Latest news with #InternationalYoungScientistForum
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hong Kong embraces RISC-V open-source chip design to secure spot in China semiconductors
Hong Kong is betting on the RISC-V open-source chip architecture to drive innovation and secure a position in China's semiconductor landscape amid escalating US chip restrictions. The city, which is planning to host the International Young Scientist Forum on Artificial Intelligence, is promoting research in AI and open-source technology, particularly RISC-V, Finance Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said in his 2025 budget address on Wednesday. RISC-V stands for the fifth generation of the Reduced Instruction Set Computer, a design philosophy for simplified architectures for central processing units (CPUs). As an open-source project, it is free for anyone to use and modify, unlike competing standards such as Intel's x86, a complex instruction set that dominates personal computers, and Arm's eponymous proprietary RISC-inspired architecture, which dominates the smartphone market. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. First developed in 2010 by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, RISC-V is now managed by RISC-V International, a Zurich-based non-profit organisation. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivers the Budget 2025-26 speech in the Legco chamber on February 26. Photo: Elson Li alt=Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivers the Budget 2025-26 speech in the Legco chamber on February 26. Photo: Elson Li> While not nearly as widely used as x86 or Arm, RISC-V has been rapidly gaining traction because of its open-source code base. This has been especially true in mainland China, where the government and businesses hope it can reduce reliance on foreign proprietary technology amid an intense tech war with the US. Last month, a team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), a top government research organisation, announced that it would deliver its RISC-V-based XiangShan CPU this year. The team said earlier this month it had adapted XiangShan to support DeepSeek-R1, the popular open-source reasoning large language model developed by Hangzhou-based AI start-up DeepSeek. China is doubling down on RISC-V this year, with several large conferences based around the technology. Shanghai will host a RISC-V summit in July, the city announced earlier this week. The Beijing Institute of Open Source Chip, the CAS-backed XiangShan developer, is hosting a RISC-V ecosystem conference in the Chinese capital on Thursday, followed by a RISC-V conference on Friday organised by Damo Academy, Alibaba Group Holding's research arm that develops the XuanTie RISC-V processors. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. China's RISC-V push has alarmed US lawmakers, who last year called for a review of the national security risks associated with China's advancements in the area, potentially making it a new front in the chip war. However, regulatory options for the US to restrain China in this field are "limited", according to a November report from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, which noted that RISC-V International operates outside the US. Hong Kong's ambitions to gain a foothold in RISC-V come amid efforts to become an innovation and technology hub, and play a greater role in China's technological development. Last year, the city said it was setting up its first production line for gallium nitride (GaN) wafers, a third-generation semiconductor material that offers advantages over traditional silicon-based semiconductors, including greater energy efficiency and reduced size. Related manufacturing equipment for this tech currently faces fewer US restrictions. RISC-V represents a "transformative opportunity" for China to achieve technological independence and to lead in semiconductor innovation, said Chan Jun-yu, a partner at Wings Capital Ventures, a Hong Kong-based venture capital fund. "Hong Kong can contribute to China's RISC-V ecosystem by attracting global applications, fostering international partnerships and serving as a hub for talent and investment," Chan said. Hong Kong's initiative to develop semiconductors, the "most important component" in all electronics products, could help the city contribute to China's needs and "solidify" its status as an international hub for innovation and technology, said Edmond Lai, chief digital officer at the Hong Kong Productivity Council. RISC-V is attractive because of its openness, flexibility and low cost, he added. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
South China Morning Post
28-02-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to launch 2 AI forums aimed at bridging China and the world amid US tech war
The government-owned Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), which manages HK$62 billion (US$8 billion) of funds, plans to debut a conference for young emerging artificial intelligence (AI) scientists, as the city strives to become a bridge between China and the world amid growing Sino-US technology rivalry. Advertisement HKIC on Wednesday said it was organising an International Young Scientist Forum on Artificial Intelligence as part of its push to facilitate interactions and knowledge-sharing between technology companies and local primary and secondary school pupils. The event will be hosted with the support of the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence . Also known as the Zhiyuan Institute, the non-profit organisation promotes nationwide AI research collaboration and was visited by Chinese Premier Li Qiang last year. Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po , who unveiled his latest fiscal plan on the same day, said the forum sought to 'promote research of AI technology and its development as an industry, including open-source technology, in particular, the design and application of the open‑source chip architecture RISC‑V'. China has doubled down on RISC-V to cut reliance on foreign technologies, as the US tightens semiconductor-related export restrictions to curb AI advancement by its geopolitical rival. A robot dog seen at an exhibition in Hong Kong. Photo: Jelly Tse HKIC is also set to launch an International Conference on Embodied AI Robot, which aims to bring together leading technology companies, academic institutions and investors to showcase research outcomes and potential application scenarios.
