The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and Saint Francis University (SFU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a strategic partnership focused on advancing research and development in AI-enabled biomaterials and digital health technologies.
The collaboration aims to accelerate innovation, facilitate technology transfer, and nurture the next generation of talent in applied sciences.
Strategic pillars of the partnership
Under the agreement, ASTRI and SFU will collaborate across three key pillars: joint research and development, technology transfer and commercialisation, and talent development. The partnership will focus on co-developing AI-driven biomaterial design platforms that integrate machine learning with material science to accelerate the discovery and optimisation of biocompatible materials for medical applications.
Research initiatives will include nano-biomaterial-based diagnostic and therapeutic solutions, such as targeted drug delivery systems, bio-sensing platforms, and biodegradable implants, paired with AI algorithms for real-time patient monitoring and personalised treatment adjustment.
Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, president of Saint Francis University, said: "This partnership between SFU and ASTRI will leverage their respective strengths in applied research, artificial intelligence, and health sciences. As Hong Kong's largest tertiary institution for registered nurse training, SFU offers not only nursing programmes but also programmes in physiotherapy, pharmaceutical studies, and community health."
The collaboration will also extend to AI-powered solutions for digital health, elderly care, special educational needs (SEN) support, smart city applications, and educational technology. Both parties will jointly submit research proposals to government funding schemes, industry sponsorship programmes, and regional innovation grants.
Commercialisation and talent development
ASTRI and SFU will jointly explore commercialisation pathways including technology licensing, industry partnerships, and spin-off opportunities, with particular focus on the Greater Bay Area healthcare market and the emerging Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) health tech sector. ASTRI will provide professional technical support to facilitate SFU's research advancement and real-world commercialisation, leveraging complementary strengths to advance the commercial translation and practical deployment of research outcomes.
The partnership will establish student internship and attachment programmes, with ASTRI hosting SFU students for research internships in AI-related R&D teams. The institutions will co-organise AI-themed academic and industry events, including the expansion of ASTRI's "AI Empowerment" seminar series, to foster knowledge exchange between academia, industry, and the public sector.
Ir Dr Ted Suen, chief executive officer of ASTRI, said: "We are delighted to partner with Saint Francis University to advance innovation in AI-enabled biomaterials and digital health. This collaboration exemplifies both institutions' shared commitment to applied research that translates into tangible solutions addressing real-world societal challenges."
