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OpenGov Asia had the opportunity to attend the very first Strata + Hadoop World Conference in Beijing in early August 2016 and took some time to speak to Doug Cutting, one of the speakers at the conference. Hadoop is an open source software framework for distributed storage and distributed processing of very large data sets on computers built from commodity hardware. We find out from the founder himself about his milestones in developing Hadoop and what is on the horizon.
Hadoop celebrates its 10th birthday this year. As the founder of Hadoop, what do you think are the most significant milestones for you?
I think there are a number of significant milestones. It really started before it was even called Hadoop, when we first founded the project. 10 years ago, in 2006, Yahoo! decided to invest in the technology – that was the first real significant milestone. Then we renamed those parts that matched to become Hadoop; so that was the birth of Hadoop right there in 2006.
About a year later, we had something useable by a lot of people, something that really did scale and was reliable enough. It was a huge milestone in 2007 when we could run it on a thousand nodes and it would stay up for weeks at a time, and people could really process petabytes with open source software.
I think the subsequent milestones were really the arrival of more technologies on top of Hadoop. The initial ones were pig, hive and Edge-Base, and using MapReduce as the engine but providing other tools.
From that point onwards, it’s hard to pick another milestone. Spark has been a huge one in that it shows that we can really start replacing Hadoop with other technologies. I think that shows us that this ecosystem is something that can evolve over time and continue to improve in fundamental ways with significant new execution engines, new storage engines, and new schedulers. We’ve got another scheduler besides yarn in Hadoop, called mesos. I think this competition is very healthy – this means that the ecosystem can continue to progress in its technical, political and economic architecture.
If you think about the relational database, it didn’t evolve very quickly and I think that was because it was controlled by companies that sold the databases and they would undercut their business if they embraced a different technology. They couldn’t afford to change the technology because that would change their business, creating an innovator’s dilemma. Once you have a successful business, it’s very hard to change because it will undermine your successful business. Fortunately, in open source, that doesn’t exist and Spark really demonstrated that first to me very clearly; that this platform can progress and companies like Cloudera are not left behind.
Cloudera is the first vendor to adopt Spark and today, we are still the largest supporter of Spark. People always ask, “Is Spark going to replace Hadoop?”, as though Spark is something we should be afraid of. Instead, Spark is something we very much embrace. It is beginning to replace Hadoop but not completely – it adds more capabilities, and we are also adding search capabilities with solar, and interactive sequel with impala and storage capabilities with kudu. Through this, we keep seeing this ecosystem get more powerful and stronger. Thus, I think that Spark is a milestone that really demonstrates that the ecosystem has the capacity to grow and become stronger.
More recently, it’s hard to find a specific milestone but it would probably be the degree to which Hadoop and the Hadoop ecosystem are becoming the standard for data processing across industries. We see an incredible spectrum of customers from banks to telcos, retail, and even those who are making airplanes, cars, tractors and curing diseases.
This is something I never expected and I think even when we started Cloudera, we weren’t even sure that was going to happen. Now, it is really happening.
What can we expect from the Hadoop technology in the next 3-5 years’ time from your observations and what has been happening so far?
I think Hadoop is becoming more of a style of data processing and for building technology, where we can have this loosely coupled ecosystem of projects and data that we load before we apply a schema.
I think Hadoop was the first project to really set this style in motion and now we’re seeing that as being the most successful approach, to have a collection of open source projects, and to permit people to experiment and explore their data as a style.
The old style was what we call the waterfall technique, where you first do all of the design and once you are done with the design, then you begin the implementation. With Hadoop, we encourage people to experiment, and to build a very early prototype because they can afford to. We empower them with the tools and they can then evolve all the layers of the application as they see it working. This is a much more effective approach as they can change the application and improve it over time.
Share with us about your role as Chief Architect of Cloudera.
I do a number of different things – I help advise folks building the technology, so I talk to engineers and then the executives about where we’re going. I also work as an ambassador for the open source technologies, travelling as I am today and talking to people about how this open source ecosystem operates.
I also help out with the company strategy; how we can best use the open source methodology, what new technologies should we be building, essentially helping to start new initiatives and new investments in open source.
