HONG KONG, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and the Digital Government Authority (DGA) of Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh, establishing a strategic partnership to advance digital government innovation and artificial intelligence research.

Witnessed by Dr Abdullah Mohammed AlFaifi, Vice Governor of Investment and Government Excellence at the DGA, the MoU was signed by Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, and Abdulmalik Alhoti, Deputy CEO of Innovation & Emerging Technologies Centre and Senior General Manager of Digital Innovation at the DGA.

The partnership establishes four core areas of collaboration: knowledge exchange through joint technical workshops on AI and emerging technologies; talent development via researcher secondment, PhD exchange and internship programmes; joint research opportunities in AI, digital government, and emerging technologies; and proof-of-concept validation through DGA's sandbox environment.

Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI, said: "This MoU represents a milestone for ASTRI's expansion into the Middle East market, and underscores the strong synergies between Hong Kong SAR's world-class applied research capabilities and Saudi Arabia's visionary digital transformation agenda. Through knowledge exchange, talent development, joint research and proof-of-concept validation, we look forward to contributing to Saudi Vision 2030 while strengthening Hong Kong SAR's position as a leading international innovation and technology hub."

Abdulmohsen A. Almadi, Chief Executive Officer of Innovation and Emerging Technology at the DGA, said: "Our partnership with ASTRI represents an important step in shaping the future of digital government by advancing innovation and strengthening collaboration in emerging technologies, building on Saudi Arabia's leading global position in this field. By combining expertise in applied research, talent development, and experimentation, this collaboration will support the development of innovative solutions, strengthen capabilities, and accelerate the practical application of emerging technologies."

The MoU follows ASTRI's participation at the inaugural LEAP EAST in Hong Kong SAR, and marks a further step in the institute's Middle East market expansion. Ir Dr Ted Suen led an ASTRI Business Mission to Saudi Arabia from 30 August to 2 September 2026, engaging with key government agencies, large corporations and technology companies.

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About ASTRI

Founded in 2000 by the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is the city's largest government-funded R&D centre. Committed to transforming high-impact research into practical innovations, ASTRI drives market-driven, interdisciplinary advancements across sectors, including Smart City, FinTech, Digital Health and Life Sciences, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Advanced Electronics, New Energy and Energy Storage, and Green and ESG Technologies. Following its merger with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, ASTRI has further strengthened its capabilities, with over 1,500 patents and 2,200 successful cases of technology transfer. Recognised with numerous international awards, ASTRI continues to nurture top I&T talent and foster collaborations among the I&T ecosystem, contributing to Hong Kong's high-value economic development. For more information, please visit: https://www.astri.org.