HONG KONG SAR – 17 August 2024 – Today marks the grand opening of the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum (DELF) 2024, hosted by Cyberport. The event kicked off with distinguished guests including Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of HKSAR; Lillian Cheong, Under-Secretary of State for Innovation, Technology and Industry; Zhang Guolai, a senior official of HKSAR Central Liaison Office; Simon Chan, Chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport Management, and Dr. Rocky Cheng, CEO of Cyberport, gracing the occasion.
The theme of DELF 2024, “Imaginary Fairground: AI-Enhanced Entertainment in the Web 3.0 Era,” focuses on how artificial intelligence and Web 3.0 can revolutionize sectors such as digital entertainment, smart living and cultural tourism. The three-day event includes an interactive experiential zone featuring around 50 pioneering solutions, various workshops and competitions designed to give attendees a first-hand look at the fusion of digital entertainment with virtual realities.
The forum features four main experiential themes: Smart Lifestyle, Robotics, Sports & Games, and Culture & Arts. Highlights include the “Van Gogh DigiVillage,” which combines AI with immersive technology; a robotic coffee machine; and advanced humanoid robots from Unitree, demonstrating superior flexibility. The education sector is represented by projects from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s “Master of Science in Metaverse Technology” program, along with a series of eSports events and exhibitions.
At the opening ceremony, Paul Chan highlighted Hong Kong's emerging status as a leader in digital entertainment, emphasizing the significant role that AI and Web 3.0 technologies play in this transformation. He highlighted the government's support for Cyberport and its initiatives such as the Web3 Proof-of-Concept Subsidy Scheme, which has already approved 45 projects.
Simon Chan, Chairman of Cyberport, spoke about the integration of AI into daily life and its benefits across industries. He described Cyberport as a key entity in promoting Hong Kong's AI capabilities, with over 300 startups focused on AI, big data and robotics, fostering a strong AI ecosystem.
DELF 2024 attracted over 60 international and local technology leaders to discuss practical applications of AI in entertainment and smart living. Keynote speakers included Warren Cho from Microsoft, Samuel Lo from NVIDIA, and representatives from Alibaba, Baidu, Cisco, and more.
The forum will continue to highlight breakthrough innovations in AI-driven digital content, high-performance computing, and the application of geospatial data in entertainment. Breakout sessions will cover topics as diverse as the value of intellectual property in creative industries and trends in micro-entertainment.
The first day of the forum concluded with a major partnership between AquaBloom International Sports Technology Group and Hong Kong Polytechnic University to develop a center for talent development and the sports technology industry.
As the 2024 edition progresses, the event programme promises further insights, culminating this weekend with the NEXX Digital Entertainment Leader Awards, celebrating Hong Kong’s leading digital media innovators.
About Cyberport
Cyberport is a digital technology hub and incubator operated by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, a government-owned entity. It hosts over 2,000 members, including startups and technology companies, with the mission of promoting digital technology and smart city development by fostering innovation, cultivating talent, and creating connections across industries and regions.
