APAS Spearheads “Autonomous Driving Alliance” with 30+ Organisations Joining Force to Accelerate Smart Mobility Development in Hong Kong

(Hong Kong, 25 May 2021) The Automotive Platforms and Application Systems R&D Centre (APAS), hosted by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), today organised the “APAS Smart Mobility Summit: A 5G Perspective”, drawing upon local and overseas elites to dive deep into the latest development of 5G technology and business opportunities arising from smart mobility. It also announced the establishment of Autonomous Driving Alliance, along with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a sizable non-franchised bus operator, aiming to accelerate Hong Kong’s smart mobility development.  

Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC, was joined by Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government; Mr Mohamed Butt, Executive Director of HKPC; and Dr Lawrence Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of APAS, to open the event.

Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC, said, “Smart Mobility is among the core elements of building a smart city. The gradual development and adoption of 5G network in Hong Kong have laid a profound technical foundation for the development of autonomous driving. As APAS is marking its 15th anniversary this year, it is keeping pace with the times in offering sophisticated technology solutions for the automotive industry. Today, APAS takes the lead in joining up different industries to form an alliance to accelerate the development of autonomous driving. Besides, HKPC’s numerous initiatives make it the Superconnector of 5G application. They demonstrate its resolve to propel R&D and applications of smart mobility in Hong Kong’s commercial and industry sectors for the sake of enhancing efficiency and streamlining the mode of mobility. As a result, Hong Kong enterprises can fully grasp the trend and new opportunities under the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and help realise Hong Kong’s vision of becoming an international innovation and technology hub.”

Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, said, “the Government has been committed to promoting innovation and technology development. To date, the Government allocated over $100 billion to support the development of innovation and technology. The research and development (R&D) centres have been playing an important role in undertaking applied R&D and supporting industry development. We established 5 R&D centres in 2006, including APAS, to work closely with the industry to undertake industry oriented R&D projects, and facilitate the application and commercialisation of R&D results.”

She pointed out that the Government encouraged enterprises to participate in local R&D, through various programmes under the Innovation and Technology Fund, for example the “Enterprise Support Scheme”, “Partnership Research Programme”, “Cash Rebate Scheme”, and “Research Talent Hub”. She hoped that enterprises can make good use of the Government’s resources and local R&D results, and promote Hong Kong’s innovation and technology and smart city development together, to enhance the quality of life of citizens.

Spearheaded by APAS, more than 30 public and private organisations, including the Government departments, automotive and telecommunications industries, the relevant associations, R&D centres and universities, etc., to form the Autonomous Driving Alliance, in a bid to foster cooperation and exchanges on the latest technologies, market trend, standards and regulations among the “Government, industry, academic and research” sectors. All serve to drive the development of autonomous driving technology, strengthening the interactions of industries, plus expediting the pace of commercialisation and application of the relevant R&D items in Hong Kong. 

In addition, APAS signed an MOU with Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Limited to launch cooperative projects relating to R&D, application and operation of autonomous driving technology. Through the promotion of autonomous shuttle bus service, it aims to provide Hong Kong people with smarter and more convenient mobility mode for enhancing customer experience.

Apart from organising the summit, APAS, as a driver for Hong Kong’s automotive technology development, is committed to engaging in market-oriented projects and assisting industries in conformance with the Government policies. These include adoption of 5G technology to develop Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) in collaboration with the telecommunications industry, development of pantograph high power charging solution for electric commercial vehicles, testing and consultancy research of e-Taxi, trial scheme of e-Truck, devising basic specifications for e-Public Light Bus, providing guidelines for fast charging facilities to industry, etc.

For more information about APAS services and projects, please visit its website: www.apas.hk.

- Ends -

APAS took the lead to form the “Autonomous Driving Alliance” with the support from over 30 public and private organisations, striving to propel Smart Mobility in Hong Kong. The launching ceremony was officiated by Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC (front row, forth from left), Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (front row, forth from right), Mr Mohamed Butt, Executive Director, HKPC (front row, third from left), Dr Lawrence Cheung, Chief Executive Officer (front row, third from right), APAS and Dr Lawrence Poon, General Manager, APAS (front row, second from right).

Dr Lawrence Poon, General Manager, APAS (right) and Mr Timothy Wong, Chief Operating Officer, Kwoon Chung Bus Holdings Limited (left) signed the MOU to promote the service of shuttle bus with autonomous driving technology.