PolyU and OPPO to establish Joint Innovative Research Centre on AI-driven computational mobile imaging

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) signed a collaborative framework agreement with Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd (OPPO) to upgrade the existing “PolyU-OPPO Joint Innovation Lab” (former Joint Lab) into the “PolyU-OPPO Joint Innovation Research Centre” (Joint Innovation Research Centre), effective from January 2025. This new framework will not only continue present research on artificial intelligence (AI) driven computational imaging but will also conduct more comprehensive and in-depth research that will cover the applications of smartphone AI imaging at all levels. OPPO aims to provide total funding of no less than RMB 30 million to the Joint Innovation Research Centre over the next five years to support PolyU’s research and the Centre’s operation.

PolyU and OPPO have successfully commercialised research outcomes and jointly nurtured a number of AI talents through their partnership over the past few years. PolyU PhD students who joined the former Joint Lab have been closely working with OPPO engineers and have developed sophisticated Generative AI algorithms, which can instantly process unclear pictures on smartphones, resulting in high-resolution and realistic pictures to the naked eye. This innovation has already been integrated into OPPO’s flagship smartphones. As the demand for mobile video filming and multimedia content creation continues to grow, the future research direction of the Joint Innovation Research Centre will extend to more complex areas, such as video algorithms, album editing and lightweight Generative AI models. The Centre aims to leverage AI technology for mobile devices while maintaining high-quality image output. Additionally, the Joint Innovation Research Centre will continue to foster talent cultivation, academia-industry cooperation and technological innovation development.

The signing ceremony for the collaborative framework agreement took place last Friday (1 November) at the PolyU campus, witnessed by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU and Mr Jason LIAO, President of the OPPO Research Institute. The agreement was signed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU and Mr Zheng QIN, Head of Industry-Academia Affairs of OPPO. Prof. ZHANG Lei, Chair Professor of Computer Vision and Image Analysis of the Department of Computing, PolyU, will serve as Director of the Joint Innovation Research Centre on behalf of the University.

Prof. TENG remarked, “To address the opportunities and challenges of the AI era, PolyU will officially establish the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences in January 2025. This is an important move to implement the University’s innovation development strategy, aiming to meet growing technological needs and support talent nurturing. The Department of Computing, which houses the Joint Innovation Research Centre will also join the new faculty. The new structure will effectively promote in-depth exchanges and collaboration among research teams, and create more impactful outcomes. We believe that this in-depth cooperation with OPPO will enable us to fully seize opportunities and actively promote technological innovation and knowledge transfer.”

Mr LIAO said, “In the three years of collaboration between OPPO and PolyU, we have witnessed significant technological breakthroughs and notable achievements in talent cultivation through the Joint Lab. Adhering to our mission of ‘Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World’, OPPO is dedicated to deepening the integration of academia-industry cooperation in the field of AI through this renewal, bringing more innovative intelligent imaging experiences to global users.”

About PolyU

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) aspires to be an innovative world-class university with a strong sense of social responsibility, driven by its motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”. The University provides the best holistic education to nurture socially responsible “leaders of tomorrow” who possess a strong sense of national identity and a global perspective, and pursues impactful innovation and interdisciplinary research to address the world’s most pressing challenges. A robust culture of knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of the University, ensuring PolyU’s technologies are transformed into practical real-world applications. The University's unwavering commitment to excellence has earned it international recognition, with PolyU consistently ranking among the top 100 universities worldwide. Based on this solid foundation, the University will continue to make positive contributions in collaboration with its strategic partners for the betterment of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world.

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services. OPPO has footprints in more than 70 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

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