Strengthening Hong Kong's Position as an International Innovation and Technology Hub

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 5 March 2025 - Ricoh Hong Kong Limited, a global leader in innovative imaging technology, IT services and digital solutions, has been transforming the way people work and communicate. As we enter the era of artificial intelligence (AI), Ricoh as an industry pioneer is proud to announce the launch of the Ricoh InnoAI Program. In collaboration with the Ricoh Software Research Center Beijing (SRCB), Ricoh will establish a dedicated International AI Research Center, the Ricoh InnoAI Center, at Cyberport, Hong Kong's flagship digital technology and AI hub. The establishment has been created with the support of Dr. Dong Bin, who has been appointed as the Chief Scientist to provide technical support to local enterprises. The Ricoh InnoAI Center at Cyberport offers an extraordinary future-ready working environment and impactful meeting facilities designed to foster close collaboration for participating AI startups. The Ricoh InnoAI Program will be initiated with funding of over HKD 50 million. It aims to provide participating companies with advanced AI technology resources, commercialization opportunities, business development support, and potential funding from the Ricoh Innovation Fund. This initiative will accelerate the commercialization and growth of AI startups, helping various industries in Hong Kong to expand internationally and solidify Hong Kong's status as a global innovation and technology hub. To mark this significant occasion, Ricoh Hong Kong held a launch ceremony for the Ricoh InnoAI Program at Cyberport today. The event was honorably attended by distinguished guests, including Ms. Cheong Man Lei, Lillian, JP, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Mr. Charles Ng, the Associate Director-General of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK); Mr. Komatsu Yojin, Director, Economic Division, Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong; Mr. Simon Chan Sai-ming, BBS, JP, Chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited; Mr. Howard Cheng Hay-wing, Chief Operating Officer of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited; Ms. Georgina Chu, Chief Corporate Development Officer of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited; Mr. Kei Uesugi, Managing Director of Ricoh Asia Pacific; Mr. Aaron Yim, Chairman, Ricoh Hong Kong; Mr. Ricky Chong, Managing Director, Ricoh Hong Kong; Mr. Go Fujimoto, President, Ricoh Software Research Center Beijing; and Mr. Dong Bin, Vice President, Ricoh Software Research Center Beijing. During the event, guests shared their visions for future technological development, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and innovation, and collectively witnessed this new milestone for Hong Kong's AI-oriented future. Ms. Cheong Man Lei, Lillian, JP, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, stated in her speech that in the rolling tide of AI, Hong Kong has not been absent. On the contrary, Hong Kong has prepared itself early and is also actively aligning with the national "AI+" initiative, driving AI development through comprehensive policies. These include the upcoming HK$3 billion Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme to further strengthen HK's upstream research capability, the Cyberport AI Supercomputing Centre that will provide high-performance computing power of 3 000 petaFLOPS to support impactful R&D projects on AI, a HK$3 billion AI Subsidy Scheme to support academia and industries in utilizing Cyberport's computing power for AI innovation, and the recently announced HK$1 billion allocation in the Budget to establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute to spearhead AI development and industry applications across government services, law, finance, healthcare, education, etc, in HK, positioning AI as a pivotal emerging industry for Hong Kong. Hong Kong has gradually built a thriving AI ecosystem. She is confident that Hong Kong will emerge as one of the leading hub in AI technology. In the near future, AI will become a cornerstone industry for Hong Kong, also spurring new "AI+" pillar industries that contribute to our new real economy. Hong Kong will also serve as a nexus for international collaboration in the AI sector. As outlined in the "14^th Five-Year Plan," Hong Kong is positioned as an international innovation and technology hub. Hong Kong also plays a crucial role in "bringing in and going global," making it an ideal base for Ricoh Asia Pacific to gather talent from the Greater Bay Area and around the world. Mr. Kei Uesugi, Managing Director of Ricoh Asia Pacific, said: "Hong Kong is a culturally diverse and vibrant city with a mature business environment and a wealth of talent. We believe that the launch of the Ricoh InnoAI Program, coupled with the technical support from the Ricoh Software Research Center Beijing (SRCB), will drive...