HONG KONG, April 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has made a stellar showcasing at the 50th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, securing 16 awards. These include 1 Gold Medal with Jury Congratulations, 4 Gold Medals, along with 7 Silver Medals and 4 Bronze Medals. The award-winning projects feature cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), 3D integrated circuits, 5G communications, blockchain and visual sensing, with wide-ranging applications in various sectors, promising to benefit both industry and the public. 

Ir Sunny Lee, Board Chairman of ASTRI, expressed his delight of the institute’s achievements. “This success not only reflects the global recognition of Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) research excellence but also underscores our commitment to accelerating commercialisation of research outcomes.”

He said that the strong backing from both the central and HKSAR governments have created unprecedented opportunities for the I&T sector.  ASTRI, he added, remains dedicated to aligning with government policies and strategic development blueprints, while fostering collaboration across government, industry, academia, research and investment sector aiming to support Hong Kong-developed technologies to go global.

Dr Ying Huang, Acting CEO and Chief Technology Officer of ASTRI, highlighted the dedication of the ASTRIANs. “Each award-winning invention reflects the relentless efforts of our teams and validates their excellence in high-quality research.”  

He was pleased to learn that ASTRI’s technologies, recognised as practical solutions to industry pain points, were well-received by the judges. “With the tremendous support from the HKSAR government and the industry, we are committed to enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness through technology, ensuring that more people benefit from our research outcomes,” he added.

Two winning innovations were co-developed by ASTRI and the MTR Corporation. The “Automatic Tunnel Inspections System” won the Gold Medal with Jury Congratulations, while the “Power Demand Optimisation AI Cohort” won the Gold Medal.

The International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, held from 9 to 13 April, is one of the world’s premier events celebrating innovation. This year’s exhibition brings together over 1,000 inventions from 45 countries and regions, with awards selected by an international panel of expert judges.

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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; Intelligent Perception and Control Technologies, 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 more than 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)

Elm AI, a Cornell University spinout and an AI-driven platform helping enterprises improve sustainability and operational performance across their supply chains, has successfully raised $2 million in an oversubscribed funding round. The round was led by Beta Boom Fund and Working Capital Fund, with participation from Boro Capital Partners, Very Serious Ventures, Gorges Ventures, The Bond Collective, and Textbook Ventures.

NEW YORK, April 12, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Elm AI, a Cornell University spinout and an AI-driven platform helping enterprises improve sustainability and operational performance across their supply chains, has successfully raised $2 million in an oversubscribed funding round. The round was led by Beta Boom Fund and Working Capital Fund, with participation from Boro Capital Partners, Very Serious Ventures, Gorges Ventures, The Bond Collective, and Textbook Ventures.

Global enterprises continue to face escalating costs and complexity in supplier due diligence and compliance management, driven by rapidly evolving regulatory standards. Elm AI’s advanced AI-driven technology streamlines this process by automating analysis of supplier documentation (questionnaires, audit reports, etc), and instantly providing actionable insights and recommendations—dramatically faster and more cost-effectively than traditional methods.

Elm AI’s software is already trusted by a diverse range of customers, from mid-sized apparel brands to publicly listed multinational corporations generating billions in revenue. The platform currently manages data from several thousand factories globally. Amongst the company’s first few customers is Reformation, a leading sustainability clothing brand.

“Elm AI has been instrumental in transforming our responsible sourcing process, streamlining cumbersome administrative tasks and giving brands more time to focus on what matters most — building programs and management systems that benefit workers by ensuring safe, healthy, and equitable working conditions.”

– Carrie Freiman Parry, Senior Director Of Sustainability at Reformation

The company was founded in 2023 at Cornell University by Advait Raykar, Aparajita Thakker, Ken He, and Eesha Khanna. Elm AI was built on cutting-edge research of AI applications in the sustainability space, and initially secured funding from Cornell University and Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator. Since then, the company has grown exponentially.

“The Elm AI team’s maturity and focus on solving customer problems continue to impress me. As someone with a long history in supply chain labor and sustainability, it’s refreshing to see such enthusiasm for making a real difference. They’ve made me a firm believer in AI’s ability to accelerate our efforts to support workers in global supply chains.”

– James McMichael, Founder of ELEVATE Global and Mosaic RSR

The newly raised capital will accelerate Elm AI’s growth, allowing the company to quickly onboard customers from its extensive waitlist and continue expanding its technological capabilities. Elm AI aims to become the definitive platform for managing comprehensive supplier performance and risk data at global scale.

About Elm AI

Elm AI provides an AI-driven system of record for supplier sustainability, performance, and risk data. The platform automates complex workflows, empowering companies to achieve unprecedented efficiency and sustainability in their supply chain operations.

For more information, visit www.elm-ai.com or contact info@elm-ai.com.

Media Contact

Aparajita Thakker, Elm AI, 1 4085680807, aparajita@elm-ai.com, www.elm-ai.com

Advait Raykar, Elm AI, 1 9783629319, advait@elm-ai.com, www.elm-ai.com

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SOURCE Elm AI

New Consumption Trends, New Technological Forces

HAIKOU, China, April 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — From April 13 to 18, the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) is held in Haikou, Hainan. A key highlight is the debut of the Exhibition of “Zhejiang’s Fine Products: A Legacy of Excellence” at the China Chic section. Companies such as Lingban Technology (Rokid’s parent company), OSM, and Hu Qing Yu Tang unveil global product launches at the event.

Themed on “New Consumption Trends, New Technological Forces,” the exhibition shows Zhejiang’s ambition to integrate heritage craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation. With the slogan “World-Class Quality, Made in Zhejiang,” visitors experience a hybrid exhibit combining physical displays and virtual interactions. The cultural section highlights time-honored industries, with 18 brands presenting over 200 products, from traditional crafts to modern consumer goods. A virtual exhibition, co-developed with Alibaba’s Taobao & Tmall Group, extends the showcase digitally.

A major event in the CICPE’s official agenda is the global product launch session, themed “New Discoveries at the CICPE: Global Premieres.” On April 14, three innovations are unveiled: the AI+AR Rokid Glasses, OSM’s 2025 edition of Soothing Whitening Essence, and Hu Qing Yu Tang’s “Light Wellness: Workplace Saviors” series for health-conscious young professionals.

Throughout the exhibition, Zhejiang Satellite TV’s VR hostess, Gu Xiaoyu, serves as the “digital news officer,” providing real-time updates. The exhibition also introduces interactive experiences that engage sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch to explore Zhejiang’s historical products. Traditional crafts such as Dongyang wood carving, Wanfeng joinery, traditional Chinese medicine from Hu Qing Yu Tang, and Longjing tea from Shibake are showcased.

Prominent figures lend their support to the Zhejiang brand initiative, including Zhu Zhu, advertising spokesperson for OSM Skincare; Shen Zhirong, Founder of OSM known as OSM “Grandpa Pearl”; Zhu Mingming, Rokid’s Founder and CEO; and Chen Yunhan, Board Chairman and General Manager of Hu Qing Yu Tang. The exhibition attracts significant attention from both domestic and international media. Through live broadcasts, press conferences, and short video promotions, organizers seek to elevate the profile of Zhejiang’s brands on the global stage—part of China’s broader strategy to enhance the international competitiveness of its consumer goods sector.

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