Cloudera, in many ways, is like an open source project. In open source projects, at least in Apache open source ones, you don’t have leaders, rather, you have contributors and Cloudera works that way as well. We do have some leaders, but technically, we have a lot of contributors and so I try to help out in all our processes.
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We just saw the launch of BASE in China, which was also launched in Singapore and Malaysia earlier this year. What are your thoughts on BASE and why do you think governments and schools should come aboard to join the initiative?
A major driver of the new economy now is technology and in particular, data technology. If you want your economy to be successful, and your citizens to have better lives with good jobs (and the right jobs), then you want them to be involved in technology and have the right skills to stay on par.
Manufacturing is no longer about people holding tools, it is more about people programming robots to do automated and repetitive tasks, and this is happening in most industries. They are using more and more IT, and the skills that are most in-demand are software and technical skills.
I think governments recognise that, and so we, as a company, contribute to the ecosystem from the beginning with a model that trains people and then places them with the right jobs within the ecosystem as well. We adopted this model so that there will be people who understand the technology, which in turn helps to make our business more meaningful. This ends up benefiting industries and economies at large.
Therefore, we are happy to encourage and help countries build this kind of knowledge in their citizens that will help the country progress as a whole. The Big Analytics Skills Enablement (BASE) initiative is great because it involves not just the educational institutions, but also governments, as well as recruitment and placement organisations to form a holistic ecosystem, much like the open source model.
As an open source software evangelist, how do you think the transition from legacy systems to open source based ones for organisations can be made easier?
Our business is not focused on replacing existing systems. Existing systems tend to work well but they tend to be based on data that was entered on keyboards, which is the traditional database system. What we help people with is the building new systems with machine-generated data. Originally, Hadoop was very popular for web-search engines and web advertising systems, analysing the logs from web servers. These are all machine-generated data and now, we’re seeing even more of this.
Automobiles have sensors on them, airplanes have sensors on them, even hospital beds have sensors; we’re seeing more of it as Internet of Things (IoT) spreads and it is a new kind of data that people don’t have the tools to store and analyse. But Hadoop lets them do that, allowing them to find a lot of value in their data.
Sometimes we get involved in legacy data or importing legacy data. The legacy data system will continue to run, but they want to use the data from that system to combine it with data from other new systems to fully understand their business and their customers. So we work a lot on import and export to legacy systems, and sometimes people will replace them because the costs of the legacy systems are becoming too expensive as their business grows. The cost of open source technologies are so much lower.
But most of our business is actually new applications in companies.
In terms of public sector or government-related projects which make use of big data and Hadoop, are there any examples that come to your mind?
Some of the earlier ones we have seen are tax agencies and government services, that use big data and Hadoop to prevent fraud, making sure that people are paying their taxes and that the people who are collecting money from the government are not getting more than they should be.
Also, several government agencies are interested in applying big data analytics in healthcare, military and intelligence businesses. They have massive volumes of data and are using technologies like Hadoop and Cloudera to help them manage and understand that data, securely.
There are several other applications for government use, and we’re starting to see more in managing utilities, traffic, and other government services. There are a lot of opportunities for government services to use data to better understand how systems are being used and how to improve them for the well-being of the community at large.
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Singapore’s Minister Josephine Teo recently addressed the Singapore Conference on Artificial Intelligence, emphasising the nation’s commitment to learning, contributing, and posing critical questions in the realm of AI. Drawing parallels to Singapore’s historical challenges, the Minister highlighted the significance of seeking answers collaboratively.
Minister Josephine reflected on Singapore’s journey as an independent nation, underscoring the importance of seeking wise counsel from international experts. Notably, she mentioned Dr Albert Winsemius, who played a pivotal role as Singapore’s Chief Economic Advisor, advising the nation to focus on attracting foreign investments—a decision that propelled Singapore into an industrial powerhouse.
While acknowledging the value of global advice, Minister Josephine stressed a crucial difference in Singapore’s approach to AI. The nation aims not only to learn from the world but also to contribute significantly. The Singapore Conference on Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) serves as a platform to foster international collaboration—a brain trust where experts and thought leaders can share knowledge and ideas.
