DWC AI STR Forum Successfully Held, Initiates the Establishment of WDTA Asia-Pacific Research Institute and Launches WDTA Al Talent Development Program

2025-02-28 17:25:53

Hong Kong, February 27, 2025 — The DWC AI STR（Digital World Conference: AI Safety, Trust, and Responsibility） Forum was successfully held at Hong Kong Cyberport. The forum was jointly organized by the World Digital Technology Academy (WDTA), the International Academicians Science & Technology InnovationCentre (IASTIC) , and Hong Kong Cyberport, with sponsorship from Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and support from the Cloud Security Alliance Greater China Region (CSA GCR) and the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Professional Association. This event served as the Hong Kong sub-venue following the recently concluded third “Global Ai Action Summit” in Paris, France. During the forum, renowned domestic and international academicians, scholars, industry leaders, and experts shared unique insights on the risks and challenges faced in the development and application of artificial intelligence, while also discussing how to strike a balance between innovation and safety governance.

Prof. Peter Major, Chairman of WDTA, examined the security and ethical challenges posed by large AI models, noting that the United Nations is promoting global collaborative governance through the Global Digital Compact and a high-level AI advisory body.

Prof. Yale Li, Executive Chairman of WDTA, advocated for a human-centric design philosophy, integrating safety into the core of AI development and strengthening its foundation through certification and talent cultivation. WDTA is preparing to establish an Asia-Pacific Research Institute in Hong Kong, adhering to the “3S” principles of speed, safety, and sharing , to unite various sectors in the Asia-Pacific region in developing and implementing best practices in digital technology.

Prof.Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry,,emphasized artificial intelligence as the engine of new productive forces, stating that Hong Kong is integrating computing power and industrial resources to become an international hub for innovation and technology.

Prof. C.C. Chan,Founder, International Academicians Science & Technology Innovation Centre (IASTIC) and Hong Kong’s first Chinese Academy of Engineering academician, proposed that Hong Kong could leverage the WDTA Asia-Pacific Research Institute to pool innovative strengths across the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr Simon Chan, Chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport, shared the achievements of Hong Kong’s largest AI supercomputing center and called for collaborative efforts to promote the responsible use of AI. These insights converged into a consensus: the future of AI must progress steadily within a framework of safety, trustworthiness, and responsibility.

During the forum, WDTA officially announced the establishment of the “World Digital Technology Academy Asia-Pacific Institute (Prep.)” at Hong Kong Cyberport. The institute will accelerate collaboration among governments, industries, and other sectors in the Asia-Pacific region to develop digital technology standards and transform cutting-edge achievements. It will also pioneer the implementation of AI STR (Safety, Trust, and Responsibility) standards and certification systems, contributing to a robust international AI governance and security framework. Only through cross-industry and cross-border collaboration can an inclusive digital future be achieved, leaving no one behind.

WDTA presented Hong Kong’s first batch of AI STR certification awards during the forum. AlipayHK, recognized for its outstanding practices in the AI field, became one of the first companies to receive this certification.

Prof. Yale Li shared insights from his new book, Digital Technology 360°，co-authored with UNCSTD Chair Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah. The book explores global policies, industry practices, and future digital landscapes, aiming to equip global digital citizens with a broad, multidisciplinary understanding of emerging technologies.

WDTA also launched three AI talent certification courses: “Certified Large Language Model Application Engineer（LLMAE）,” “Certified Large Language Model Technical Expert（LLMTE）,” and “International Chief Al Officer (I.CAIO).” These courses cover technical research and development, application implementation, and enterprise management, aiming to cultivate a new generation of AI talent with global vision, technical expertise, and ethical awareness. This initiative injects new momentum into the sustainable development of AI in Hong Kong and globally.

The forum invited numerous authoritative experts in the field of AI to share insights on technological innovation, practical applications, and security governance, offering participants a multi-dimensional perspective on AI development.

Prof.Deng Li, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer of Vatic Labs, delivered a presentation titled "Boltzmann Machines and Deep Learning", tracing the evolutionary trajectory of deep learning technology and revealing how it has unlocked new opportunities for fintech over the past decade.

Dr. Zhang Tianyi ，General Manager of Ant Global Risk Management Department， presented "Safe and Trustworthy Practices for Large Model Applications", analyzing technical measures and management mechanisms to ensure AI application robustness, setting industry benchmarks.

Prof. Yang Qiang，Professor Emeritus, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, WeBank focused on "Collaborative Learning Between Large and Small Models", sharing how federated learning enables efficient collaboration between large and small models to provide flexible solutions for AI applications.Prof. Yike Guo，Director, Hong Kong Generative AI R&D Center (HKGAI), Provost, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology， addressed "Trustworthy AI", discussing challenges in generative AI trustworthiness and proposing enhanced reliability through technical standards and ethical frameworks.Mr Alvin Li，Head (Supervisory Technology), Banking Supervision Department, Hong Kong Monetary Authority，explored "Risk Intelligence: Integration of AI and Risk Management", explaining how AI enhances financial risk management efficiency and empowers institutions to tackle complex market challenges.Dr. Ding Ning，Executive Associate Director of Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society (AIRS), analyzed "Embodied Intelligence", emphasizing its potential in smart manufacturing and robotics through integration of data-driven approaches and physical-world scenarios.Prof. Janet Hsiao ，Division of Social Science and Department of Computer Science & Engineering, HKUST Co-Director, AI Ethics and Governance Lab, HKUST, shared "An Interdisciplinary Approach to AI Ethics", advocating for integrating technology, social sciences, and policy to build ethical frameworks for AI challenges.Mr Herbert Chia, JP，Convener, Institute of Big Data Governance (iBDG), discussed "Balancing Innovation and Responsible AI Development", stressing the need for ethical and policy safeguards to ensure responsible AI advancements.

The forum featured multiple roundtable discussions, bringing together industry experts to delve into core issues surrounding the development of AI, offering participants diverse perspectives. The discussions covered topics such as balancing risks in AI technology applications, cross-industry transformation, and harmonizing innovation with security.

Dr. Lan Du, I.CAIO of WDTA, moderated the roundtable discussion on “AI Development and Risk Balancing.” Participants included Dr.Shusen Meng, Chairman and CEO of China Unicom Global; Mr.Mingjie Cai, CEO and President of China Everbright Bank Hong Kong; Prof. Hui Li, Director of the Future Network Laboratory, Peking University, National Major Science and Technology Infrastructure; and Prof. Haitao Zhao from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Drawing on their practical experiences in their respective fields, they shared strategies for managing risks in AI technology applications, emphasizing the importance of seeking balance amid rapid technological advancements.

Dr. Crystal Fok, Director of AI Applications, Cyberport, moderated two roundtable discussions. The first session focused on “Cross-Industry AI Transformation — Building Trust Through a Secure Core,” exploring the current and future applications of AI in policing, finance, and technology sectors. It highlighted security as the cornerstone of digital transformation, emphasizing the need for technological innovation and institutional safeguards to drive cross-industry collaboration. The second session centered on “AI Innovation Applications and Risk Balancing,” where panelists analyzed the potential and risks of AI, calling for regulatory frameworks and ethical guidelines to ensure that technological development remains forward-looking, safe, and controllable.

With a global perspective, WDTA is advancing the implementation of AI STR principles through standard-setting, certification, and talent development, helping Hong Kong become an international hub for AI innovation. Moving forward, WDTA will continue to collaborate with partners to build a safe, trustworthy, and responsible AI ecosystem, contributing to the advancement of digital civilization.