Cyberport has opened the Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Centre (AISC), the first of its kind in Hong Kong, which officially commenced operations on December 9, 2024.
The centre’s launch, accompanied by the opening of an AI Lab, signals Hong Kong’s commitment to becoming a leading hub for AI innovation and technology.
The opening ceremony, held at the AI Lab, was attended by key figures including Prof Sun Dong, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, and Simon Chan, Chairman of Cyberport.
Prof Sun emphasised the critical role of AI in driving future economic growth, stating that the AISC will serve as an “indispensable and important pillar” for Hong Kong’s AI development.
AISC’s first-phase facility boasts an impressive 1,300 PFLOPS of computing power, and is set to increase to 3,000 PFLOPS next year. This substantial computing capacity aims to meet the growing demand in the technology sector and attract cutting-edge projects and talents from mainland China and globally.
Hong Kong’s AI startup ecosystem is experiencing rapid growth, with the government allocating HK$3 billion to Cyberport for a three-year AI Subsidy Scheme (AISS), which provides funding support to local institutions, R&D centres, and enterprises to utilise the AISC’s computing power.
Currently, Cyberport houses more than 330 startups specialising in AI and big data. The AI Lab provides a platform for ecosystem partners and enterprises to showcase AI solutions, explore innovations, and facilitate R&D collaborations. Strategic partnerships with leading AI enterprises such as Baidu, Huawei and Inspur Cloud are fostering innovation in computing development and large model building.
The launch of the AISC and AI Lab is part of a broader initiative to position Hong Kong as a premier destination for AI innovation. With its robust legal system, intellectual property protections, and business-friendly environment, Hong Kong offers opportunities for AI tech companies and foreign investors.
As the AI landscape in Hong Kong continues to evolve, initiatives like the Rocketing AI Co-incubation Program — launched by Google Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation — are further supporting the growth of AI startups. These efforts collectively aim to unlock the estimated HK$287.4 billion in economic benefits that AI could generate for Hong Kong businesses by 2030.
Entelechy Asia 