China’s artificial intelligence giant, iFLYTEK, along with its subsidiary iFLYHEALTH, is set to establish its international headquarters in Hong Kong’s renowned technology hub, Cyberport. This strategic move is poised to bolster Hong Kong’s AI ecosystem and drive innovation in the region.
Over the next five years, iFLYTEK and iFLYHEALTH plan to invest 400 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately $51 million) to develop an international headquarters, business hub, research and development center, and a trade and capital management platform in Hong Kong. The investment will also support the creation of a 150-member team dedicated to research and development and expansion into overseas markets, aiming to cultivate an AI ecosystem that includes tens of thousands of developers.
In addition to these initiatives, iFLYHEALTH intends to establish an international research institute at Cyberport. The institute will focus on pioneering technologies that merge medical health with artificial intelligence, fostering advancements in healthcare innovation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting the city’s innovation and technology sectors. He noted that artificial intelligence and life and health technology are key areas where Hong Kong holds significant advantages. Sun Dong highlighted that Hong Kong has attracted numerous leading enterprises from the Chinese mainland and abroad, including iFLYTEK, SenseTime, and Cisco, and that an AI ecosystem is rapidly taking shape in the city.
Simon Chan Sai-ming, Chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, regarded iFLYTEK’s participation as a significant milestone for Hong Kong’s AI landscape. He expressed confidence that this collaboration would further enhance innovation and research and development within the city’s AI industry, accelerate the commercialization of related products and technologies, and attract AI investments from both domestic and international sources.
The establishment of iFLYTEK’s international headquarters in Hong Kong underscores the city’s growing prominence as a global hub for artificial intelligence and technological innovation. The move is anticipated to strengthen ties between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland’s tech sectors while fostering global collaborations in AI and healthcare.
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China's AI giant iFLYTEK to set up international HQ in Hong Kong
cgtn.com
