The inaugural Global AI+ Innovation and Startup Competition was launched in Hong Kong on Wednesday, aiming to bridge the gap between talent development and market demand in the era of artificial intelligence.

To align with market needs, the competition has set eight themes integrated with AI, covering innovation, drones, 3D printing, robotic arms, coding, humanoid robots, medical, and the English language.

“After the competition, the winner will be presented with an opportunity to access famous universities and companies, and his or her innovation could be transformed for commercial application,” said Wang Yang, founder of the Global AI+ Innovation and Startup Competition.

At the launch ceremony, Wang also introduced the two main organizers: the Global Institute for AI Innovation; and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Federation of Commerce (GHMFC).  

“They can assist the competition in solving problems with technology, and with the construction of a platform and network,” Wang added.

The Global Institute for AI Innovation is a Hong Kong-based startup with a vision to build a non-profit and co-create an AI platform that enables innovators to search for ideas.

“In the past few years, we helped many students find their dream job or secure a position in their dream schools, and set up many talent channels connecting students with leading universities and enterprises,” said Fan Xing, founder of the Global Institute for AI Innovation.

“We want to create a cultivation system for students in different age groups and guide them to apply their knowledge of AI in various technology fields; this competition provides a faster way to achieve that,” Fan said.

Huang Xianming, director of the international talent center of the GHMFC, said that the competition could benefit the association by helping build a talent pool that enables Chinese students to gain admission to overseas universities.

Huang said, “As a non-profit organization, we are seeking a solution to the mismatch in the labor market, especially in an era when many industries need AI for transformation.”

Contact the writer at thor_wu@chinadailyhk.com