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ASTRI’s New Presence in Shenzhen Drives “New Quality Productive Forces” Pioneering Hong Kong’s R&D Institute in Hetao Fuelling Innovation in Greater Bay Area

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HONG KONG, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has expanded its operation to Shenzhen, in alignment with the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”. This move aims to enhance collaborative innovation among industry, academia, and research institutes in the region.

ASTRI Technology Research (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. [ASTRI (Shenzhen)], a wholly-owned subsidiary of ASTRI, relocated to the “Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone” (Hetao Cooperation Zone) earlier this year and was officially inaugurated today. This expansion marks a significant step in accelerating innovation and technology (I&T) cooperation within the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The opening ceremony was officiated by Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, Mr Zeng Jianpeng, Director-General of the Hetao Development Authority in Shenzhen, and Ir Sunny Lee, Chairman of ASTRI. Other guests include government officials and industry leaders from Hong Kong and Shenzhen, witnessing ASTRI’s making new strides in Shenzhen, GBA and beyond.

Creating a World-Class Technology Industry Cluster

Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, stated: “The Hetao Cooperation Zone is crucial for integrating I&T development between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Our goal is to establish a world-class I&T ecosystem that fosters talent and knowledge exchange. ASTRI’s presence in Hetao will enhance cooperation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen’s innovation sectors, contributing to the national development of ‘new quality productive forces’.”

Mr Zeng Jianpeng, Director-General of the Hetao Development Authority in Shenzhen, stated: “We will continue to provide robust support and quality services for all research and technology institutes in the Hetao Cooperation Zone, particularly those with presences in both Shenzhen and Hong Kong for promoting cross-border collaboration, such as ASTRI and ASTRI (Shenzhen). These supportive measures aim to facilitate the flow of talents, goods, capital, technology and information, which are crucial for the I&T development.”

Enhancing Competitiveness Through Technology

Ir Sunny Lee, Chairman of ASTRI, highlighted the support from the Hetao Cooperation Zone provides for ASTRI (Shenzhen) in terms of space, policy, and funding.  “ASTRI (Shenzhen) will integrate research capabilities from both regions to strengthen collaboration with GBA corporations. We aim to undertake more cross-border R&D projects to promote technological transformation and industrialisation in the region.”

He added, “By leveraging the strengths of both Hong Kong and Shenzhen, we aim to advance the development of an international I&T centre in the GBA, enhancing its global influence and achieving collaborative innovation and high-quality development.”

At the opening ceremony, ASTRI (Shenzhen) hosted agreement signing ceremony with three Mainland enterprises: HKP Talential (Shenzhen) New Energy Co Ltd, Shenzhen Power Maker Technology Co Ltd, and the National Energy Internet Innovation Centre Co Ltd.

Ir Sunny Lee commented, “These collaborations exemplify how corporations can leverage Hong Kong’s innovation and technology to enhance operational efficiency and overall competitiveness. We expect these partnerships to attract more business to engage with our R&D capabilities.”

Focusing on Semiconductor and Smart Mobility Technologies

ASTRI (Shenzhen)’s new facilities are strategically located in the Hong Kong Science Park (Shenzhen Branch). The setup of over 1,300 sqm includes approximately 1,100 sqm of space, housing an office and an exhibition hall, with an additional 300 sqm of laboratory within the Hetao Cooperation Zone.

The facility’s location benefits from the “No.1 Channel of Futian Bonded Area”, a dedicated immigration passage connecting Lok Ma Chau with the Shenzhen Futian Free Trade Zone. This strategic positioning allows for a commute time of just 35 minutes between ASTRI’s Hong Kong headquarter and ASTRI (Shenzhen), facilitating seamless collaboration between researchers and supporting ASTRI’s expansion in the Mainland.

In July 2023, ASTRI’s “International Application Fundamental Research Institute Project” was officially launched in the Hetao Cooperation Zone. ASTRI (Shenzhen) has initiated several R&D and testing projects, primarily focusing on third-generation semiconductors and next-generation communication technologies. Key developments include GaN high-end power technology development and testing platform, SiC smart power system development and testing platform, and smart campus simulation and testing platform. These platforms aim to facilitate technology transfer, commercialisation and promote technology exchanges while cultivating top-tier talent. Furthermore, in June 2024, ASTRI (Shenzhen) supported the first cross-border C-V2X test at Hetao, successfully completing autonomous driving tests and data collection under various extreme road conditions.

Ir Sunny Lee concluded, “Looking ahead, ASTRI (Shenzhen) will serve as a ‘super connector’, promoting collaboration among government, industry, academia and research institutes. We aim to facilitate the transformation and industrialisation of collaborative innovation outcomes between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in the Hetao Cooperation Zone and the GBA, contributing to the nation’s development of ‘new quality productive forces’.”

