Hong Kong launches embodied AI hub to drive robotics application

City’s new training ground drives innovation in robotics, industrial sectors

Hong Kong established its first international application training ground for embodied artificial intelligence on Thursday to accelerate real-world testing, validation and commercialization of embodied AI and humanoid robots.

In the initial stage, the training ground has brought together 15 partners in technology and application scenarios to drive innovation in industrial manufacturing, smart logistics, retail services, inspections and maintenance, and public services, said its operator, the Hong Kong Industrial Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Centre (FLAIR) under the Hong Kong Productivity Council.

Officiating the opening ceremony, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said the training ground has been established “just in time”, as humanoid robots and embodied AI are on the front line of the latest wave of technology innovation and hold immense potential to transform industrial operations and enhance and foster new quality productive forces.

“We hope that, with the training ground, more successful global applications can be fostered, and new momentum can be injected into the new industrialization drive,” Sun said.

He reiterated the special administrative region government’s support of local AI development through providing resources and funding.

For instance, Sun said, the government will inject an additional HK$1 billion ($127.4 million) into the Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme to support the Hong Kong Institute of Artificial Intelligence, which will be opened later this year.

As the training ground’s technology lead, FLAIR said it will establish a data-driven technology validation and optimization system.

Through a closed-loop R&D process encompassing “scenario definition, model adaptation and training, solution testing, performance evaluation, data feedback, technology iteration and re-validation”, FLAIR said it will help enterprises continuously enhance the capability and stability of embodied AI systems.

Sunny Tan, chairman of the HKPC, said that the key to the development of embodied AI lies in whether robots can truly adapt to different scenarios and create tangible value through continuous learning and training.

“We hope the training ground will help position Hong Kong as a major hub for innovation and application in embodied intelligence technology,” Tan said.

Among the technology partners is Robotera, an embodied AI company with equity from Tsinghua University. Its representative, Zhang Liang, said the company’s logistics-sorting robot can now sort over 1,000 parcels per hour, and more than 100 units have already been deployed in real operations such as China Post and SF Express.

“Going forward, we hope to reach international logistics companies through HKPC and to seek its guidance on meeting international requirements. Using Hong Kong as a hub from which to expand into international markets is a very good choice, and this was also our original motivation for joining this training ground,” said Zhang.