APAS held APAS Automotive Technology Summit 2023: New Energy and the Hydrogen Chapter Partnering with the Industry to Promote the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry in Hong Kong and the Mainland

(Hong Kong, 9 May 2023) The Automotive Platforms and Application Systems R&D Centre (APAS), hosted by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), today organised the “APAS Automotive Technology Summit 2023: New Energy and the Hydrogen Chapter” event, bringing together local and overseas industry experts and leaders to deliver keynote presentations, share government initiatives, the latest technology developments and business opportunities in the automotive industry, and promote the rapid development of the new energy and hydrogen industry. APAS also signed memoranda of understanding (MoU) with Mainland automotive industry partners to deepen technology exchange and cooperation in the field.

Hon Sunny TAN, Chairman of HKPC, was joined by Ms Lillian CHEONG, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government; Dr Lawrence CHEUNG, Chief Executive Officer of APAS; and industry experts and leaders, to officiate the event.

Hon Sunny TAN, Chairman of HKPC, said, “The National 14th Five-Year Plan has proposed the development of strong strategic emerging industries, including new energy, new energy vehicles and green environmental protection industry, etc. This year, the National Committee (“two sessions”) has also continued to focus on the development of new energy, listing hydrogen energy technology as part of the development of new energy technology. In addition, the HKSAR Government attaches great importance to the development of the hydrogen energy industry, the promotion of green transportation, and the development of green environmental protection industry and new energy vehicles and smart mobility initiatives. Therefore, apart from playing an important role in driving the research and development (R&D) as well as application of automotive technology in Hong Kong, APAS will also take practical actions to comply with government policies, including to promote the use of new energy and hydrogen energy, and establish Hong Kong as an environmentally friendly and livable smart city.”

Ms Lillian CHEONG, the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, said in her opening remarks, “New energy technology is one of the leading innovative fields in the new era. It is also one of the strategic emerging industries proposed in the National 14th Five-Year Plan. The HKSAR Government promulgated the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint in December last year, which suggested focusing on developing industries such as advanced manufacturing and new energy technology, etc. The advanced new energy technology industry can help address climate change and achieve carbon neutrality goals, and promote the development of green industries. To tackle climate change and achieve carbon neutrality goals, the HKSAR Government is committed to promoting green transport, new energy vehicles and smart mobility initiatives, amid encouraging the development of relevant industries. We will continue to support APAS in its R&D and technology transfer in related areas.”

APAS signed an MoU with CATARC Automotive Test Centre (Guangzhou) at the event to jointly promote the development of the new energy vehicle industry in the Greater Bay Area, to provide technical support for new energy and connected vehicles regulations and policies, etc. in the region, to facilitate the application of new energy vehicles in the region, and to collaborate on new energy vehicle development, testing and certification technologies, etc. Furthermore, an MoU was also signed with Shanghai REFIRE Group to deepen collaboration on the deployment of hydrogen energy technology in the transportation and stationary battery market sectors and to extend the application of hydrogen energy technology to other industries in Hong Kong.

The event also featured several presentations by industry experts, including Dr Lawrence CHEUNG, Chief Executive Officer of APAS, Dr Kenneth LEUNG, Principal Assistant Secretary (Air Policy), Environmental and Ecology Bureau of the HKSAR Government, Ir Kenny SO, General Manager (Engineering) of CityBus Ltd., Ir Don CHENG, General Manager (Commercial & Industrial Marketing & Sales) of Towngas, and Mr WANG Xu, Deputy General Manager of CATARC Automotive Test Centre (Guangzhou). They shared the latest developments and business opportunities in new energy and hydrogen energy technologies, the carbon neutrality policy of Hong Kong, and the development of the new energy vehicle market in the Mainland with over 100 industry stakeholders, exploring how to address the challenges and opportunities in the promotion of new energy and hydrogen energy technologies, to facilitate the sustainable development of the automotive industry together.

Apart from organising the Summit, and as the driving force behind the development of automotive technology in Hong Kong, APAS also showcased at the event several market-oriented projects developed in the past year, including AI Based Car Exhaust Noise Detector, Heavy Duty Fully Self-driving Transporter, Roadside LiDAR and V2X Communication System, Departure Alert System for Minibuses and Crane Position Monitoring System. These projects have won three silver and two bronze medals at the recently concluded 2023 Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, demonstrating the strength and innovative capability of APAS in the field of automotive technology, contributing positively to its development in Hong Kong. For more information on APAS' services and projects, please visit the website: www.apas.hk/index.php/en/.

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Hon Sunny TAN, Chairman of HKPC (sixth right), Ms Lillian CHEONG, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry (sixth left), Mr Mohamed BUTT, Executive Director of HKPC (second left), Dr Lawrence CHEUNG, Chief Executive Officer of APAS (third right), Mr Allan LAI, General Manager of APAS (first left), and industry experts and leaders attended APAS Automotive Technology Summit 2023: New Energy and the Hydrogen Chapter to promote the development of hydrogen energy industry in Hong Kong and the Mainland.

Dr Lawrence CHEUNG, Chief Executive Officer of APAS (left), and Mr WANG Xu, Deputy General Manager of CATARC Automotive Test Centre (Guangzhou) (right), signed the MOU to jointly promote the development of the new energy vehicle industry in the Greater Bay Area.

Dr Lawrence CHEUNG, Chief Executive Officer of APAS (left), and Mr Ezra EMERSON, Director of Brands, Marketing & Communications of Shanghai REFIRE Group (right), signed the MOU to deepen collaboration on the deployment of hydrogen energy technology in the transportation and stationary battery market sectors.