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3XG8DDW 

 

(From left to right) The opening ceremony of ASTRI (Shenzhen) was officiated by Ms Grace Lai, Director of Shenzhen Liaison Unit, HKSAR Government; Dr Jimmy Chiang, Deputy Director-General, Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, HKSAR  Government; Dr Sunny Chai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; Mr Zeng Jianpeng, Director-General of the Hetao Development Authority in Shenzhen; Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government; Ir Sunny Lee, Chairman of ASTRI; Mr He Xinhong, Deputy Director of the Shenzhen Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office; and Mr Lau Wai Ming, Assistant Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, HKSAR Government

 

 

ASTRI (Shenzhen) hosted agreement signing ceremony with three mainland enterprises. From left to right: Mr Zhou Xiaoming, Chairman of Shenzhen Power Maker Technology Co Ltd; Mr Chiu Hing Yuen, CEO of HKP Talential (Shenzhen) New Energy Co Ltd; Dr Daniel Shi, Chairman of ASTRI (Shenzhen), and Dr Zhao Zhigang, Dean of National Energy Internet Innovation Centre Co Ltd

 

 

(From left to right) Ms Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government; Ir Sunny Lee, Chairman of ASTRI; and Mr Zeng Jianpeng, Director-General of the Hetao Development Authority in Shenzhen, joined a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of ASTRI (Shenzhen)

About ASTRI

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 through applied research. ASTRI’s core R&D competence in various areas is grouped under five Technology Divisions: Advanced Electronic Components and Systems; Artificial Intelligence and Trust Technologies; Communications Technologies; Innovative Mind, and IoT Sensing and AI Technologies. It is applied across six core areas which are Smart City, Financial Technologies, New-Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Digital Health, Application Specific Integrated Circuits and Metaverse.

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. ASTRI has transferred 1,500 technologies to the industry and has been granted over 1,100 patents in the Mainland, the United States, and other countries. For further information, please visit www.astri.org

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SOURCE Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI)

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Osome Eyes the Next Wave of AI Companies Choosing Singapore

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July 26, 2026

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SINGAPORE, HONG KONG and LONDON, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Osome, the AI company management platform trusted by more than 50,000 tech founders and solopreneurs globally, is strengthening its support for the next wave of AI companies choosing Singapore as their regional base.

Singapore’s appeal continues to grow as leading AI companies establish a stronger presence. OpenAI has committed S$300 million (US$234 million) to the country’s AI ecosystem, while Cognition has established its APAC headquarters there. Anthropic and Tencent are also increasing their presence in Singapore.

Budget 2026 reinforces this momentum with a National AI Impact Programme, a new Kampong AI hub at one-north, and a 400% tax deduction on qualifying AI investments. Foreign companies can access these incentives by incorporating a Private Limited Company, which allows 100% foreign ownership and startup tax rates as low as 10% under the Startup Tax Exemption.

As more AI-native startups choose Singapore to build lean, global businesses, Osome helps founders navigate the process. Operating across Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, and the UAE, it enables founders to incorporate a company as fast as 7 days while managing back-office operations, including accounting, bookkeeping, and compliance.

Building on that support, Osome recently launched its Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, turning founders’ preferred AI assistants into a business command center. Through Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini, founders can securely retrieve transactions, shareholder records, financial reports, and other company data from a single AI interface.

AI-native & tech founders are already building with Osome. UpNComer‘s founder, Karan Dasgupta, incorporated his Singapore company within days of switching to Osome, saving “easily 20 hours” every month. Dubai-based Aesty and Hong Kong’s Angelflow have reported similar gains, cutting bookkeeping from around a week of work to just two hours a month.

Eugenio Ferrante, CEO of Osome, said: “A few years ago, building a global company required a 500-person team and a massive regional office. Today, a three-person AI startup can operate globally from Singapore with a laptop. The biggest threat isn’t competition, but administrative drag. With our new MCP server, you can manage your company’s finance and compliance via your AI assistant, leaving you free to focus on building and serving customers.”

About Osome

Osome is an AI company-management platform combining human expertise with automation for incorporation, accounting and tax compliance. Since 2017, it has served 50,000+ startups in Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK and the UAE. Learn more at osome.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/osome-eyes-the-next-wave-of-ai-companies-choosing-singapore-302834753.html

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After Arrest Controversy, “Empire State Building Couple” Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus to Address Recent Incident on Gosh Live

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July 26, 2026

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The couple said on social media that they will soon go live on Gosh Live to talk about life after the Empire State Building incident and the questions they want to answer directly.

Safety note: Gosh does not encourage or endorse dangerous, illegal or unauthorised activities. The livestream is intended solely as an entertainment and community interaction session.

NEW YORK, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, the creator couple known for rooftopping and high-altitude visual content, first gained attention through their daring shoots on skyscrapers, city landmarks and extreme urban locations around the world. Their content brings together adventure, striking visuals and their relationship story in the same frame. Their journey was later featured in the Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, introducing them to an even wider audience.

