[Chengdu, China, January 8, 2021] The Sichuan Tianfu New Area Chengdu Management Committee, HiSilicon (Shanghai) Technologies Co., Ltd., and Rokid Inc. held a ceremony in Chengdu to mark the signing of a partnership agreement for the setup of the China XR Industry Center. The ceremony was hosted by the Vice Mayor of Chengdu and the Sichuan Tianfu New Area administration. Veni Shone, President of HiSilicon (Shanghai), delivered a keynote speech, with Zhu Mingming, Founder and CEO of Rokid, and a host of other enterprise representatives in attendance.

The China XR Industry Center will explore new applications for extended reality (XR), and aims to pave the way for a robust XR sector, by leveraging the close working relationship between the three parties. The center is intended to accelerate the deployment of chipsets (HiSilicon), operating systems (Rokid), and content modeling tools and platforms — that support the XR industry — while enlisting aid from a wide range of partners across the ecosystem.

Signing ceremony for Sichuan Tianfu New Area key projects in January 2021

The construction of the China XR Industry Center project will take place in two phases. Phase 1 has involved the selection of the Tianfu Haichuang Park as home to the XR industry public service platform, Rokid media exhibition center headquarters, and XR industry demonstration base, as well as the construction of the HiSilicon western center project. Phase 2 will involve the planned construction of the XR business park, which aims to mobilize ecosystem partners in such fields as intelligent hardware, content production, software development, and system integration. The three parties will implement a range of measures to bolster the XR industry ecosystem. These include developing a multitude of XR-powered software and hardware products, service platforms, and industry solutions; fostering XR applications in diverse industries, including security, manufacturing, media, healthcare, education, culture, and tourism; and setting up a software and hardware standards framework that will apply to suppliers across the XR industry chain.

Veni Shone noted that breakthroughs in computing power, connectivity, and display technology indicate that XR will fuel the next major user experience and computing platform paradigm, and make the convergence of digital and physical worlds a viable reality. He detailed how HiSilicon hopes to endow XR with newly immersive experiences, smooth interactions, and nimble convenience. To meet these goals, it will harness core capabilities, such as 8K, AI, and 5G, while continuing to invest in areas that promise to reshape the XR experience, such as next-level audio and video, high-performance computing, multi-sensory convergence, and high-performance wireless connection, as well as by working closely with partners. Veni Shone added that the support of the Chengdu Municipal Government and the Party Committee and Management Committee for Chengdu Tianfu New Area has helped forge the partnership between HiSilicon and Rokid. The two companies will join forces to roll out a broad range of products and services that meet market needs, and prove critical to helping Chengdu assume its place as an XR industry hub in China.

Veni Shone, President of HiSilicon (Shanghai)

Zhu Mingming noted that XR, as a next-generation mobile computing platform, offers the means for flawless integration of human-machine interactions by voice, visual, and display, and will revolutionize the way people work, live, learn, and are entertained. As leaders in the XR field, Rokid and HiSilicon hope to provide comprehensive XR solutions covering chipsets, core algorithms, software systems, and SaaS services, to leverage the full potential of XR in the 5G era.

HiSilicon, Sichuan Tianfu New Area Chengdu Management Committee, and Rokid will make a concerted effort to deliver on this lofty vision, through the China XR Industry Center, and assist in the full-scale development of the XR industry.