Quality Alchemist (品質煉金術師): Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Inauguration Ceremony (香港人工智能實驗室成立儀式)

Alibaba Group Holding Limited, SenseTime and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) had launched The HKAI Lab, a not-for-profit initiative with the aim to support innovation in the field of AI in Hong Kong on 21^st May 2018 in the Charles K Kao Auditorium (Golden Egg). Before the ceremony, we took some photos for memory. Photo with Alibaba and ITB

(Left: Mr. Teddy Lui (Operations Director, Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund) (呂紹勇), Dr. David Chung (Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Innovation and Technology Bureau, HKSAR), I (Committee Member of Extenics Society, Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence (CAAI)) (中國人工智能學會可拓學專業委員會委員) and Mr. 邱彼特 (虛凡) (技術戰略部高級專家) (Senior Advisor, Technology Strategy Department, Alibaba Group)

Photo with HKQAA friends and Incubation Program colleages

(Left: Ms. Reese Kwan, I, Ms. Brenda Ling (HKQAA), Mr. Adams Wong (HKQAA) and Mr. Gallen Leung)

CityU EngD cohort took a photo in the venue.

(Left: Mr. Curie Lee, Dr. David Chung and I)

In the beginning, Mrs. Fanny Law (Chairperson of HKSTP) gave a welcome speech. She said Industry-University-Institute (產學研) cooperation was very important. Now China government and HKSAR highly supported Innovation and Technology in Hong Kong. We had right time and place (天時、地利、人和) for Innovation and Technology.

The Hon Mrs. Carrie Lam (Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) gave a keynote speech. She said China Government strongly supported Hong Kong to be International Innovation and Technology Centre and R&D funding from China would pass to Hong Kong. Moreover, Legco agreed to the budget for pre-phase engineering work in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (HSITP). She added the platform of AI & Robotic was one of I&T development plan in Hong Kong. Finally, she hope every success of the The HKAI Lab.

Then Mr. Joe Tsai (Executive Vice Chairman of Alibaba Group) explained to establish The HKAI Lab that why AI? Why Hong Kong? AI is the key strategy direction to be developed in Alibaba Group. For example, AI was employed in TaoBao (淘寶) and the application named “千人千面” in which used Big Data Analytic to provide information for individual interested product/service. He selected Hong Kong because it had good business environment and strong inclusive characteristic. Finally, he said HK needed to attract more talent, capital and enhance the size of ecosystem.

Prof. Xiao’ou Tang (Founder, SenseTime) said The HKAI Lab had three key points.

i) Non-profit making organization because it established for long time development

ii) Open platform that could attract more companies to join AI family together

iii) National Strategy to be followed that to build HK as International I&T Centre

Then Prof. Tang mentioned The Academy for Discovery, Adventure, Momentum and Outlook, DAMO) (阿里巴巴達摩院) invested RMB 100b for Innovation and Technology within 3 years.