AI major focus as Hong Kong funds record 12 university research projects

Hong Kong's Research Grants Council has approved a record HK$478 million for 12 university research projects, with artificial intelligence featuring in more than a third of successful proposals, including one aimed at cutting AI data centre power use by up to 20%. City University received the most funding at HK$145 million, followed by the University of Hong Kong with HK$119 million and Polytechnic University with HK$107 million.

AI major focus as Hong Kong funds record 12 university research projects In its latest round of support for universities, the Research Grants Council has approved funding of HK$478 million artificial intelligence https://www.scmp.com/topics/artificial-intelligence?module=inline&pgtype=article featuring in more than a third of successful proposals, including one aimed at cutting AI data centre power use by up to 20 per cent. The higher education institutions receiving the most funding are City University, with around HK$145 million, the University of Hong Kong HKU , with HK$119 million, and Polytechnic University, which got HK$107 million. The Research Grants Council RGC announced on Wednesday that funding had been approved under two flagship schemes. The Areas of Excellence AoE Scheme will receive HK$158 million – up nearly 10 per cent from last year’s HK$144 million – to support four projects covering medical imaging, smart manufacturing, neutron scattering and sustainable wildlife trade. The Theme-based Research Scheme TRS has been allocated HK$320 million for eight initiatives focusing largely on healthcare, green technology and AI. The council also said it would introduce “Low-altitude, Aerospace and Space Technology” as a new challenge topic under the TRS from the 2027-28 round, with the funding exercise beginning in mid-July.