HKPC "AI Impulse 2019" Promotes the Development of Smart Industries in Hong Kong

(Hong Kong, 17 June 2019) To promote the development of smart industries in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is organising the two-day “AI Impulse 2019” with the funding support of the Innovation and Technology Fund of the HKSAR Government, to enable local enterprises to grasp the latest global trend and novel applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technologies. Dr David Chung, Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology, was the guest-of-honour at the opening ceremony today.

Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC, said, “HKPC is committed to serve Hong Kong companies by leveraging its expertise in applied technology and R&D, for reindustrialisation, smart living and digital transformation. AI definitely plays a vital role as HKPC collaborates with local industries to usher in a smart era dedicated to Industry 4.0 and Enterprise 4.0. The integration of AI with robotics, Internet of Things, big data analytics and sensors help industries sustain development and enhance market competitiveness. At the same time, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Science and Technology Innovation Corridor to be built as a result of the emergence of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) will intensify cooperation in innovation technology. HKPC will also organise various exchange activities to promote the wider use of AI technology in Hong Kong and GBA, and contribute to the building of smart industries in Hong Kong.”

At the ceremony, HKPC and the Department of Automation from Tsinghua University, Beijing, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration in R&D in the realm of artificial intelligence, robotics and big data, in accelerating the applications of smart automation in the business sectors to increase the competitiveness of Hong Kong enterprises.

Under the theme of “Catalyst to Business Success”, the event features a conference on the first day, with an ensemble of top-notch AI and IT experts from Germany, the U.S., Mainland China and Hong Kong, who along with representatives from international renowned enterprises sharing their insights on the innovative applications of AI technology in various industries. Over 400 people from local enterprises have registered for it. To help the participants to understand first-hand the actual industrial application of AI and robotics technologies, there will be a visit to the smart factories of two information and communication technology device manufacturers in Shenzhen, Mainland China, on the second day of the event. The visit also drew warm response from the participants.

To promote the use of disruptive technologies such as AI and robotics to strengthen the competitiveness of Hong Kong businesses, apart from seminars to enhance industry understanding of AI technologies, HKPC has also signed memorandums of understanding with the world-renowned RWTH Aachen Campus from Germany; and smart robotics company UBTECH from Mainland China respectively, for collaboration in the R&D of AI and robotics, and offers related training under the “Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme”.

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Mr Mohamed Butt, Executive Director of HKPC (centre), and Prof Tao Zhang, Associate Dean of School of Information Science and Technology; Chairman of Department of Automation of Tsinghua University (2nd from left), signed the Memorandum of Understanding today, witnessed by Dr David Chung, the Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology (2nd from right); Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC (1st from right) and Prof Jingyan Song, Assistant to the President of Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen; Director of Tsinghua Innovation Center in Zhuhai (1st from left).

Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC, shared at the summit that the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Science and Technology Innovation Corridor to be built as a result of the emergence of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) will intensify cooperation in innovation technology. HKPC will also organise various exchange activities to promote the wider use of AI technology in Hong Kong and GBA, and contribute to the building of smart industries in Hong Kong.

An ensemble of top-notch guest speakers exchanged views on applications of AI in various industries at a forum hosted by Mr Edmond Lai, Chief Digital Officer of HKPC (1st from left).