Hong Kong AI supercomputing hub sees 90% use since December

Hong Kong’s AI Supercomputing Centre at Cyberport has reached over 90% utilization since opening in December.

It is supported by a HK$3 billion (US$418.6 million) subsidy program to boost AI development.

The scheme has received 20 applications, with 10 projects approved.

One of them, the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Centre, created a multilingual transcription system and a ChatGPT-style app used by over 70% of government departments.

A second supercomputing facility is planned in Sandy Ridge, Northern Metropolis, to expand resources for start-ups.

Cyberport now hosts over 400 AI companies, with 120 joining last year. Big firms like iFlyTek, Baidu Apollo, and Inspur Cloud are also present.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Hong Kong’s supercomputing race reflects China’s national AI strategy

Hong Kong’s 90% utilization rate of its new supercomputing center signals strong demand in a broader national context of AI development.

China has positioned itself as the world’s second-largest AI economy after the United States, with the Chinese government implementing multiple national plans since 2016 to prioritize AI infrastructure and funding1.

The city’s target of achieving 15,000 petaflops of computing power by 2030, with 3,000 petaflops from the AI Supercomputing Centre by early 2026, demonstrates its alignment with mainland China’s ambitious AI goals2.

This push comes amid intensifying US-China tech competition, with Hong Kong strategically investing HK$2.83 billion in semiconductor research to develop technologies not yet heavily restricted by US export controls3.

The rapid adoption of the supercomputing center reflects how Hong Kong is leveraging its unique position to contribute to China’s technological self-sufficiency while maintaining international connections.

2️⃣ Computing infrastructure emerges as the foundation of AI ecosystem development

The high utilization rate of Hong Kong’s AI Supercomputing Centre highlights how computing power has become the essential infrastructure for AI development.