Minister Josephine drew attention to Singapore’s water story, highlighting the nation’s innovative solutions to address its existential water challenge. Through technologies like membrane filtration and desalination, Singapore transformed from heavily relying on imported water to producing “NEWater,” now supplying 40% of the country’s water needs.
Besides, Singapore freely shares its water management expertise through events like the Singapore International Water Week, showcasing the nation’s commitment to addressing global challenges collaboratively.
While acknowledging AI as a general-purpose technology, Minister Josephine recognised its potential for both positive and negative impacts. She outlined the commendable applications of AI, such as drug discovery and personalised learning, but also stressed the risks, including biases, cybercrime, and potential societal disruptions. Minister Josephine reiterated Singapore’s commitment to embracing AI innovations while confronting associated risks.
Drawing inspiration from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Minister Josephine proposed a holistic, system-oriented approach to addressing AI’s challenges and opportunities. Much like TCM practitioners aim for holistic health, SCAI adopts a systems-oriented perspective to identify strategic points for focused efforts in the AI landscape.
Minister Josephine also highlighted SCAI’s goal of identifying critical questions in AI that, if systematically answered, can enable AI to serve the global good. She drew parallels to a talk by Dr Lydia Liu, emphasising the need to move beyond theoretical fairness criteria in AI to consider system dynamics and interaction effects for practical impact.
In its pursuit of AI development, Singapore aims to create a new equilibrium by focusing on specific outcomes, measuring progress, and addressing both risks and opportunities. The SCAI conference serves as an experiment, bringing together diverse perspectives from 16 countries and various sectors to form an international brain trust for AI.
Minister Josephine expressed hope that SCAI would contribute to international cooperation on AI, forging connections and friendships to address complex AI issues collectively. Singapore’s unique approach and diverse participation underscore its dedication to fostering a global brain trust to navigate the intricate landscape of AI for the global good.
As AI technologies continue to advance, their potential to address global challenges, such as healthcare, poverty, and climate change, becomes increasingly evident. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding is essential to leverage AI for the betterment of humanity while mitigating potential negative consequences.
The ethical dimensions of AI development and deployment are significant considerations. An understanding of AI for the global good facilitates the creation of ethical frameworks and guidelines, ensuring responsible and fair use of these technologies. This approach emphasises the importance of ethical considerations in harnessing the power of AI to benefit societies worldwide.
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The Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) and DEFTA Partners (DEFTA) announced a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing technology transfer and the commercialisation of advanced research in eye and vision health. This collaborative initiative, marked by a signing ceremony at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) campus, brings together the expertise of CEVR and the extensive business network of DEFTA, with the goal of fostering innovation and translating research outcomes into globally impactful products.
Under the leadership of the Chairman of the CEVR Board of Directors and Deputy President/Provost of PolyU, and the Director of Investment Research and Deputy Head of DEFTA, the collaboration is set to leverage DEFTA’s track record in identifying and nurturing technology-based startups.

The partnership envisions a seamless integration of DEFTA’s business network with CEVR’s research achievements to facilitate the commercialisation of university-originated research. Through strategic alliances with Japanese companies, facilitated by DEFTA, CEVR aims to propel the translation and commercialisation of groundbreaking research outcomes, contributing to the advancement of eye and vision health solutions on a global scale.
The Chairman of the CEVR Board of Directors expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting the significant opportunities it presents for CEVR. He emphasised DEFTA’s crucial role in driving the commercialisation of research projects and enabling global expansion. The Chairman said he looks forward to a close working relationship with the DEFTA team to achieve shared goals, bringing innovation to fruition and enhancing eye health worldwide.
Meanwhile, the Director of Investment Research and Deputy Head of DEFTA underscored the synergy between The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the University of Waterloo in Canada, along with the strong support from the Hong Kong SAR Government, as key factors contributing to CEVR’s research capabilities. She noted that DEFTA’s robust network with industrial corporates and extensive experience will secure more collaboration opportunities and resources for CEVR’s projects. The Director expressed confidence in DEFTA’s ability to foster innovation and create opportunities in the field of eye and vision research.
