Hong Kong's Path to Supercharge AI Computing and Start-Up Investments

Boosting AI Supercomputing Power in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's secretariat for innovation, technology, and industry, Sun Dong, recently outlined ambitious plans to boost the city's artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputing capabilities. The objective is to achieve a total of 15,000 petaflops of computing power by 2030, with 10,000 petaflops expected from private entities in the upcoming Northern Metropolis development.

Details of the AI Supercomputing Centre

• Initial capacity of the AI Supercomputing Centre projected to be 3,000 petaflops by 2026.
• Estimated demand in the city for AI computing power is increasing, requiring substantial infrastructure.
• Government-backed Cyberport will support the training of AI models and further scientific breakthroughs.

Revamping Start-Up Contributions through Aggressive Funding

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced plans to revamp the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund to ensure it is more market-oriented, enabling better investments in start-ups across Hong Kong. The HK$2 billion fund attracted HK$2.5 billion in private investments but requires acceleration to keep pace with the demands of the tech sector.

Strategies for Future Development

1. Focus on increasing private sector investment in research and development to more than 50% of total contributions.
2. Expand the manufacturing sector's contribution to the GDP from 1% to 5% by 2032.
3. Plan for a phased buildup of computing power while exploring partnerships with private enterprises.

Sun Dong emphasized the need for Hong Kong to foster a unique environment that supports innovation while leveraging its existing advantages. Private institutions are seen as key players in this strategy, as their contributions will supplement government efforts to realize the ambitious computing goals.