As part of PolyU’s initiative to promote the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and strengthen industry-academia collaboration, the University has recently signed several framework agreements with CITIC Group Corporation Ltd. (CITIC Group). Among these agreements is the establishment of the CITIC-PolyU Interdisciplinary Mathematical Digital AI Joint Laboratory, which aims to foster innovative AI collaboration between academia and industry, contributing to Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology hub.

The agreement signing and plaque unveiling ceremony was graced by Ms Lillian Cheong Man-lei, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government and Mr Daniel Cheung Yee-wai, Deputy Commissioner (Digital Infrastructure) of the Digital Policy Office.

Witnessed by Ms Lilian Cheong; Professor Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU; Mr Xi Guohua, Chairman of CITIC Group, and Mr Zhang Wenwu, Vice Chairman and President of CITIC Group, the agreement was signed by Professor Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Mr Wang Guoquan, Vice president of CITIC Group.

In addition to the joint laboratory, three cooperation agreements and a Memorandum of Understanding were signed with four subsidiaries of CITIC Group, including CITIC Heavy Industries, CITIC Telecom International CPC, CITIC Pacific Special Steel, and China CITIC Bank International. These agreements aim to promote AI technology and application innovation across various fields.

Professor Teng said, “We are honoured to collaborate with CITIC Group to establish the first AI joint laboratory in Hong Kong, which will contribute to Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology hub, and inject momentum into the technological innovation and industrial upgrading of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”

Mr Xi outlined three key areas for future cooperation between CITIC Group and PolyU: promoting technological research and development, nurturing high-quality innovative talent, and building a prosperous cooperative ecosystem.

Ms Cheong highlighted that the joint laboratory will create a world-class platform that integrates industries, universities, research sectors, and enterprises, facilitating a seamless transition from basic research to industrial transformation.

Having identified AI as one of its strategic research areas, PolyU established the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences in January 2025. The University is also launching the BSc (Hons) Scheme in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in the 2025/26 academic year and establishing the “PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence” to fully leverage its academic and research strengths in this emerging field.