The signing ceremony, witnessed by PolyU’s President; the Consul-General of Japan in Hong Kong; and the Group Chairman and CEO at DEFTA Partners, symbolised the formalisation of the collaboration. This strategic partnership marks a milestone in the efforts to address urgent needs and challenges in global eye and vision health.
In embracing this collaboration, CEVR anticipates an expansion of its partner network, enabling the research centre to undertake more innovative and cutting-edge projects. The collaboration is poised to create a platform for CEVR to address critical issues in the field, ultimately contributing to advancements in global eye and vision health. As CEVR and DEFTA embark on this collaborative journey, the combined expertise and resources are expected to drive impactful changes in the landscape of eye and vision research.
The strategic collaboration between the Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) and DEFTA Partners marks a significant step forward in advancing the translation of cutting-edge research in eye and vision health into tangible, real-world solutions.
The formalised partnership, celebrated at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), brings together the academic prowess of CEVR and the business acumen of DEFTA, setting the stage for innovative advancements in the field. With a shared vision of promoting technology transfer and commercialisation, this collaboration holds the promise of not only addressing urgent global needs in eye health but also fostering a collaborative environment that can lead to groundbreaking developments.
As CEVR and DEFTA combine their strengths, we anticipate witnessing transformative changes that will positively impact eye and vision health on a global scale. This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration between academia and industry, showcasing a commitment to driving positive change and improving lives through cutting-edge research and innovation.
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To fulfil the collaboration agreement outlined in the joint statement between Vietnam and the United States from earlier this year to develop the semiconductor industry, Vietnam has been refining a one-stop-shop mechanism, formulating a human resources development plan, and setting up the National Innovation Centre (NIC) in the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in Hanoi.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), in collaboration with NIC and the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), organised a roundtable in Hanoi to assess Vietnam’s infrastructure readiness for the semiconductor industry.

According to the Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Chi Dung, Vietnam is prepared to engage in investment cooperation projects in the semiconductor industry with foreign companies, offering the most favourable terms for collaboration.
Participants were briefed on cooperation activities between the US and Vietnam to promote the semiconductor industry. Several member companies of the association have made significant investments in Vietnam. Many businesses have doubled their investment in the country, highlighting Vietnam’s escalating significance in the global semiconductor supply chain. The country possesses remarkable opportunities to make an impact on the global semiconductor supply chain.
Vietnam has set clear directions, goals, and actions, laying a solid foundation for the semiconductor industry. With a dynamic and innovative ecosystem driven by rapid advancements in the digital economy and robust growth in the high-tech sector, the country is gaining recognition. It has emerged as a burgeoning economic hub in Asia with a robust position in the global supply chain as it consistently attracts investments from multinational corporations.
The Deputy Minister of Education and Training, Nguyen Van Phuc, noted that Vietnam possesses abundant human resources, with one-third of students studying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) methods—an increase of about 10% over the last three years.
Vietnam excels in training mathematics and chemistry, providing a solid foundation for the development of other industries, including semiconductors and information technology. The Deputy Minister expressed optimism about close cooperation and support from US firms in building training programmes and establishing laboratories at Vietnamese universities.
In September, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh participated in a meeting with chief executive officers of prominent United States enterprises in the semiconductor industry. During the meeting, he encouraged increased investment in Vietnam across all stages of the semiconductor industry, including infrastructure development, technology transfer, design, production, distribution, and manpower training.
The development of Vietnam’s semiconductor industry aligns with the prevailing global trend, leveraging the country’s potential and resources. Additionally, it offers tangible benefits for citizens, prompting active participation and contributions to the process, as highlighted by the Minister.
Three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed by NIC under MPI with American partners, striving to enhance design capabilities, product development, and the training of human resources in the semiconductor industry.
The first MoU was with an electronic design automation company, geared towards providing support for the establishment of a chip design incubation centre. Under the second agreement, NIC will offer Vietnamese universities, training centres, and startups the necessary technology and training programmes to design and develop semiconductor products, aiming to stimulate the growth of Vietnam’s semiconductor and electronics sector.
