northern Metropolis

Ir Prof Sunny Lee, Board Chairman of ASTRI, emphasised that the Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan and Policy Address present unparalleled opportunities to elevate Hong Kong's I&T ecosystem, catalyse high-quality development, and drive the city's next wave of economic transformation, while enhancing competitive advantages and enabling Hong Kong to better integrate into and contribute to national development priorities.

He pointed out that over the next five years, through combining strengths in information technology, advanced materials, and engineering systems, ASTRI aims to create cross-disciplinary synergies, bridge the gap between fundamental research and industrial applications, maximise the impact of public R&D investments, and accelerate sustainable technology commercialisation.

He also strongly agrees to position the Northern Metropolis as the primary growth engine for the development of higher education and innovation and technology, efforts will be made to promote the integrated development of education, technology, and talent. Through the coordinated development of industrial parks, universities, and research institutions, an innovation ecosystem characterised by the deep integration of "industry, academia, and research" will be established, while promoting upgrade and transformation across industry through technology.

He remarked: "The Northern Metropolis University Town will nurture the next generation of research talent and expand Hong Kong's innovation workforce, while industry will provide diverse application scenarios for research outcomes – the two complement each other perfectly. With strong research capabilities and extensive experience in technology commercialisation, combined with a deep understanding of industry needs, ASTRI is able to establish an end-to-end pathway from laboratory research to market deployment, and accelerate technology commercialisation through industry-academia-research collaborations, joint laboratories, IP licensing, technology standardisation, and the incubation of spin-off companies."

Leverage ASTRI's Technological Strengths to Shape Emerging Fields

Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, welcomed the Government's continued investment in advancing core technologies, highlighting the alignment between the Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan's priorities and ASTRI's mission. "ASTRI will spearhead the development of 'AI+' technologies, integrating with advanced semiconductors, green energy, new industrialisation, healthcare technology and cutting-edge communications technology to create a new paradigm for carbon-neutral, healthy, intelligent and connected living. We will concentrate resources on these strategic research domains to support innovation in core areas, creating a comprehensive and systematic technology ecosystem," he said.

He added: "ASTRI is committed to capitalising Hong Kong's strategic role as a 'super-connector' to support homegrown technologies expand into Chinese Mainland and international markets with special focuses on the Middle East and ASEAN countries. We are committed to developing forward-looking and sustainable core technological capabilities, accelerating industrial transformation and upgrading, attracting and nurturing international technology talent, and creating long-term and sustainable economic value for Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and beyond."

Photos Download: https://bit.ly/4gE795y

Ir Prof Sunny Lee, Board Chairman of ASTRI

Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI

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

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ASTRI Fully Supports HK's Inaugural Five-Year Plan and 2026 Policy Address

ASTRI Fully Supports HK's Inaugural Five-Year Plan and 2026 Policy Address

• The number of brands generating at least US$1 million in GMV increased by nearly 10% compared with 6.6, alongside growth in brands reaching US$100,000 and US$500,000 milestones
• US$100+ baskets accounted for almost 60% of total GMV during the campaign, reflecting stronger demand for higher-value purchases
• LazMall, affiliate-led discovery and AI-guided shopping continued to support brands across the consumer journey, from discovery to conversion

SINGAPORE, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lazada, a leading eCommerce platform in Southeast Asia, saw more brands reach significant sales milestones during its 9.9 Mega Brands Sale, with the number of brands joining its "Million-Dollar Club" – brands generating at least US$1 million in GMV – increasing by nearly 10% compared with 6.6.

The growth of Lazada's Million-Dollar Club highlights the platform's growing role in helping brands move beyond campaign participation to achieve meaningful scale, as consumers across Southeast Asia increasingly make higher-value purchases through trusted brand channels and more relevant shopping journeys.

During the campaign, US$100+ orders contributed almost 60% of total GMV, Singapore led the region in higher-value shopping, with around three-quarters of GMV coming from US$100+ orders, followed by Thailand and Malaysia both at 60%. This is in line with an uplift of nearly 50% in overall platform average order value (AOV) compared with the same period last year.

