TLDR: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has received HK$62.6 million in funding for its ‘Collaborative Generative AI (Co-GenAI)’ project. Led by Professor Yang Hongxia, the initiative aims to revolutionize generative AI by developing a decentralized model that integrates numerous domain-specific AI models. This approach seeks to achieve Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with significantly reduced computational demands, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s leadership in AI innovation and democratizing access to advanced AI technologies.
Hong Kong, July 10, 2025 – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has announced a groundbreaking initiative in artificial intelligence, securing a substantial HK$62.6 million in funding for its pioneering ‘Collaborative Generative AI (Co-GenAI)’ project. This significant investment, with HK$41.79 million provided by the Research Grants Council (RGC) under its Theme-based Research Scheme 2025/26 and the remainder matched by PolyU and other collaborating universities, underscores a strategic push to redefine the future of generative AI.
Spearheaded by Professor Yang Hongxia, who serves as the Executive Director of the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, and Professor in the Department of Computing, the Co-GenAI project is set to explore a novel, decentralized paradigm for AI development. Unlike traditional centralized models that demand immense computational resources, this initiative proposes to integrate several hundred domain-specific AI models to form a composite foundation model. This innovative approach is designed to achieve Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) while significantly reducing the computational and financial burdens often associated with large-scale AI development, particularly those imposed by dominant GPU monopolies.
The decentralized methodology is expected to democratize access to advanced AI technologies by distributing the computational workload across a wider network of contributors. This not only makes AI development more accessible but also fosters a more inclusive and sustainable technological ecosystem. The research holds immense potential for real-world applications, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare and technology.
PolyU’s commitment to advancing cutting-edge AI research and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration is a cornerstone of this project. Professor Christopher Chao, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation), expressed the university’s enthusiasm, stating, “We are delighted that our scholar has received this significant support. This pioneering project exemplifies the University’s commitment to advancing cutting-edge AI research, alongside our emphasis on inclusive and sustainable technological development. PolyU will continue to leverage its world-class research capabilities to make a profound impact on the future development of Hong Kong and the global community. With the launch of the PolyU Academy for Artificial Intelligence, we are poised to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and unlock new frontiers in AI applications.”
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The Co-GenAI project is strategically aligned with Hong Kong’s ambition to solidify its position as a global leader in AI research and innovation. By developing infrastructure for domain-adaptive continual pre-training and creating a generalizable model ranking methodology, the initiative aims to establish a robust foundation for scalable, collaborative AI systems, promising to unlock new frontiers in AI applications and contribute significantly to both local and global technological advancements.