Through the third MoU, NIC and an American university will work with Vietnamese research institutes and educational organisations to develop training programmes and share research in the domains of semiconductors and related fields. They will also seek and leverage appropriate sources of funding to enhance the capacity of the workforce in the semiconductor industry.
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Creating a smart city for the nation requires a collaborative effort among various stakeholders, including government bodies, private enterprises, technology innovators, and, most importantly, citizens. The development and implementation of smart city initiatives demand a synchronised approach to urban planning, technology integration, and sustainable practices.

To achieve this, Thailand should emphasise enhancing intelligent public infrastructure, encompassing transportation, energy, and water systems. Additionally, efforts would be directed towards improving the workforce’s skills through digital training and establishing connections between Thai cities and global innovation networks to encourage investments and attract skilled individuals. Thailand has been making noteworthy progress in its cooperative initiatives to advance its smart city aspirations, propelled by a unified dedication among diverse stakeholders.
Thailand serves as a pivotal platform for showcasing strategies and insights to drive urban space transformation. Dr Kitti Satjawattana, Director of the Capital Administration and Management Unit (BMTA), shared insights into the collaborative approach, emphasising the crucial role of coordination among network partners at various levels.
One of the telecommunications companies in Thailand has also joined forces with network partners to establish the “Thailand Smart City Network Partners,” marking a significant stride in advancing the development of livable and smart cities in Thailand. This collaborative initiative is poised to align with the distinct needs and aspirations outlined in the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan.
Further, Dr Kitti highlighted the strategic coordination with network partners at various levels, including policy influencers such as the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDB), Office of the Science Promotion Board Research and Innovation (NRCT), Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), and the World Bank. The collaboration extends to university networks, such as Mahasarakham University, Prince of Songkla University, Khon Kaen University, Naresuan University, Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, Burapha University, Chiang Mai University, and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Ladkrabang. It also encompasses several private sector partners to foster this initiative.

The approach involves creating tangible cooperation to propel livable cities’ strategy from formulation to practical implementation, aptly termed “Policy in Action.” To institutionalise this effort, network partners across various levels have collaboratively established the “Smart City Alliance Thailand.” The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMTA) role within this alliance is pivotal, offering support for the academic processes essential for driving research plans focused on developing livable central and smart cities. The ultimate goal is to elevate the economic landscape while addressing issues of inequality within the country.
The alliance is committed to supporting the knowledge base and tools essential for managing entire city systems, bringing together academics, experts, and relevant organisations. Dr Kitti emphasised the importance of involving stakeholders from academic institutions, government agencies, civil society, the community sector, the private sector, and other related partners in the development process. They aim to create and promote policy proposals related to the research-driven development of livable central and smart cities.
Dr Poon Thiangburanatham, Deputy Director of Organisational Planning and Strategy at BMTA, provided further insights into the initiative. The datasets generated through research and innovation will form a robust foundation for developing a comprehensive smart city across seven dimensions. These include smart energy management, smart environmental management, smart mobility, smart economic opportunities, smart people development, smart living convenience and safety, and smart governance with transparent management. The collaborative approach ensures that the smart city’s holistic development addresses diverse urban living and governance aspects.
This collaboration will impact Thailand’s smart city initiatives, integrating research, innovation, and multi-stakeholder cooperation. The alliance aims to enhance citizens’ quality of life and happiness by fostering sustainable and technology-driven urban environments, keeping with the objectives outlined in the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023-2027).
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A Digital Roadmap for Economic Recovery is pivotal in the contemporary landscape, offering multifaceted benefits. It ensures technological resilience by equipping nations with advanced tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT, fostering efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing global competitiveness.
Experts and business executives believe that the digital economy’s revitalisation and the merging of digital and physical industries will be crucial factors in propelling China’s economic recovery. Hailed as the leading edge of industrial development, the digital economy is now a crucial component of China’s development plan.
Tech companies are being strongly advised to invest in cutting-edge technology, conduct fundamental research, and investigate strategically important but future-focused areas. The main goal is obvious: strengthen technical innovation capacities to bring in a new phase of development and modernise established sectors.
