The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has announced the creation of the “Smart Mobility Technology (C-V2X) Alliance” (SMTA) to improve the smart mobility ecosystem in Hong Kong. The alliance aims to encourage collaboration between industry, academia, and research on smart mobility and related technologies, as well as assist Hong Kong in deploying C-V2X technology and infrastructure. This will help Hong Kong become a model smart city.
The establishment of SMTA was witnessed by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, and experts and industry leaders from the academic and smart mobility sectors. During the “Digital Economy Summit – Smart Mobility Forum,” the initial accomplishments in technology and its future development were shared. The forum also discussed the challenges of C-V2X applications in Hong Kong and solutions, as well as issues like commercialisation in autonomous driving.
Expediting the deployment of C-V2X technology and infrastructure
To promote economic recovery and societal resumption, the integration of smart city technology is crucial. The Hong Kong Government has released the “Smart Mobility Roadmap for Hong Kong” and the “Smart City Blueprint for Hong Kong 2.0” to implement smart mobility and improve city management and services. With a focus on citizens’ commuting convenience and safety, the government has created a business-friendly environment to benefit daily life.
To speed up the deployment of smart mobility and related applications, ASTRI has established the “Smart Mobility Technology (C-V2X) Alliance” with support from local academia and industry leaders. The alliance aims to facilitate R&D on C-V2X, 5G, and autonomous driving technologies, promote cooperation among industries, research institutes, and academia, and explore solutions for shared challenges and technological needs. This will foster an innovative, collaborative, entrepreneurial, and technologically commercialised ecosystem.
First-hand experience of the leading technology from ASTRI – C-V2X Technology
ASTRI is actively developing various smart technologies to position Hong Kong as an international smart city. One of the technologies that the institute focuses on is C-V2X. Supported by the Innovation and Technology Commission and Transport Department, ASTRI started R&D on C-V2X technology in 2015. This technology, combined with the high-speed, reliable, and low-latency 5G network, enables more effective, accurate, and faster information sharing, resulting in improved road and pedestrian safety and traffic efficiency.
In 2021, ASTRI launched one of the world’s largest and the first C-V2X public road tests in Hong Kong, covering a 14km route from Hong Kong Science Park to Sha Tin town centre. In the previous year, the second phase of road tests and the “Shenzhen-Hong Kong C-V2X I&T Corridor” was launched to explore the technology’s application scenarios on Hong Kong’s roads, as well as the required network and infrastructure. These initiatives further promote transportation connectivity between Hong Kong and Shenzhen and advance autonomous driving across the Greater Bay Area.
In addition to presenting the latest developments and use cases of C-V2X technology at the “Digital Economy Summit – Smart Mobility Forum,” ASTRI showcased C-V2X technology at InnoEX. The event took place on 12 April to 15 April 2023 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Participants had the opportunity to learn about the future applications of Smart Mobility first-hand. In addition to C-V2X, ASTRI exhibited its other Hero technologies, such as Easy 5G Solution, federated learning, natural language processing, privacy-preserving sensing technology, HoneyNet-Early Cyber Threat Hunting & Analysis Network, 3rd generation semiconductor, and energy-saving innovative 3D Integrated Circuit Platform technology.
