The Hong Kong High Performance Computing Association (HKHPC) organised the inauguration party on 10 December, 2024. This initiative aimed to celebrate the establishment of HKHPC and provide a prestigious platform for accomplished experts from academia and industry to exchange insights on the development of high-performance computing (HPC) in Hong Kong.
The event was officiated by Ir Tony Wong, JP, Commissioner for Digital Policy, alongside Prof. Wai Mo Suen, Chairman of HKHPC. The event was witnessed by Tony Ying Kit, Ho, JP, Deputy Secretary for Development (Works) 3, Development Bureau; Mr. Yiu Hon Chan, Assistant Director/Railways (Doubling-up Deputy Director/Regulatory Services), Electrical & Mechanical Services Department; Mr. Wai Man Choi, Chief Land Surveyor, Lands Department; Dr. Crystal Fok, AISC Project Team, Director of AI Applications, Cyberport; and representatives from the supporting organisations, including Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, ASTRI,The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education, Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Ltd., HK Express,etc.
The event was witnessed by guests from all sectors.
HKHPC is founded by a group of highly accomplished experts in the field of HPC, with notable achievements in academia and industry.
Promoting High-Performance Computing to Advance the Development of Artificial Intelligence
Ir Tony Wong, JP, Commissioner for Digital Policy, said, “The AI Supercomputing Centre has officially come into service. The total computing power capacity of the first phase of the facility will be 1,300 PFLOPS in a year, and will be gradually upgraded to 3,000 PFLOPS, signifying a new milestone in the development of the local artificial intelligence industry. This supports the demand for strong local computing power and enhances R&D capabilities in various areas to promote the industry’s development.” He expressed hope that through the Government’s funding schemes, publicity and promotion, as well as manpower training measures, AI experts, enterprises and R&D projects from both home and abroad will be attracted to Hong Kong, continuing to inject momentum into the development of AI in the region.
He highlighted that the combination of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence brings infinite potential and the HKSAR Government will actively promote relevant applications, accelerate the construction of a smart government, and collaborate with all sectors of society to foster the development of the local high-performance computing ecosystem.
HKHPC Promotes High-Performance Computing (HPC)
Prof. Wai Mo Suen, Chairman of HKHPC, underscored that the Association is creating a comprehensive ecosystem that includes representatives from government, academia, research institutions, technology providers and industry organisations. This robust ecosystem aims to facilitate the advancement of HPC technologies, represent and advocate for our stakeholders, and foster the application of HPC across all sectors and industries to enhance its societal impact and relevance.
Prof. Suen announced, “HKHPC is committed to promoting research, development, education, scientific and commercial applications, and enhancing public understanding across all facets of HPC. We have established two task forces to promote HPC in Hong Kong: the AI Supercomputing Centre (AISC) Task Force and the Talent Development Task Force. The next step for the Association is to organise Hong Kong’s first High Performance Computing (HPC) Competition in conjunction with Cyberport and with the sponsorship of the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE). The competition will be themed ‘Discover the Power of AI in Science with AlphaFold’ and will target high school to post-doctoral students, aiming to enhance knowledge and understanding of HPC among the next generation and nurturing more HPC talents.”
Prof. Suen added that this exciting competition aimed to inspire students and foster innovation in the field of high-performance computing. The competition will encourage participants to engage with cutting-edge research and utilise advanced computing tools to solve real-world challenges. Prof. Suen expected that the students would explore scientific concepts and develop practical solutions that can make a meaningful impact.
Researchers and Industry Experts Share Insights in Keynote Speeches and Panel Discussion
Dr. C.K. Wong, Chairperson of iASPEC Technologies Group of companies stressed, “With the advent of the fourth wave of industrial revolution driven by digitalisation, informatisation, networking and intellectualisation, we must focus on nurturing a generation of talents who understand the key science and technology of the day, grasp new knowledge and possess innovative capabilities to enable them to make a difference in the industrial revolution.”
Dr. Chen Jian, Vice President of the China Computer Federation (CFF), stated: “Since the advent of ChatGPT, the demand for computing in mainland China has rapidly transitioned from academia to industry. In 2023-2024, the entire market is experiencing high demand and limited supply. Training large AI models is a standard application of supercomputing; to advance artificial intelligence, we must develop high-performance computing.”
Mr. Alvin Kho, a representative from Dell China, pointed out: “Building a data centre with multiple cards is not easy. Our task is to accurately identify errors and ensure that work operations continue, especially in the face of costly computing resources. The situation in Hong Kong is similar to that in the United States; areas with sufficient electricity and suitable for building data centers are limited, so high-density development of high-performance computing is the optimal choice.”
A panel discussion session was held at the party, inviting researchers and industry experts to explore the key role of high-performance computing (HPC) in artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for research, industry, and education in Hong Kong.
The session, titled “The AI Supercomputing Centre and HPC Research, Application, and Education in Hong Kong” was moderated by Prof. Ming Chung Chu, Choh-Ming Li Professor of Physics at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Panellists included: Prof. Hai Qing Lin, Academician of The Chinese Academy of Sciences; Prof. Helen Meng, Director of CUHK MoE-Microsoft Key Laboratory for Human-centric Computing and Interface Technologies; Dr. Crystal Fok, Director of AI Applications, AISC Project Team, Cyberport; Dr. Xiaowen Wu, Kunpeng HPC Architect at Huawei, and Prof. Ray Cheung, Associate Provost (Digital Learning) at City University of Hong Kong.
Looking to the future
Dr. Kam Fai Wong, a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, emphasised that to establish Hong Kong as an international centre for innovation and technology, collaboration among government, industry, academia, research, and investment is essential to build local high-performance computing capabilities. The establishment of the Hong Kong High-Performance Computing Association injects new vitality into the local high-performance computing sector. By promoting cross-disciplinary cooperation and resource integration, it will accelerate the development and application of high-performance computing technology. HKHPC aims to become the core promoter of Hong Kong’s high-performance computing ecosystem, supporting the long-term development of the local digital economy and securing a place in the global competition in high-performance computing and artificial intelligence technology.
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