Beijing, Hong Kong set up joint R&D unit for AI, robotics

The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAIR) and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) have established the CAIR-HKPC Joint Laboratory, to develop innovative solutions for industries and institutions, and help enterprises tackle the challenges they face when adopting artificial intelligence (“AI”) and robotics technologies. 

The Joint Lab will be a leading force in fostering smart manufacturing and industrial upgrading and transformation in Hong Kong, and will strengthen the momentum of a booming innovation and technology (I&T) sector to become a new growth engine for the city.

The Joint Lab aims to deepen the collaboration among industry, academia and research institutes, accelerate technology transfer of research achievements in AI and Robotics, and promote the development of related industries through joint R&D projects and exchange programmes. 

Based on the actual needs of enterprises, the Joint Lab is meant to provide R&D and innovative applied technology solutions in fields including intelligent systems, intelligent equipment, intelligent robots, digital modelling and analysis technologies, as well as customised automatic equipment and advanced manufacturing solutions and intelligent product development services. 

This is the first joint lab that CAIR has launched with a Hong Kong statutory organisation, with a distinct focus on technology transfer and applications of scientific and technological breakthroughs.

Bo Xu, director of CAIR and president of Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that as Hong Kong’s booming I&T sector has gained more vigour and momentum for rapid development, CAIR will enhance our research capabilities in pioneering fields such as basic theory of new-generation AI, new human-computer interaction technology, advanced health-oriented robotics technology, and cross-modal open-source AI platform technology. 

“CAIR will also provide staunch support to innovative collaboration among industry, academia and research institutes,” said Xu.

Mohamed Butt, executive director of HKPC, said that as the chairing organisation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Productivity Promotion Service Alliance, HKPC will redouble our efforts to accelerate the implementation of joint projects in AI, robotics and big data with other partners including the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; the Department of Automation, Tsinghua University; and Shenzhen Data Exchange. 

“In the meantime, HKPC will continue to play a key role in nurturing talents for the I&T sector and creating more opportunities for young people, especially in advanced manufacturing,” he said.