OPPO and PolyU partner up to launch joint AI research centre

Chinese smartphone brand OPPO has partnered with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to launch a joint innovative research centre on AI-driven computational mobile imaging.

This comes as OPPO and PolyU have renewed a collaborative framework agreement based on the agreement signed in 2022, contributing to the integration of the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Under the renewal agreement, OPPO will partner with PolyU to increase funding and technology investments, upgrading the existing "PolyU-OPPO joint innovation research lab" into the “PolyU-OPPO joint innovation research centre,” effective January 2025.

Additionally, OPPO will provide no less than RMB$30 million over the next five years to expand the scale of co-trained PhD and postdoctoral researchers, promoting technical development and exploration in imaging algorithms while further deepening the collaborative efforts between OPPO and PolyU in AI imaging technology.

This new framework will not only continue present research on AI-driven computational imaging but will also conduct more comprehensive and in-depth research that will cover the applications of smartphone AI imaging at all levels, according to the release.

While the demand for mobile video filming and multimedia content creation continues to grow, the future research direction of the centre will extend to more complex areas, such as video algorithms, album editing and lightweight Generative AI (GenAI) models. The centre aims to leverage AI technology for mobile devices while maintaining high-quality image output. Additionally, the centre will continue to foster talent cultivation, academia-industry cooperation and technological innovation development.

PolyU and OPPO have successfully commercialised research outcomes and jointly nurtured a number of AI talents through their partnership over the past few years, according to the release. PolyU PhD students who joined the former joint lab have been working closely with OPPO engineers and have developed sophisticated GenAI algorithms, which can instantly process unclear pictures on smartphones, resulting in high-resolution and realistic pictures to the naked eye. This innovation has already been integrated into OPPO’s flagship smartphones. 

Jason Liao (pictured fifth right), president, OPPO Research Institute, said: “In the three years of collaboration between OPPO and PolyU, we have witnessed significant technological breakthroughs and notable achievements in talent cultivation through the joint effort. Adhering to our mission of ‘Technology for mankind, kindness for the world’, OPPO is dedicated to deepening the integration of academia-industry cooperation in the field of AI through this renewal, bringing more innovative intelligent imaging experiences to global users.”

Teng Jin-guang (pictured fifth left), president, PolyU, said: “To address the opportunities and challenges of the AI era, PolyU will officially establish the faculty of computer and mathematical sciences in January 2025. This is an important move to implement the university’s innovation development strategy, aiming to meet growing technological needs and support talent nurturing.”

“The department of computing, which houses the joint innovation research centre will also join the new faculty. The new structure will effectively promote in-depth exchanges and collaboration among research teams, and create more impactful outcomes. We believe that this in-depth cooperation with OPPO will enable us to fully seize opportunities and actively promote technological innovation and knowledge transfer,” Teng added.

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Back in 2022, OPPO and PolyU established the "PolyU-OPPO joint innovation lab," which has developed advanced imaging algorithms, including AI super-resolution and HDR imaging, enhancing telephoto photography and overall image quality. The lab also explores cutting-edge technologies such as image restoration and interactive editing, improving image generation and post-processing capabilities. Additionally, it focuses on talent development, nurturing PhD and postdoctoral researchers who contribute to OPPO's AI imaging technology, driving ongoing innovation.

Looking ahead, both parties will continue to strengthen the academia-industry cooperation, fully exploring and promoting innovative applications of AI imaging technology, according to the release. 

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