Consumer confidence in trusted brand channels drives LazMall and brand growth

LazMall remains a key driver of trusted brand shopping during 9.9, reflecting continued consumer preference for official stores, authentic products and reliable shopping experiences. LazMall GMV grew by more than 7 times compared with non-campaign periods, with 1 in 2 orders (49%) coming from the trusted shopping channel across the region.  

In Singapore, 78% of orders came from LazMall, the highest among six markets, while Vietnam followed closely at 76%. LazMall also accounted for 49% of orders in the Philippines, 46% in Malaysia and 45% in Thailand.

This strong LazMall contribution reinforces the role of official brand stores in helping consumers shop with greater confidence, particularly as shoppers become more selective and intentional about where and how they spend.

At the same time, the 9.9 Mega Brands Sale helped more brands achieve significant growth milestones. Compared with 6.6 2026, the number of brands generating at least US$1M in GMV increased by 8.0%, alongside growth of brands hitting the milestone for US$100,000 and US$500,000. This reflects the strength of Lazada's brand ecosystem and the campaign's role in helping brands unlock higher-value growth.

Affiliates strengthen product discovery across the shopping journey

Beyond official brand channels, affiliates played a larger role in helping shoppers discover products and move from inspiration to purchase. Across Southeast Asia, affiliate GMV contribution increased more than 15% compared with 6.6, while affiliates accounted for almost 30% of total SEA GMV, equivalent to more than 1 in 4 GMV dollars coming through affiliate channels.

By deploying nearly 4 million high-commission products to fuel creator promotion, Lazada saw an uplift of more than 7 times in affiliate-driven GMV compared with non-campaign periods.

The results highlight the growing influence of creators, partners and content-led recommendations in shaping how consumers discover products, evaluate options and make purchase decisions during major campaigns.

AI-guided shopping supports more informed, higher-value purchases

Lazada's AI-powered shopping journeys also gained traction during the campaign, as shoppers used LazzieChat to navigate product discovery and decision-making more efficiently.

• During the campaign, AI-guided interactions in LazzieChat generated nearly US$2.2 million in GMV, representing a 38% uplift compared with 6.6 2026.
• AI-engaged shoppers also spent 2.1 times more per order on average, compared with non-AI shoppers. This suggests that AI-guided journeys are engaging shoppers with stronger purchase intent and supporting higher-value shopping decisions.

"Lazada's 9.9 Mega Brands Sale shows that shoppers across Southeast Asia are increasingly making purchase decisions based on trust, relevance and confidence. LazMall continues to be a key destination for consumers seeking authentic products from official brand stores, while affiliates and AI-guided journeys are helping brands reach shoppers in more personalized and effective ways. For brands, this creates a stronger pathway to grow with us, from discovery and engagement to conversion," said a Lazada spokesperson.

The campaign performance highlights the growing importance of trusted brand ecosystems in Southeast Asia's digital commerce landscape. As shoppers move toward more intentional and higher-value purchases, Lazada continues to strengthen the channels that help brands grow: from official brand stores on LazMall to affiliate-led product discovery and AI-guided shopping journeys. Together, these touchpoints create a more trusted, relevant and efficient path for brands to engage consumers and scale across the region.

About Lazada Group 

Lazada Group is Southeast Asia's pioneer eCommerce platform, advancing commerce through technology across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Lazada connects shoppers to a trusted ecosystem of more than 170,000 global and local brands, sellers and partners, offering a diverse product assortment and engaging shopping experiences. Its technology, payments and homegrown logistics capabilities help make online shopping and selling more seamless, secure and accessible, supporting businesses of all sizes to grow in the region's digital economy.

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

Lazada 9.9 Mega Brands Sale Fuels Brand Growth, with More Brands Joining Lazada's Million-Dollar Club