South China Morning Post
27-02-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong embraces RISC-V open-source chip design to secure spot in China semiconductors
Hong Kong is betting on the RISC-V open-source chip architecture to drive innovation and secure a position in China's semiconductor landscape amid escalating US chip restrictions. Advertisement The city, which is planning to host the International Young Scientist Forum on Artificial Intelligence , is promoting research in AI and open-source technology, particularly RISC-V, Finance Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said in his 2025 budget address on Wednesday. RISC-V stands for the fifth generation of the Reduced Instruction Set Computer, a design philosophy for simplified architectures for central processing units (CPUs). As an open-source project, it is free for anyone to use and modify, unlike competing standards such as Intel's x86, a complex instruction set that dominates personal computers, and Arm's eponymous proprietary RISC-inspired architecture, which dominates the smartphone market. First developed in 2010 by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, RISC-V is now managed by RISC-V International, a Zurich-based non-profit organisation. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivers the Budget 2025-26 speech in the Legco chamber on February 26. Photo: Elson Li While not nearly as widely used as x86 or Arm, RISC-V has been rapidly gaining traction because of its open-source code base. This has been especially true in mainland China, where the government and businesses hope it can reduce reliance on foreign proprietary technology amid an intense tech war with the US. Advertisement Last month, a team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), a top government research organisation, announced that it would deliver its RISC-V-based XiangShan CPU this year. The team said earlier this month it had adapted XiangShan to support DeepSeek-R1, the popular open-source reasoning large language model developed by Hangzhou-based AI start-up DeepSeek.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hong Kong to launch 2 AI forums aimed at bridging China and the world amid US tech war
The government-owned Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), which manages HK$62 billion (US$8 billion) of funds, plans to debut a conference for young emerging artificial intelligence (AI) scientists, as the city strives to become a bridge between China and the world amid growing Sino-US technology rivalry. HKIC on Wednesday said it was organising an International Young Scientist Forum on Artificial Intelligence as part of its push to facilitate interactions and knowledge-sharing between technology companies and local primary and secondary school pupils. The event will be hosted with the support of the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence. Also known as the Zhiyuan Institute, the non-profit organisation promotes nationwide AI research collaboration and was visited by Chinese Premier Li Qiang last year. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, who unveiled his latest fiscal plan on the same day, said the forum sought to "promote research of AI technology and its development as an industry, including open-source technology, in particular, the design and application of the open‑source chip architecture RISC‑V". China has doubled down on RISC-V to cut reliance on foreign technologies, as the US tightens semiconductor-related export restrictions to curb AI advancement by its geopolitical rival. A robot dog seen at an exhibition in Hong Kong. Photo: Jelly Tse alt=A robot dog seen at an exhibition in Hong Kong. Photo: Jelly Tse> HKIC is also set to launch an International Conference on Embodied AI Robot, which aims to bring together leading technology companies, academic institutions and investors to showcase research outcomes and potential application scenarios. Embodied AI refers to the application of AI in physical systems, such as robots, that can perceive and interact with the environment through sensors. The AI and robotics forums would help enhance Hong Kong's international influence in AI applications and relevant areas, and facilitate traditional industries to explore how to leverage technology more broadly to enhance productivity and launch new services, HKIC said. HKIC did not immediately respond to a request for further details about the forums on Thursday. As tensions grow between Beijing and Washington, Hong Kong is shifting towards a technology-driven economy to align with national strategic goals, with major investments planned for AI. Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, left, and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Secretary Christopher Hui attend a press conference on Wednesday. Photo: Sam Tsang alt=Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, left, and Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Secretary Christopher Hui attend a press conference on Wednesday. Photo: Sam Tsang> Recent breakthroughs achieved by mainland Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek have also renewed hopes that the country could change its fate in spite of US hostilities. "Hong Kong has been a key point for engagement between the global and Chinese AI ecosystems," said Choi Joon-nak, an adjunct associate professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology who studies the intersection of business and technology. "Such events create rare opportunities for local, mainland and international leaders in AI to discuss key issues such as AI governance with each other, which is important because these issues potentially extend beyond the borders of any one country." Hong Kong, which is struggling with an estimated deficit of HK$87 billion in the 2024-25 financial year, announced it had set aside HK$1 billion to establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute. The institute is slated to open by the 2026-27 financial year, according to a source. Technology development and applications would not only drive economic growth, but also "provide increased support to the long-term development of AI, benefiting the public and society directly", said Clara Chan Ka-chai, chief executive at HKIC. HKIC was established following the 2022 policy address by the city's leader John Lee Ka-chiu. One of its goals is to encourage technology companies to use Hong Kong as their development base. The team has identified three key investment themes, with hardware technologies such as AI and semiconductors, including RISC-V, being one of them. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
South China Morning Post
27-02-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to launch two AI forums aimed at bridging China and the world amid US tech war
The government-owned Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), which manages HK$62 billion (US$8 billion) of funds, plans to debut a conference for young emerging artificial intelligence (AI) scientists, as the city strives to become a bridge between China and the world amid growing Sino-US technology rivalry. Advertisement HKIC on Wednesday said it was organising an International Young Scientist Forum on Artificial Intelligence as part of its push to facilitate interactions and knowledge-sharing between technology companies and local primary and secondary school pupils. The event will be hosted with the support of the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence . Also known as the Zhiyuan Institute, the non-profit organisation promotes nationwide AI research collaboration and was visited by Chinese Premier Li Qiang last year. Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po , who unveiled his latest fiscal plan on the same day, said the forum sought to 'promote research of AI technology and its development as an industry, including open-source technology, in particular, the design and application of the open‑source chip architecture RISC‑V'. China has doubled down on RISC-V to cut reliance on foreign technologies, as the US tightens semiconductor-related export restrictions to curb AI advancement by its geopolitical rival. A robot dog seen at an exhibition in Hong Kong. Photo: Jelly Tse HKIC is also set to launch an International Conference on Embodied AI Robot, which aims to bring together leading technology companies, academic institutions and investors to showcase research outcomes and potential application scenarios.