Recently, Angela and Ivan became the focus of media and social media discussion following the Empire State Building incident in New York. According to public reports, the couple were taken into police custody after climbing the Empire State Building and allegedly completing a proposal, and now face related charges. Since then, fans have been following updates on their situation, the legal aftermath and whether the couple would respond publicly.

Following the controversy, Angela and Ivan have chosen to face fans directly through a livestream, where they are expected to talk about the Empire State Building incident, what they have been going through, and the questions they have wanted to address themselves.

According to the preview shared on their social media accounts, the livestream will take place on Gosh Live. Compared with a formal interview, the stream is expected to be a more relaxed online social and entertainment setting, where fans can watch, chat and hear directly from the couple.

During the livestream, Angela and Ivan are expected to discuss life after the Empire State Building incident. They may also talk about their relationship, future plans and whether they will continue creating rooftopping-related content.

The livestream is scheduled to begin on July 26, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. UTC and will be available on the official Gosh Live page.

For fans who have been following Angela and Ivan, the livestream could be a rare opportunity to hear the couple speak directly about their situation after the controversy.

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SOURCE Gosh Live

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Think Bold, Ride Bold: Insta360 Takes Over the Champs-Élysées with 200-Rider Community Event

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July 26, 2026

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LOS ANGELES, July 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Insta360 announced “Vibrez en Jaune” Pop-Up, a three-day cycling and creator event held in Paris from July 24 to July 26, 2026. Designed to coincide with the electric atmosphere of the Tour de France finale, the event culminated in a 200-rider takeover of the Parisian streets, bringing the spirit of professional cycling to everyday enthusiasts and urban explorers.

Built around the theme ‘Think Bold, Ride Bold,’ “Vibrez en Jaune” Pop-Up featured immersive pop-up experiences, hands-on creator workshops, and a sprawling group ride traversing the iconic 90km classic route from Versailles to the Champs-Élysées. The festival served as a celebration of cycling not just as a competitive sport, but as a vehicle for exploration, storytelling, and community connection.

A Festival of Content and Culture

The event kicked off on July 24 with a two-day hub of activity in the heart of Paris. Moving away from traditional retail experiences, Insta360 hosted a series of “Cycle & Create” workshops designed to lower the barrier to content creation.

Attendees gained access to on-site trial devices, allowing them to test out Insta360’s unique product ecosystem firsthand. Insta360 product experts were on hand to teach advanced cycling photography and videography techniques, ensuring riders knew exactly how to capture dynamic, hands-free POV footage of their urban commutes and weekend group rides.

The pop-up also served as a central gathering space for the community. Registered riders connected over coffee, collected their limited-edition Insta360 yellow cycling jerseys, and prepared for the weekend’s main event.

The Hero Moment: Taking Over the Streets of Paris

On Sunday, July 26, over 200 riders embarked on the “Vibrez en Jaune” Pop-Up main event. Organized in partnership with the Peloton Cycling Club, the group rode a 90km route inspired by the Tour de France Paris finale.

Beginning in Versailles, the group rode through the Paris city center before arriving at the Champs-Élysées. To ensure safety and an optimal experience, riders were organized into small, supervised packs of 20 to 25 across four distinct difficulty tiers—Spicy, Medium-Plus, Medium, and Mild—making the professional route accessible to a wide range of skill levels.

Select riders were equipped with Insta360 cameras to record immersive, first-person footage of the group as they navigated the historic streets, creating a collaborative, community-driven documentary of the ride.

Celebrating the Finish Line

The ride concluded at the Insta360 pop-up space for a vibrant after-party. As the actual Tour de France final stage was broadcast live on a giant screen, participants were treated to a professional DJ, refreshments, and finger food.

To reward the community, Insta360 hosted a drawing featuring premium cycling accessory bundles and high-value grand prizes, including the Insta360 GO Ultra Tadej Pogačar Edition and an exclusive jersey signed by the cycling champion himself.

Redefining Urban Exploration

Beyond the celebration of the sport, “Vibrez en Jaune” Pop-Up highlights the brand’s ongoing commitment to sustainable urban lifestyles. By encouraging people to rediscover their cities by bike, Insta360 aims to promote cycling as an accessible, low-carbon choice that allows individuals to experience urban life in a more mindful, connected way.

About Insta360

With a “Think bold” mindset, Insta360 empowers people to capture and share their lives in extraordinary ways. Recognized as a market leader and innovator, Insta360’s vast lineup includes the world’s best-selling 360 cameras in the X Series, the thumb-sized GO Series for everyday capture, as well as an extensive range of action cameras, gimbals, webcams, and professional photography solutions. With intuitive, AI-powered software, Insta360 simplifies the creative process, allowing users to focus on storytelling without technical barriers. Insta360 is dedicated to helping a new generation of athletes, creatives, travelers and professionals bring their ideas to life.

For more details visit: http://www.insta360.com

About the Think Bold Fund: https://www.insta360.com/ThinkBoldFund
Read our blog: https://www.insta360.com/blog
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SOURCE Insta360

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