Equinix partners with AiHPC to launch AI platform in Hong Kong

Equinix has announced a new collaboration with AiHPC to launch an AI healthcare platform, Orchestration AI (OrchAI), designed to enhance digital capabilities in the healthcare sector in Hong Kong.

The collaboration will see OrchAI set up on Platform Equinix, fostering advancements in healthcare and life sciences research and development, clinical trials, and the application of advanced biomedical technologies within Hong Kong. The initiative is aimed at attracting innovative enterprises and research organisations from around the globe to establish operations in the city.

As medical research institutions increasingly invest in AI and high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure, complex analyses often encounter obstacles related to computational power and data exchange. In Hong Kong, where the AI industry is projected to grow substantially, stakeholders face challenges in managing extensive data operations and implementing AI solutions.

Integrated with Equinix's global healthcare and life sciences ecosystem, OrchAI seeks to connect local and overseas research institutions, thereby facilitating collaboration and accelerating research processes. The platform promises to remove technological barriers and optimise resource allocation.

OrchAI enables research and medical institutions to access high-performance computing acceleration, data orchestration, and edge solution deployment. Additionally, connections to a wide range of cloud service providers are made possible through Equinix Internet Access and Equinix Fabric, which facilitates efficient data exchange across multiple cloud environments.

Following the deployment of OrchAI on Platform Equinix, data upload speed to AWS Cloud in Hong Kong or Singapore has reportedly improved by over 90%, equating to speeds up to 22 times faster compared to the public internet. This enhanced connectivity optimises data scalability and ensures secure and compliant data handling.

The collaboration ultimately aims to expedite the transition from research to market for healthcare innovations. The effort is intended to solidify Hong Kong's position as an important connector in the Asia-Pacific region, attracting key healthcare stakeholders to conduct research in the city.

Dr. Sam Chu, Founder of AiHPC, highlighted the need for new healthcare solutions given Hong Kong's demographic challenges and aspirations to become an international hub. "Our objective of establishing Hong Kong's first integrated AI and HPC ecosystem is to streamline academic research, healthcare implementation, and cross-border collaboration between Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the world," he said. "Equinix's global footprint, cloud connectivity, and a vast ecosystem of AI and healthcare stakeholders provide unparalleled infrastructure advantages, differentiating us from traditional cloud or standalone HPC solution providers in the industry."

Joanne Hon, Managing Director of Equinix in Hong Kong, commented on the importance of the collaboration amid growing demand for AI and HPC in healthcare. "Our collaboration with AiHPC highlights our commitment to advancing digital capabilities in the healthcare industry," she stated. "This partnership with AiHPC empowers institutions to adopt bolder approaches in addressing increasingly complex and globally interconnected healthcare challenges, propelling Hong Kong's strategic position in the Greater Bay Area and ambition of becoming a global healthcare and life sciences innovation hub."