The AI Innovation and Application Joint Research Institute is unveiled at Shenzhen Technology University in Pingshan District.

The AI Innovation and Application Joint Research Institute was unveiled at Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU) in Pingshan District on May 14, with the goal of linking talent cultivation, technological breakthroughs, and commercialization through closer industry-university-research collaboration. 

Built in partnership with Shenzhen Lingzhi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., the institute will focus on four key areas: AI agent operating systems and computing infrastructure, automated circuit design, multimodal embodied AI, and AI finance. 

Each year, SZTU faculty and students will be organized to carry out research, with results transferred directly to the company for industrialization. The approach is intended to create a closed loop — from industry needs to theoretical innovation and back to real-world application.

In terms of training, the institute will enroll 50 undergraduate students, 10 master’s and doctoral candidates, and 10 postdoctoral researchers annually. Through a talent program, third-year undergraduates will work alongside university professors and corporate R&D mentors on core industrial challenges, helping ensure a smooth transition from classroom learning to laboratory research and ultimately to the production line. Graduates are expected to join related companies.

The institute emphasizes measurable, real-world outcomes. By aligning research with industry requirements from the outset, it aims to speed up the path from lab innovations to industrial production.

“This joint institute marks a critical step in Lingzhi’s push to industrialize AI,” said Hong Gengdong, chairman of the board of directors of Shenzhen Lingzhi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., which is based in Pingshan.

During the launch ceremony, SZTU also signed agreements to set up a coordination center with Shenzhen Kaihong Digital Industries to support open-source HarmonyOS talent development, technology co-creation, and commercialization.

In addition, the university will establish a joint innovation lab with Guangming Laboratory, focusing on the Ascend computing ecosystem, core AI research, academic exchange, and high-level talent training.

Lingzhi also signed a cooperation agreement with the China Singapore International Joint Research Institute to support collaboration on cutting-edge technologies.