The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) celebrated the first anniversary of the Smart Mobility Technology Alliance (SMTA) and introduced the city’s pioneering study on the development of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) on April 15 at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.
“Smart mobility is not just an enhancement but a cornerstone of our smart city framework. By the end of this year, Hong Kong citizens will have the opportunity to experience the first tested AVs on open roads, focusing on small buses that cover fixed routes,” said Mr Lam Sai-hung, Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the HKSAR Government.
SMTA promotes smart mobility
Uniting government, industry, academia, and research institutions, SMTA has contributed to enhancing users’ travel experiences and advancing Hong Kong’s smart city vision.
“SMTA represents a shared vision for a transformative future,” said Ir Sunny Lee, Chairman of ASTRI. Since its inception, the alliance has garnered significant interest from various government departments, public transport service providers, AV/EV companies, and industry stakeholders.
With the support of 12 organisations and over 80 institutional members, SMTA has been refining the smart mobility ecosystem through initiating six research projects in partnership with universities and collaborating with the industry to advance vehicle connectivity technology.
Hong Kong’s first CAV study
“We have completed a comprehensive study on CAV in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, which reflects the academic and business sectors’ positive stance on the growth potential of autonomous driving technology,” he added. “We hope it will serve as a valuable reference that informs and inspires both the public and business sectors as we build our smart city.”
ASTRI commissioned Deloitte China to conduct the study, which was funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission, the study examines the key success factors of industry-leading countries and the unique advantages in Mainland China. It also analyses the latest CAV development in Hong Kong, focusing on policy, regulation, infrastructure, R&D capabilities, talent supply, and funding access.
ASTRI leads C-V2X technology development
“ASTRI fostered collaboration among stakeholders in the ecosystem and conducted tests integrating autonomous driving technology into the city’s transportation infrastructure,” he said, emphasising the organisation’s leading role in developing and promoting C-V2X technology for smart mobility.
Dr Denis Yip, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, attributed the success to the unique complexity of Hong Kong’s roads: “We conducted in-depth research on C-V2X technology, including completing 900,000 kilometers of road testing across 10 trial sites.”
“The alliance also organised an array of activities, such as missions to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Suzhou and Wuxi, helping industry players expand their business networks and explore new opportunities,” he added.
ASTRI expanded cooperation with Shenzhen to develop cross-border C-V2X technology, extending application scenarios and network infrastructure to Futian, Bao’an, Longhua, and Pingshan districts. The government of Xiangcheng District in Suzhou also partnered with ASTRI to build the “Suzhou-Hong Kong Digital Transportation Innovation Corridor”.
Ir Sunny Lee envisions smart mobility in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, achieving seamless interconnectivity among people, vehicles, and roads, and enhancing cross-bay area autonomous driving as cross-border vehicle networking matures.
“Through vehicle-to-everything technology, CAV has the potential to revolutionise the transportation sector by enhancing road safety, improving transport and energy efficiency, and uplifting the travel experience of local commuters,” he said. “With concerted efforts, Hong Kong’s autonomous driving technology is set to become one of the most sought-after solutions in the world.”
Tech talk by experts
During the ceremony, ASTRI signed an Memorandum of Understanding with The Centre for Innovation in Transport (CENIT) in Spain, enhancing mutual collaboration in research, information sharing and talent exchange to develop efficient and sustainable smart city solutions. The anniversary event also featured talks from industry experts, who shared their perspectives on the future of smart mobility.
For more information about SMTA, visit https://smta.astri.org/ or https://www.astri.org for more about ASTRI.
Hong Kong United Times丨香港聯合時報丨HKUT 