WAIC CONNECT | The linkage between Shanghai and Hong Kong activates a new industrial engine, and all sectors from both regions jointly build a new ecosystem for AI+ diversified applications
On January 16, 2026, WAIC CONNECT, the precise industrial docking platform under the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), entered the Hong Kong Science Park and successfully held the "Activate the New Engine of the Industry - AI + Innovation Docking Conference for Culture, Commerce, Sports, Tourism, and Education". As an important prelude to the global launch of WAIC 2026, this event centered around the theme of "Linking Shanghai and Hong Kong, Implementing Scenarios, Co - building Ecosystems, and Enabling Enterprises to Go Global". It gathered dozens of leading figures from the governments, academia, industries, and education sectors of Shanghai and Hong Kong to jointly explore the in - depth application of artificial intelligence in diverse scenarios such as culture, commerce, sports, tourism, and education, as well as the formation of a commercial closed - loop.
Deepen Cooperation between Shanghai and Hong Kong and Build a Super Connector Currently, the artificial intelligence industry is moving from the technological explosion period to the in - depth stage of scenario implementation. Mr. Zhang Rongjian, the vice - president of Donghao Lansheng Exhibition Group, pointed out in his speech that WAIC CONNECT is committed to becoming a "super connector" for AI commercialization. Its core mission is to address the mismatch between supply and demand in technological innovation and industrial transformation. The conference aims to break geographical boundaries and achieve an efficient and precise match between technological supply and market demand by gathering top - notch global AI solutions and deeply understanding the real pain points in the core scenarios of "culture, commerce, sports, tourism, and education", injecting strong impetus into industrial upgrading. The participating guests highly agreed with this vision and unanimously believed that Hong Kong, with its international business environment and the unique advantage of being backed by the vast mainland Chinese market, is undoubtedly the best strategic fulcrum for AI enterprises to go global and co - build ecosystems. The close linkage between Shanghai and Hong Kong will surely generate synergies and bring new growth poles to the AI industry development in the region and even globally.
Mr. Zhang Rongjian
Subsequently, Mr. Feng Guohui, the general manager of the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Department of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, delivered a speech saying that as one of the earliest organizations to systematically promote AI R & D, the Productivity Council is actively cooperating with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government to build Hong Kong into a global AI hub. Through its self - developed "Tianguangkaiwu" platform and the "AI for All" initiative, it aims to address the challenges faced by enterprises in terms of talent, privacy, and integration. Currently, the council has completed and is implementing over 100 AI projects and has launched a number of training courses. The goal is to empower enterprises through training and provide technical support to help them successfully go global by leveraging Hong Kong's advantages.
Mr. Feng Guohui
Launch of High - profile Projects and Focus on Cutting - edge Practices Several high - profile release ceremonies were held at the event. Witnessed by representatives from Donghao Lansheng Exhibition Group, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Hong Kong Society for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and the Zhejiang - Hong Kong - Macao Digital Education School Alliance, the "Recruitment Program for the Campus AI Application Project of the WAIC CONNECT Hong Kong Workstation" was officially launched. This marks a crucial step for the conference in promoting the popularization of AI education and discovering young innovative talents. It will also effectively promote the in - depth integration and collaborative development of AI education resources between Shanghai and Hong Kong, injecting cutting - edge technological vitality into Hong Kong's campuses.
Subsequently, well - known director Ding Zijun, Principal Zhao Jiehua of Keji Primary School of the Chung Hwa Christian Church, Principal Ye Changrui of Jinjiang Primary School of the Cheung Chau Church of the Chung Hwa Christian Church, and representatives from WAIC CONNECT and the WAIC CONNECT Hong Kong Workstation jointly released the results of the "AI Movies Entering Campuses" project. This project entered campuses in the form of a public - welfare film festival, focusing on the development context of animation from classics to the modern era, revitalizing traditional culture in the digital age. Through the director's personal sharing, the project guided students to intuitively feel the collision between technology and art, cultivating an innovative awareness with both cultural heritage and technological thinking. Supported by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, the WAIC CONNECT Hong Kong Workstation, and the Shanghai - Hong Kong Association, this event demonstrated the infinite possibilities of technology - empowered humanities education.
Deconstruct Multi - dimensional Scenarios and Explore New Business Opportunities Together In the keynote speech session, four guests analyzed the empowerment paths of AI from different dimensions. Dr. Lin Jing, the executive director of the Hong Kong Society for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and a faculty member at the School of Computing of the City University of Hong Kong, interpreted Hong Kong's strategy for enterprises to go global. She pointed out that Hong Kong is transforming from a capital and financial center into a full - industrial - chain empowerment platform for enterprises to go global. Leveraging its international advantages, it provides compliance protection and standard docking for enterprises and collaborates with ecological partners to bridge the "last mile" for enterprises to enter the international market.
