Hong Kong's AI supercomputing infrastructure reaches 90% usage rate, local reports

Hong Kong has used 90% of its artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputing center at Cyberport since it opened in December, according to a report. The center is supported by a HK$3 billion (~$380 million) subsidy program to boost AI development in the region.

According to reports, the scheme has seen about 20 applications, with 10 projects already approved. One of the projects, the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Centre, created a multilingual transcription system and an application that looks just like ChatGPT, used by over 70% of government departments.

There are also plans to build another supercomputing facility in Sandy Ridge, Northern Metropolis, to expand resources for AI startups.

Cyberport presently hosts over 400 AI companies, with about 120 joining last year. The facility plays host to firms like iFlyTek, Inspur Cloud, and Baidu Apollo.

Hong Kong’s utilization rate reflects China’s national AI push

The 90% utilization rate of the Hong Kong AI supercomputing facility has shown a stronger demand in the broader national context of AI development. China has positioned itself as a global AI economy, snatching the second spot, just behind the United States. The Chinese government has also had multiple national plans since 2016 to prioritize AI infrastructure and funding.

The move also aligns with the city’s target of achieving 15,000 petaflops of computing power by 2030, with 3,000 petaflops from the AI supercomputing center by early 2026, showing its alignment with the artificial intelligence goals of mainland China. This push also comes amid the intensifying race between China and the United States for the lead in terms of tech.

To aid its push, Hong Kong has pushed about HK$2.83 billion into semiconductor research to develop technologies that are not heavily restricted by US export controls.

The rapid adoption of the supercomputing center reflects Hong Kong’s role in China’s technological self-sufficiency push. The utilization rate also shows how much computing power has become important for AI development.

Hong Kong’s HK$3 billion subsidy scheme directly addresses the need for local firms to access high-performance computing for developing advanced AI models. The region has also been focusing on computing resources as a part of its coordinated approach, making a HK$1 billion investment in the AI Research and Development Institute and funding for semiconductor technology.

China to receive a boost in the global tech race

The approach also follows the same pattern adopted in mainland China, where the government has invested more than $1 billion in domestic AI ventures, recognizing that computational resources are the foundation for innovation. The model of subsidizing 70% of computing costs also shows that governments view AI infrastructure as an important public tool that requires public investment to remain in the competitive sector.

Hong Kong is also positioned as a connector between Chinese AI capabilities and international markets.

It also aids Hong Kong’s strength in finance and healthcare while addressing the challenges in the local AI industry, including talent shortages similar to that of mainland China, where there are only 39,000 AI researchers compared to the United States which has 78,000. It is creating an identity as an AI hub that connects the technological ambitions of China with the rest of the global community.

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