ASTRI welcomes Graduate Programme 2020 participants, giving talented students a unique opportunity to launch career in an R&D environment

HONG KONG,Sept.1,2020 -- The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) welcomes our new recruits for the Graduate Programme 2020,a unique opportunity for university graduates to launch their careers in a research and development environment,in particular one with a mission to deliver impactful solution to our industry and our society.

ASTRI Chairman Ir Sunny Lee Wai-kwong says: "Creating a bridge of talent is vital to a vibrant innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem and,through its collaboration with various stakeholders in society,ASTRI has proven its commitment to nurturing the great young minds of applied research of the future."

Hugh Chow,Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI,adds: "We are delighted to welcome our new recruits and believe the perseverance and application they have already shown in their studies will help us to continue our mission to bring lasting impact to society through award-winning technology."

The Graduate Programme 2020 has given one-time,two-year full-time job positions to students leaving universities and higher education institutes in Hong Kong in 2020. They will support our award-winning scientists working on cutting-edge innovations in a multicultural environment with more than 500 talented R&D engineers and specialists.

The programme is among ASTRI's many commitments to developing talent in the I&T sector. Working with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority,we launched the FinTech Career Accelerator Scheme in 2016,aiming to cultivate the future talent necessary to sustain Hong Kong's banking,finance and business services,as well as preserving our city's competitiveness as an international finance hub. Students receive an internship at financial institutions or technology companies and in the past four years,more than 500 have taken part. This year,the HKMA received more than 1,400 applications,nearly twice as many as last year.

ASTRI also offers a three-month blockchain accelerator programme,in partnership with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park and Molecular Hub,as well as summer internships,which took in 42 students at universities across the world in 2020.

About ASTRI

The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (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 competence in various areas is grouped under five Technology Divisions,namely Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics,Communications,Cybersecurity,Cryptography and Trusted Technologies,Integrated Circuits and Systems,and IoT and Sensors. Five areas of applications including Smart City,Financial Technologies,Intelligent Manufacturing,Health Technologies,and Application Specific Integrated Circuits.

Over the years,ASTRI has nurtured a pool of research,I&T talents and received numerous international awards for its pioneering innovations as well as outstanding business and community contributions. To date,ASTRI has transferred more than 750 technologies to the industries and owns nearly 850 patents in the Mainland,the US and other countries.

For further information,please visit www.astri.org.