Hengqin New Area's support of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is designed to attract global talents, enterprises, and innovative technologies, it was explained at a Policy Interpretation Conference on May 26.

Comprehensive assistance is provided in computing power, acquisition, purchasing, loan interest rates and applications, while capital and project matchmaking and market promotion services are also made available. And a repository will be established for dynamic tracking of local AI enterprises.

Under the new policies, AI enterprises may use the Hengqin Advanced Intelligent Computing Center, which has a computing power of up to 1.16 exa-operations per second (Eops). The center is open to the public for free throughout Oct 1 and after that local enterprises and institutions will receive a 50 percent discount and be subsidized half of any expenditure. This greatly reduces the high costs AI enterprises face for computing power, said Huang Haibo of the Industry & Information Section of the Hengqin New Area Bureau of Commerce.

Policy Interpretation Conference [Photo courtesy WeChat account: hengqinxinqu]

Forty renowned domestic AI enterprises including Cambricon Technologies, Pachira Information Technology, Yunzhou-Tech, Vimicro, and Intellifusion Technologies were invited to the conference, while their global peers watched live streaming online.

Zhou Jiantao, director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics of the University of Macau, said at the conference that Macao and Hengqin's AI industry have broad prospects in Smart City and autonomous driving. He said his center will enhance cooperation with Hengqin enterprises to more quickly utilize scientific research achievements.

Fan Congming, executive president of the Shenzhen AI Industry Association, reported on that city's AI industry. He pointed out that Hengqin should accelerate the addition of major projects, foster AI intelligent detection platforms, and develop "Tourism + AI" innovative applications to upgrade the AI industry.

Moreover, Hengqin should take advantage of deep ties with Macao and issue specific policies to attract AI teams and talents from Macao universities and colleges, added Fan.

The conference was handled by Hengqin Development and Zhuhai Da Heng Qin Innovation & Development under the auspices of Zhuhai Da Heng Qin Technology Development and guidance of the Hengqin Bureau of Commerce.