Dr. Lin Jing
Mr. You You, the deputy secretary - general of the Shanghai Urban Renewal Research Association and the CEO of BRICS Finance, proposed the concept of "Scenario - based Urban Development", emphasizing that urban renewal is a major national transformation strategy. He introduced Shanghai's huge investment and legislative guarantee in urban renewal and, through cases such as the Greenland Bund Center, explained how to create a super scenario platform for AI enterprises in urban renewal through the co - creation of capital, assets, and IP.
Mr. You You
Subsequently, Ms. Wang Nan, the deputy general manager of the Marketing Department of the Shanghai Real Estate Division of Greenland Holdings Group, took the "Greenland Bund Center" as an example to showcase Shanghai's future super - application scenarios. She introduced that as the largest urban renewal landmark in Shanghai, this project brings together financial and technological giants. Through diverse carriers such as the Greenland International Convention Center, it is actively seeking in - depth cooperation with AI enterprises in product launch, resource connection, and digital ecosystem construction.
Ms. Wang Nan
Mr. Cai Shihong, the chairman of the Zhejiang - Hong Kong - Macao Digital Education School Alliance and the Hong Kong Education Council, shared his thoughts on "Integration of Intelligence and Education". He proposed to cultivate "Great Masters of the AI Era". Drawing on the three realms of "seeing oneself, seeing the world, and seeing all sentient beings" from the movie "The Grandmaster", he expounded on the educational goals of using AI to assist students in adapting to life, surviving in society, and even leading development. He also emphasized the need to focus on cultivating six key abilities of students, such as the ability to ask questions, solve problems, and innovate.
Mr. Cai Shihong
The sharing of the four guests covered multiple dimensions, including policy interpretation, space reshaping, commercial landmarks, and educational practices, providing all - round strategic guidance for on - site enterprises to embrace the AI era. Cross - boundary Round - table Dialogues to Spark Intellectual Collisions What kind of wonderful chemical reactions will occur when a director meets AI, when football meets big data, when community governance moves towards intelligence, and when traditional manufacturing moves towards digital - intelligence? Two high - level round - table forums brought the event to a climax. In the round - table discussion on "From AI Technology Empowerment to Ecosystem Co - construction", well - known director Ding Zijun, former female national football goalkeeper Zhao Lina, representatives from the Global Women's Growth Foundation, Ms. Cai Xiaoying, the vice - chairwoman of the Hong Kong Chaozhou Association, and Mr. Chen Hongxuan, the CEO of Hangzhou Linghe Digital Intelligence, based on different fields such as film and television, sports, community, and manufacturing, centered around the two keywords of "empowerment" and "ecosystem", and jointly explored how AI can penetrate into every aspect of various industries and how different fields can break barriers and achieve collaborative symbiosis.
Well - known director Ding Zijun started from the perspective of the cultural and entertainment industry. He didn't think that AI was a threat to the performing arts industry. Looking back on his experience of getting involved in the Internet industry in Hong Kong in 1998, he pointed out that the Internet thinking and the current AI technology share the same cultural core. Director Ding Zijun emphasized that from shadow puppetry to traditional animation and then to today's digital movies, although the technological tools have changed, the "basic skills" of cultural aesthetics and inheritance have never changed. For filmmakers, AI is not a terrifying thing; not understanding it is a threat, while understanding it means empowerment. He is currently committed to exploring the possibility of "cultural reincarnation" through the combination of big - data models and film and television creation - enabling IPs and stories to have a "Next Life" in different technological forms, because the future direction is in human cognition and hands, and AI will only make movies better.
Mr. Ding Zijun
Former female national football goalkeeper Zhao Lina put forward the urgent need for "practical implementation, personalization, and universality" in the sports field from the perspective of a professional athlete. She emphasized that AI not only needs to assist professional players in precise preparation and injury rehabilitation but also should become a "public - welfare coach" for rural campus football through lightweight and zero - threshold tools, enabling children in resource - scarce areas to get scientific action corrections through mobile phone cameras, bridging the digital divide and realizing the goodness of technology.
Ms. Zhao Lina
Ms. Cai Xiaoying, the vice - chairwoman of the Hong Kong Chaozhou Association, affectionately told the story of the warmth behind technology. She shared the case of a community children's intelligent guardianship platform successfully finding a lost child and the story of helping grass - roots women achieve flexible employment through skills training. She believed that when AI enters the community, it must be "restrained" and "thoughtful", solving real pain points such as the difficulty of childcare for dual - income families and the difficulty of information screening while respecting privacy. She emphasized that technology should stay in the background, leaving the warmth in the foreground and truly integrating into the daily life of the community.