The need to foster new momentum and advance traditional sectors is at the top of China’s development agenda. This need highlights the significance of the Central Economic Work Conference, which is coming up soon. This important gathering usually establishes the priorities for economic development and sets the tone for macroeconomic policy for the coming year.
Wu Hequan, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, notes that “innovative digital technologies like 5G, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the internet of things are weaving their magic across diverse industries, from manufacturing to agriculture, and hastening integration with the tangible economy.”
He highlights that fostering the digital economy is essential to gain a competitive edge, accelerate digital transformation, modernise established sectors, and efficiently support the tangible economy.
China’s digital economy soared to 50.2 trillion yuan (S$7.01 trillion) in 2022, securing its position as the world’s second-largest digital economy, constituting 41.5% of its GDP, as the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology reported.
China has outlined a strategic plan that includes concrete measures for building data resource systems and digital infrastructure. The State Council and the Central Committee of China jointly announced a plan that highlights the commitment to further integrating digital technology into the country’s politics, economy, society, culture, and ecology.
The head of the China Society of Industrial Economics, Jiang Xiaojuan, emphasised that traditional industries will be the primary arena for the emergence of the digital economy. She stressed how important it is to build a market system for data elements and discover hidden value in large data sets.
Further, platform enterprises are the pivotal figures in this digital transformation. Given China’s position as the world’s largest online consumer market and its extensive digital infrastructure, capitalising on these platforms has become critical for economic growth.
The National Data Administration pledges to share notable investment cases with other government agencies, bolstering support for these businesses to play a more dynamic role in propelling the digital economy.
This strategic approach generates employment opportunities in emerging fields, necessitates skill development, and encourages economic diversification by fostering the growth of digital industries alongside traditional sectors.
Additionally, the digital roadmap facilitates informed decision-making through a data-driven approach, enhances connectivity domestically and internationally, and promotes sustainable development practices. As consumer behaviours evolve, the strategy adapts businesses to changing preferences, making e-commerce and digital services essential components.
From a governance perspective, digitalisation streamlines processes, contributing to a business-friendly environment and fostering economic growth. In essence, this comprehensive approach not only addresses current challenges but positions nations to thrive in the evolving digital age.
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The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and a leading provider of energy-efficient computing solutions for smart vehicles have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a ‘Technology Innovation R&D Center’ at the Hong Kong Science Park.

The partnering company plans to invest around HK$3 billion by the end of 2028 and aims to expand its research and development team to approximately 100 personnel. The collaboration, overseen by the ITIB and the OASES, is dedicated to advancing Hong Kong’s microelectronics and intelligent driving ecosystem.
The MoU signing ceremony involved the Chief Corporate Development Officer of HKSTP and the Co-founder and Chief Operation Officer of the technology firm. The event was witnessed by key figures such as the Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Industry; the Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises; the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Industry; the Chairman of HKSTP; and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the partnering firm.
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry highlighted the influx of new energy and intelligent vehicle enterprises in Hong Kong, emphasising the positive impact on relevant ecosystems. He acknowledged the partner firm’s establishment of an international R&D centre at Hong Kong Science Park as leveraging the city as a platform for globalisation. The Chairman of HKSTP, expressed the significance of the partner firm’s presence, contributing to the long-term diversification of Hong Kong’s economy.
The Founder and CEO of the partnering company, expressed delight in collaborating with HKSTP, emphasising the ideal business and R&D environment provided by the Hong Kong Science Park. The partnering company aims to use the Technology Innovation R&D Center to accelerate the development of automated driving computing solutions, benefiting Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area’s smart vehicle ecosystem.
The “Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint” supports Hong Kong’s goal to become an international I&T centre, with a focus on the microelectronics industry. The establishment of the “Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute” was announced in the 2023 Policy Address to drive collaboration and create an enabling environment for microelectronics industry advancement.
The partnering company is a leading provider of energy-efficient computing solutions for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving (AD), is committed to enhancing next-generation driving experiences. The company collaborates with a wide network of partners, offering products and services to accelerate the transformation of smart electric vehicles. Their Founder and CEO is a renowned expert in machine learning, with the company holding nearly 2,000 patents and collaborating with major automobile companies globally.
