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China’s FAST is world’s only giant, single-dish radio telescope after Arecibo collapse

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-03 11:30)

China's Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) is now the world's only giant, single-dish radio telescope following the collapse of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. While FAST is larger and more sensitive, Arecibo possessed unique capabilities, such as transmitting signals to study solar system objects and track near-Earth asteroids.

FAST became fully operational in early 2020 and is expected to become available for use by foreign scientists in 2021. The article notes that the Chinese operator of the telescope did not provide an immediate comment on its current status.

The main topics covered are the status of the world's major radio telescopes, the comparative capabilities of FAST and Arecibo, and the planned international access to FAST.

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Huawei takes a step toward supply chain independence in optoelectronics with new ‘light fab’ in Wuhan

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-04 04:12)

Huawei has completed the second phase of a major optoelectronics chip manufacturing and R&D facility in Wuhan. This project represents Huawei's first semiconductor manufacturing facility in China, aiming to provide a complete, independent supply chain from chip design to packaging and testing.

The facility, covering approximately 210,000 square meters, will focus on applications like smart terminals and optics. This development is part of Huawei's broader efforts to achieve supply chain independence in critical technologies like optoelectronics, which are essential for fiber-optic communications.

The main topics covered are Huawei's new semiconductor manufacturing facility, its role in achieving supply chain independence in optoelectronics, and the project's scale and focus.

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Inside China Tech: FAST keeps big eye on space after Arecibo collapse

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-04 22:00)

The collapse of Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory has left China's Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) as the world's only operational giant, single-dish radio telescope.

Dubbed "Sky Eye," FAST is the world's largest such instrument, with a dish area as large as 30 football fields and 2.5 times the sensitivity of Arecibo. It became fully operational in January 2020 after opening to domestic astronomers last year.

The telescope is now expected to be opened to foreign scientists starting next year.

Main topics: The Arecibo Observatory's collapse, China's FAST telescope as its successor, and FAST's specifications and operational status.

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China’s plan to boost innovation and what it could mean for research in Greater Bay Area

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-05 08:00)

China's new five-year plan aims to boost scientific innovation by revamping its national laboratories and attracting more international talent. The strategy involves overhauling its network of over 500 state key laboratories, which are leading research forces in fields from virology to physics.

This push is expected to particularly benefit the Greater Bay Area development scheme, which includes Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The laboratories are affiliated with universities, state-owned enterprises, and private companies like Huawei, covering both basic research and technology development.

The main topics covered are China's scientific innovation strategy, the overhaul of state key laboratories, talent attraction, and the potential impact on the Greater Bay Area.

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Hong Kong lags behind Singapore in biotech race, but Greater Bay Area could prove its trump card

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-08 02:00)

Hong Kong's biotechnology sector has significantly lagged behind Singapore's, which benefited from clearer vision, funding, and startup support. However, Hong Kong is now urgently accelerating its efforts, exemplified by a major HK$40 billion investment and the planned Lok Ma Chau Loop R&D project. The city's potential advantage lies in its integration with China's Greater Bay Area, which could help it catch up amid national goals for technological self-sufficiency.

The main topics covered are the comparison of Hong Kong and Singapore's biotech development, Hong Kong's new initiatives and funding to accelerate growth, and the strategic potential of the Greater Bay Area.

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Analyse this: AI faster at evaluating contracts than human lawyers in Alibaba contest

(Innovation - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-09 00:00)

In a competition between 16 lawyers and an AI program, the AI evaluated legal contracts significantly faster and with 96% accuracy, outperforming the human lawyers alone. However, the highest number of risks in the contracts was identified by a team combining human lawyers and AI, highlighting the value of collaboration.

The AI, based on Alibaba's "Alice" deep learning framework, was trained on nearly 10,000 legal contracts. Participants noted that while AI excels at information retrieval and checking details, human lawyers are better at handling complex, nuanced problems.

The main topics covered are an AI vs. human competition in legal contract review, the superior results of human-AI collaboration, and the capabilities of Alibaba's Alice deep learning model.

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US sanctions on China send Taiwan tech exports to mainland, Hong Kong surging

(Innovation - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-09 03:42)

Taiwan's exports to mainland China and Hong Kong surged in November, accounting for 45.2% of its total exports and representing a 17.2% year-on-year increase. This growth is largely driven by shipments of consumer electronics parts and high-tech goods.

The increase is linked to Chinese companies seeking to reduce dependence on American technology and replace components affected by US sanctions. Taiwan, a global leader in semiconductors, is benefiting from this demand as China still relies on imported technology like computer chips.

Overall, Taiwan's total exports reached a record high in November, with electronics exports being a major contributor to this growth.

The main topics covered are: US-China trade tensions, Taiwan's export economy, and the technology supply chain.

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How edtech innovation could change global learning habits long after Covid-19

(Innovation - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-10 05:29)

The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of online learning, revealing a vast, untapped potential in the global edtech industry, where digital spending currently represents less than 4% of total education expenditure. Experts at the Edventures Global Business Acceleration Summit emphasized that China is poised to lead global growth in this sector and called for a fundamental mindset shift among educators to use technology for active, meaningful learning rather than passive content delivery.

The summit highlighted Hong Kong's emergence as an edtech hub and featured a fellowship program to help global start-ups access markets in the Greater Bay Area. Speakers argued that technology should be leveraged to transform outdated education systems and that edtech companies must develop more affordable, effective solutions for blended learning models to meet sustained future demand.

