China Telecom Global (CTG) and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have formalized their industry-academia-research collaboration in artificial intelligence for telecommunications with the signing of a cooperation agreement and the establishment of the HKUST–China Telecom Joint Laboratory on AI for Telecommunications. The ceremony, held at the HKUST campus, was followed by the laboratory's first Scientific Advisory Committee meeting, marking the transition of the partnership into an implementation phase.
The agreement was executed by Chen Kai, Executive Vice President of CTG, and Prof. Guo Yike, Provost of HKUST and Director of the Joint Laboratory. In his address, Chen emphasized that China Telecom is accelerating its development into a technology-driven enterprise. He noted that the joint laboratory will leverage the company's business scenarios in global networks and its AI-powered intelligent computing cloud to conduct frontier research with HKUST, drive collaborative innovation across telecommunications and artificial intelligence, and serve the development of Digital China and the Greater Bay Area.
Prof. Guo highlighted the laboratory as an important platform for HKUST to advance the deep integration of AI research with real-world industry scenarios. He stated that the university will give full play to its research strengths, accelerate the translation of research outcomes, and contribute to building Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub.
The establishment of the joint laboratory is a key outcome of the strategic cooperation agreement signed between China Telecom and HKUST in March 2025, under which the two parties committed to deepening industry-academia-research collaboration and advancing frontier technology research and commercialization. Focusing on frontier AI technologies for telecommunications, the laboratory will define research topics around CTG's business scenarios in global networks and the AI-powered intelligent computing cloud, explore joint talent development, and build a closed-loop pathway from business scenarios through research topics to commercialized outcomes.
At its first meeting, the Scientific Advisory Committee approved the laboratory's first batch of research projects and adopted the Laboratory Charter and its Rules of Procedure. Discussions also covered 2027 research and development directions and the translation of telecommunications business scenarios into research topics. The laboratory will operate a mechanism combining quarterly written reports with biannual review meetings to ensure that research remains aligned with industry needs and that outcomes are measurable and translatable.
The collaboration underscores the growing importance of AI in telecommunications and the role of academic-industry partnerships in driving innovation. As announced via Media OutReach Newswire, the two parties will deepen their long-term cooperation in AI for telecommunications through the joint laboratory, accelerate the industrialization of research outcomes, support Hong Kong's development into an international innovation and technology hub, and inject fresh momentum into the high-quality growth of the digital economy in the Greater Bay Area.
