Our Team

A focused, efficient, and creative team that always upholds a customer-first philosophy.

Prof. Shih-chi Chen

  • Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, MIT

    Fellow of Optica, Fellow of ASME, Fellow of SPIE, Fellow of HKIE

    Published two Science papers in 2019 and 2022, demonstrating prototype verification of two-photon lithography using femtosecond lasers and ultrafast multi-material nano 3D printing

    Principal investigator of multiple Hong Kong Government and National Chinese projects

    Holds twenty granted U.S. invention patents

    Chairman of Astra Optics Limited

Charu Datar

  • Master’s Degree in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2009

  • 15 years of global experience across technology, sales, and management, with a strong interdisciplinary background

  • Proven commercialization expertise in startups across the U.S., India, and Hong Kong

  • Successfully collaborated with Professor Chen to transform his early-stage research on holography-based nano 3D printing equipment into a market-ready product, achieving actual equipment sales

  • CEO of Astra Optics Limited

Dr. Qiuyuan Zhong

    • Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 2020

    • First Author of a Nature Portfolio Paper (2021) introducing the invention of Line-Illumination Modulation Microscopy (LIM), which was selected as one of the Top 10 Optics Breakthroughs of China (2021)

    • Gold Medal Winner at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva (2022)

    • Champion of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Entrepreneurship Competition

    • Accolades include: Gold Medal at the 2022 International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, Champion of the CUHK Entrepreneurship Competition, and Silver Medal at the China International “Internet+” College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition

    • CTO of Astra Optics Limited

Dr. Xinlei Fu

  • Ph.D. in Mechanical and Automation Engineering from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2018

  • Extensive experience in precision mechanical design, with the successful development of an ultra-precision vibratory microtome and one granted U.S. patent

  • Recipient of multiple entrepreneurial funding awards from the Hong Kong government, including TSSSU and HKSTP Ideation

  • COO  of Astra Optics Limited