Main Topics: The acceleration of edtech adoption due to the pandemic; China's predicted leadership in the industry; the need for pedagogical change and affordable solutions; Hong Kong's role as an edtech hub and support for start-ups.

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Master of weather? China in drive to advance rain-making tech

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-10 11:00)

China is aggressively expanding its national weather modification program, with plans to cover an area exceeding 5.5 million square kilometers. The program aims to support disaster response for droughts and hailstorms, assist agricultural and ecological zones, and combat forest fires.

The goal is to establish an advanced weather modification system by 2025, focusing on technological breakthroughs and safety. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance China's capabilities in artificial rainfall and snowfall operations.

The main topics covered are China's weather modification expansion, its applications for disaster response and agriculture, and the 2025 technological development goal.

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How China’s online microlenders reached a tipping point in world’s biggest mobile internet market

(Innovation - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-11 01:00)

China's microlending industry has grown rapidly by leveraging the country's massive mobile internet user base and the widespread adoption of mobile payments. Tech giants like Ant Group have utilized AI and big data algorithms to assess user data and offer convenient digital credit services, such as Alipay's Huabei. These services have become popular for their ease of use, especially among younger consumers who find them more accessible than traditional credit cards.

The industry's expansion is now under increased regulatory scrutiny, highlighted by the suspension of Ant Group's IPO. This context frames the examination of how digital lending evolved from an ancient practice into a mainstream, algorithm-driven financial service in China.

The main topics covered are the growth of China's digital microlending industry, the role of technology and big data, regulatory intervention, and the consumer adoption of services like Huabei.

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Mountain park in Wuhan gets hi-tech upgrade with self-driving buses, vending vans and cleaning vehicles

(Innovation - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-11 09:00)

Wuhan's Longlingshan Ecological Park has introduced a fleet of 19 autonomous vehicles, including self-driving shuttle buses, vending vans, and cleaning vehicles, starting January 1. The project involves companies like DeepBlue Technology, which provides panda-faced cleaning vehicles, and Dongfeng Motor, which offers driverless sightseeing buses designed for fixed routes within the park.

The autonomous vehicles are equipped with features like obstacle detection and, in the cleaners' case, an internal water recycling system. This initiative represents a technological upgrade to the park, offering new amenities to visitors in a city where life has returned to normal after the initial Covid-19 outbreak.

The main topics covered are the deployment of autonomous vehicles in a public park, the companies involved in their development, and the specific functionalities of the different vehicle types.

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Inside China Tech: tracing the historical roots of recent AI, moneylending innovations

(Innovation - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-11 22:00)

A video game developer has used AI tools to recreate realistic, animated faces of ancient Chinese emperors from historical portraits. Separately, China's online microlending sector is modernizing the traditional practice of moneylending with digital services. In other news, Chinese regulators have removed 105 apps, including TripAdvisor, from stores for illegal content.

The main topics covered are the use of AI to visualize historical figures, the digital evolution of moneylending in China, and a regulatory crackdown on certain apps.

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Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com kicks off digital yuan trial at Double Twelve shopping festival

(Innovation - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-14 06:28)

JD.com conducted a major trial of China's digital currency (DCEP) during its Double Twelve shopping festival, processing nearly 20,000 orders. The trial was a partnership between JD Digits, China's central bank, and the Suzhou local government, marking the first online shopping platform test in the country.

The company stated its large user base and logistics network will help build the DCEP ecosystem, and the trial aims to stimulate consumption. This Suzhou test is part of a broader series of digital yuan trials by China's central bank to advance toward a cashless society.

The main topics covered are the JD.com digital yuan trial, the partnership with the central bank and Suzhou, and China's broader push for a digital currency.

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Virtual 60-second ‘business pitch in a lift’ contest helps tech start-ups move ahead in tough times

(Innovation - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-14 07:54)

Hong Kong's annual Elevator Pitch Competition (EPiC), a 60-second business pitch contest for tech start-ups, was held online for its fifth edition. The virtual event attracted 476 global contestants and culminated in 10 finalists competing for a total of US$200,000 in prize money.

The competition highlights Hong Kong's role as a global I&T hub and platform for start-ups to secure funding and attract international investors. Support from organizations like the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) helps lower market-entry barriers for emerging companies.

The overall champion was U.S.-based Mi Terro, which upcycles food waste into alternative fibres. The event demonstrated its value in providing global exposure, validation, and networking opportunities for start-ups during challenging economic times.

Main Topics: EPiC competition, Hong Kong as an I&T and investment hub, support for tech start-ups, global participation and winner.

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Shanghai hospital clears ethical reviews for chip brain implant treatment for depressed patients

(Science & Research - South China Morning Post / 2020-12-15 09:45)

A Shanghai hospital has begun a new treatment for depression involving brain-implanted electrode chips. The project has passed ethical reviews and will recruit adult patients for further studies.

The treatment uses brain-computer interface (BCI) technology for neuromodulation, aiming to help patients resistant to traditional therapies. It involves a minimally invasive surgery to implant chips, followed by AI-guided electrical stimulation.

The main topics covered are a new medical trial for depression, the use of implanted brain-chip technology, and the completion of necessary ethical reviews.