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ITPR and CISL co-host seminar on AI-driven innovation and social impact

7 Mar, 2025

The Institute for Innovation, Translation and Policy Research (ITPR) and the Centre for Innovative Service-Learning (CISL) at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) co-hosted a seminar titled “AI-Driven Innovation and Social Impact: From Technology to Practice” on 6 March, with the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC) as the cultural partner.  The event featured Mr Eason Lai, a Global Technology Strategist from Microsoft Hong Kong Limited as the guest speaker, and was moderated by Mr Raymond Chan, Assistant Director (Entrepreneurship) of ITPR. The discussion focused on how artificial intelligence (AI) connects academic research with commercial applications while providing solutions for social innovation.

Mr Eason Lai, who possesses extensive expertise in the technology sector, particularly in cloud computing and Azure solutions, has played a pivotal role in helping enterprises harness innovative value through digital transformation. During the seminar, he highlighted the role of "technology translation" in transforming AI research into market-driven solutions. He illustrated practical applications such as using machine learning to analyse user behaviour to improve service efficiency or employing computer vision technology to help organisations optimise resource management processes, thereby creating business benefits while also considering the social impact.

Through local case studies, Mr Lai illustrated how companies can leverage AI technology to drive social innovation. He explained how natural language processing technology can be applied to analyse various scenarios, effectively responding to societal and user needs. Participants also exchanged practical experiences on topics such as the future development of technology popularisation, exploring the application potential of innovative technology in different fields.

The seminar attracted HKBU students, faculty, start-up teams, and industry professionals. The discussions enriched the attendees’ understanding of the practical applications of AI technology translation, inspiring innovative approaches to address social challenges.

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