HONG KONG, 27 February 2025 — Global momentum for responsible AI development gathered in Hong Kong as Cyberport, together with the World Digital Technology Academy (WDTA) and the International Academicians Science & Technology Innovation Centre (IASTIC), hosted the “AI Safety, Trust, and Responsibility (AI STR)” Forum. The event served as the regional session of the AI Action Summit 2025 held earlier in Paris and brought together renowned academicians, researchers, and industry voices to tackle the pressing risks and ethical concerns surrounding artificial intelligence.
The forum drew significant attention with keynote addresses from influential leaders such as Prof Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Prof Yale Li, Executive Chairman of WDTA; Prof C.C. Chan, Founder of IASTIC; Simon Chan, Chairman of Cyberport; and Dr Rocky Cheng, CEO of Cyberport. Their participation signalled a united commitment to promoting innovation without compromising safety, transparency, and public trust.
A major highlight of the event was WDTA’s announcement of the establishment of the “WDTA Asia-Pacific Institute (preparatory)” at Cyberport. A symbolic plaque unveiling ceremony marked the launch of this institute, which aims to spearhead efforts to standardise AI safety protocols, support talent development, and foster international collaboration in digital technologies.
In line with the forum’s theme, Prof. Yale Li introduced two new professional certification programmes under WDTA – the Certified Large Language Model Application Engineer (LLMAE) and the Certified Large Language Model Technical Expert (LLMTE) – to accelerate the growth of skilled, socially conscious AI practitioners.
Further expanding on Hong Kong’s role as a catalyst for AI excellence, Prof. C.C. Chan underscored the importance of multilateral collaboration through The Institute, which will focus on cross-sector innovation and regional standard-setting in the realm of AI governance.
The forum also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Cyberport, WDTA, and IASTIC. This partnership aims to advance best practices in AI testing and evaluation, build robust testing infrastructure, and strengthen talent cultivation. Cyberport also formalised collaborations with five local universities and institutes—HKU, CityUHK, HKMU, THEi, and HKIIT—to drive AI-related research and expand internship and career pathways for students.
Beyond academia and policy, the event welcomed voices from Hong Kong’s public, financial, and healthcare sectors. These stakeholders exchanged views on how AI can be adopted responsibly to increase operational efficiency and enhance service delivery while mitigating risks.
Cyberport’s ongoing commitment to advancing AI innovation was reiterated throughout the forum. The AI Supercomputing Centre, launched last year, continues to serve as a cornerstone for high-performance R&D. Supported by a government-backed $3 billion AI Subsidy Scheme, the Centre empowers local institutions and companies to accelerate scientific discovery and tech commercialisation. Today, over 350 AI and big data startups call Cyberport home, alongside major global tech players driving breakthroughs in large language models, algorithms, and data science.
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in daily life and industry, forums like AI STR signal a growing resolve to ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of safety or social responsibility.