HKSTP remains dedicated to advancing Hong Kong’s new industrialisation mission, boasting a microelectronics ecosystem with nearly 250 companies. Five Hong Kong universities rank among the top 100 globally, with over 100 researchers engaged in microelectronics research. HKSTP provides comprehensive microelectronics hardware infrastructure to support design, prototyping, and pilot production processes.
The collaborative efforts between the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and the partnering firm signify a pivotal step towards advancing Hong Kong’s standing in the global microelectronics and intelligent driving landscape.
With the establishment of the ‘Technology Innovation R&D Center’ at the Hong Kong Science Park, the partnering firm brings substantial investment and expertise to fuel the city’s economic diversification. The commitment to nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and leveraging the international I&T centre status reflects a strategic alignment with Hong Kong’s broader goals.
As the microelectronics ecosystem at HKSTP continues to flourish, this collaboration sets the stage for groundbreaking developments in automated driving computing solutions, contributing significantly to the smart vehicle ecosystem in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Together, HKSTP and their partnering company exemplify the synergy necessary for propelling Hong Kong’s technological prowess into a new era of growth and global competitiveness.
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To accelerate digitalisation in coal mines, a group of robotics researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (IIT-Roorkee) conducted tests in the open-cast mines of the Chhattisgarh-based Coal India subsidiary, South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL). The team is working on developing drones for coal mines under its project, titled “Design and development of an intelligent unmanned aerial vehicle applied to open-cast minefield surveillance for real-time monitoring, hazards, and vulnerability assessment”.

Under the project, the team is creating a drone to address challenges associated with stock measurement in open-cast mines. Once developed, the drone will assist surveyors in measuring stocks of coal or overburden by sending it to various sections of the mine. At present, 3D TLS (Terrestrial Laser Scanning) technology is employed for measuring overburden and coal stock, but its scope is limited.
SECL mines will serve as the primary testing and development ground for drones, with SECL providing essential technical expertise on coal mines to support the research team in obtaining crucial data for the project. The I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC), the Technology Innovation Hub of IIT-Delhi, will act as the funding agency for this undertaking.
The IIT-Roorkee team recently conducted drone tests in the Rajnagar coal mine in the Hasdeo area and visited the Amadand mine in the Jamuna Kotma area of SECL. The team successfully tested a drone produced in their institute’s laboratory.
Integrating drones into mining operations is poised to enhance both production and productivity while offering crucial logistics support. Drones can play a pivotal role in improving mine safety by monitoring slopes and assisting in blast observation.
They can help in accurately monitoring the movement of rocks and other materials during blasting in open-cast mines, allowing workers to take proactive measures to mitigate accidents. It also helps address false claims related to such incidents more effectively.
Furthermore, drones can also be employed to deliver goods to face machinery in mining operations. Additionally, in the event of accidents, drones can facilitate the delivery of essential items such as medicines or food to the personnel working on the face, ensuring timely support and aid.
As part of Coal India’s “Project Digicoal,” SECL is actively implementing various measures to digitise its mines. The deployment of numerous digital solutions in major projects like Gevra, Dipka, and Kusmunda is a key aspect of this initiative. The focus of these solutions is to improve worker safety, optimise mine surveys, enhance learning, and streamline management processes. They include:
- An emergency SOS device named “Suraksha Kavach” enables mine workers to call for assistance in the event of an emergency. It uses real-time location detection to enhance rescue operations.
- It uses drones for conducting surveys of mines and analysing mine topography, eliminating the need to physically enter risk-prone zones and enhancing safety measures.
- A technology-driven learning platform accessible to all, featuring modules covering the latest industry trends.
- The Land Acquisition Management System (LAMS), which is comprehensive digital solution designed for end-to-end workflow management. It includes features such as digital verification of land records, process mapping, and the generation of resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) and compensation plans.
Last year, the government announced its plans to make India a hub for drone technology. It has been working to boost the demand for drone technology and services by implementing effective policies, for example, the Drone Rules, 2021, providing incentives through the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for drones and drone components, and creating indigenous demand.