ASTRI has launched TechMart, a Hong Kong-based platform intended to make patented research technologies more accessible to enterprises seeking to accelerate digital transformation and product innovation.
Businesses can license a patented technology for an upfront fee of HK$10,000, receiving a one-year non-exclusive licence to trial and evaluate the innovation, together with an Enablement Kit and initial technical consultation.
Lowering adoption barriers
TechMart initially offers more than 50 patented technologies drawn from ASTRI’s research portfolio across information and communications technology and advanced materials. The platform is expected to expand in phases to approximately 100 patents, with technologies classified by domain and industry application to help companies identify relevant solutions.
Each Enablement Kit includes application instructions, operation handbooks, integration tools, use cases and technical consultation from ASTRI’s R&D team. ASTRI will not charge royalties during the first-year trial period, with commercial licensing arrangements to be discussed subsequently for mass production, sales and distribution.
ASTRI CEO, Ir Dr Ted Suen, said many enterprises struggle with technology adoption because of limited R&D resources, long development timelines and high upfront investment.
“TechMart bridges this gap by offering businesses mature, commercially ready patents alongside complimentary toolkits and technical support to fast-track digital transformation, product innovation, and business upgrades, while driving technology transfer,” he said.
Suen added that, unlike traditional IP trading platforms, TechMart is designed around enterprise applications, presenting each patent’s features, use cases and the business problems it addresses in an accessible format.
Asia-focused applications
The platform’s initial catalogue spans construction, environmental innovation, financial technology, healthcare, food technology, automotive solutions, semiconductors and smart manufacturing.
These areas align with technology priorities across Hong Kong and the wider Greater Bay Area, where ASTRI positions itself as a connector between research institutions, industry and government.
Among the featured technologies is an optimised power-management solution for remote IoT devices, aimed at reducing maintenance costs in smart meters, agricultural sensors, logistics tracking and environmental monitoring.
Another patent covers a fast-dissolving pharmaceutical film for applications including allergy treatment, pain relief and nutrition supplements.
TechMart also includes a multi-layer optical anti-counterfeiting device for certificates, luxury goods, pharmaceuticals and biometric identification; a distributed-ledger system for secure data exchange; a reversible self-locking interconnection system for modular construction; and AI-powered semiconductor modelling intended to improve IC verification and reduce redesign risks.
Commercialisation push
Founded in 2000 by the HKSAR Government, ASTRI reveals it has more than 1,500 patented technologies and over 2,200 technologies adopted by industry. TechMart extends its commercialisation model beyond conventional licensing and partnerships by packaging intellectual property with implementation support.
For Hong Kong enterprises, the platform may reduce the cost and uncertainty of testing advanced technologies before committing to full commercial agreements. For ASTRI, it provides a structured route to move research outputs from laboratory development into regional industrial use, particularly across sectors central to Hong Kong’s innovation strategy.
