HKSTP launches iDM 2 Micro-Electronics Node, Hong Kong’s first FPGA-based electronics accelerator

Mr. Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, welcomed guests at the launch ceremony of the iDM² Micro-Electronics Node.

Domain experts from academia and electronics industry shared their experiences and insights at the panel discussions about microelectronics industry development and edge computing in Hong Kong.

HKSTP and its industry partners kicked off the iDM² Micro-Electronics Node. (From left to right):  

• Peter Mok, Head of Incubation & Acceleration Programmes, HKSTP
• Stephen Chow, Senior Director, Xilinx Worldwide Technical Sales, Xilinx
• Arthur Chung, Senior Director, Supplier & Product Management, Avnet
• Jamie Cheng, Senior Manager, Member Services & Corporate Affairs, Federation of Hong Kong Industries
• Albert Wong, CEO, HKSTP
• YS Chan, Director of Engineering Solutions Center, Arrow
• Vicky Cui, Broadbase FAE Manager of Intel PSG China, Intel
• Basil Wai, CEO, Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association Ltd​

Products applied with FPGA were exhibited to show the evolution and the latest development of microelectronics in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong, 28 August 2019 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) today announced the launch of the “iDM² Micro-Electronics Node”, Hong Kong’s first electronics acceleration programme for FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), set to revitalise and propel the growth of the microelectronics industry in Hong Kong.

Micro-Electronics Node is a new training programme under iDM² (ideas, design, manufacturing and market) to help startup and Park companies design microelectronics that best fit their products. The programme focuses on FPGA training, a chip architecture that is widely used in electronic circuits and known for its powerful applications in various technologies. It is a technology with huge potential for big data processing and running machine learning algorithms. Under the iDM² Micro-Electronics Node, startups and Park companies can look to speed up their product design and re-designing process, reduce problem-solving time and man costs, and access to tools and expertise that will make it easier to engage new logic solutions, especially for AI applications. 

At the launch ceremony, Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP said, “Amid the government’s support for reindustrialisation in the last two years, we have seen manufacturers express their interest in relocating their high-end production needs back to Hong Kong, with a strong inclination towards the microelectronics sector. As the leading incubator in Hong Kong, HKSTP is driving the revitalisation of the microelectronics industry by introducing the iDM² Micro-Electronics Node. Our incubatees, Park companies as well as students of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering are welcomed to enroll in this programme. We look forward to a new generation of leadership in this domain, furthering Hong Kong’s microelectronics technology development and competitiveness in the Greater Bay Area.”

Two cohorts on FPGA training

The programme consists of two training cohorts, each lasting 3 months. HKSTP is partnering with industry partner, Avnet, in the first cohort running from October to December 2019. Avnet will offer development kits that feature Xilinx in a total of six courses covering programming and cloud computing, motor control and smart traffic control applications, AI, big data analysis and computer vision. Arrow Electronics, HKSTP’s other industry partner, will provide a development kit that features FPGA from Intel in the second cohort from January to March 2020. 

Arthur Chung, Senior Director, Supplier & Product Management of Avnet Asia, said, “We are glad to have worked alongside HKSTP on the iDM² Micro-Electronics Node to enhance the design capabilities of our startups through Xilinx solutions. Our development kit with topics covering Xilinx SoC applications on AI, machine learning, data acceleration and industrial automation will benefit our startups and inspire our students for a new generation of leadership in this domain.”

YS Chan, Director of Engineering Solutions Centre of Arrow, said, “We are delighted to join hands with HKSTP on the iDM² Micro-Electronics Node. With our technical training support and a development kit that features FPGA architectures from Intel, we look forward to assisting startups make full and best use of FPGA from design through production to go-to-market.”

Two panel discussions were held after the launch ceremony. Domain experts from academia and electronics industry shared their experiences and insights about microelectronics industry development and edge computing in Hong Kong. Booths were also arranged for startups and Park companies to exhibit their actual FPGA applications and display items such as waver, chipsets and other microelectronics parts. The showcases highlighted the evolution of microelectronics in Hong Kong and future trends.

Concluding Electronics Month with Flying Colours

The launch of the iDM² Micro-Electronics Node marks the end of HKSTP’s first Electronics Month. Other related events that were successfully held in August included the International Conference on Electronic Packaging Technology (ICEPT) 2019 on August 12 – 14 and the Conference on Sensors and IoT Standard for Smart City cum Inauguration of IEEE P2668 IoT Maturity Index on August 26.