The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) signed an agreement on March 2 to set up a joint innovation laboratory to pursue cutting-edge and interdisciplinary research for overall smart city development. At the signing ceremony held at the ASTRI premise, Mr Hugh Chow, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, and Prof Lars Montelius, Director General of INL, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

In his opening remarks, Mr Wong Ming-yam, Chairman of ASTRI said, “The partnership between ASTRI and INL sets a significant milestone for closer research collaboration among Hong Kong, Spain and Portugal, to leverage on the power of technology for the benefits of communities and economies across Greater China and Europe.”

An insightful seminar themed ‘Nano- & Sensing Technology for Smart City Seminar’ featuring leading scholars and experts from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Europe was conducted after the ceremony. The seminar included two perceptive panel discussions covering the topics of ‘The changing society, and needs for international collaboration in life sciences’ and ‘Nanotechnology in the next decade’. These discussions aim to facilitate collaboration between countries on joint R&D projects, while also focusing on grooming a new generation of researchers.

INL is an international applied research institution jointly established by the Governments of Spain and Portugal. With the same core competencies as ASTRI, it seeks to leverage on information and communication technologies to promote smart cities.

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