With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the demand for computing power continues to rise, placing AI chips at the heart of global tech competition. To secure a dominant position in the future of computing, China's local CPU and GPU companies are accelerating efforts to cultivate AI talent through collaborations with universities and research institutions.
Cambricon forges strategic partnership with elite university
On July 1, 2024, Cambricon Technologies and the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) signed a memorandum of understanding to launch an interdisciplinary AI class.
The signing ceremony, held at USTC, was attended by Cambricon founder and CEO Tianshi Chen and USTC Gifted Youth Program Dean Zheng-Tian Lu. Starting in 2025, the program will train top-performing students, focusing on intelligent computing and AI algorithms.
Cambricon will fully fund tuition fees, provide resources, and offer further opportunities to cultivate the next generation of leaders in China's AI field.
Chen emphasized that AI development requires interdisciplinary innovation. Given Cambricon's focus on AI processors widely used in cloud computing, large model training, and edge computing, the company is committed to strengthening China's AI talent pipeline.
Industry-wide push toward talent development
Cambricon is not alone. Other local CPU and GPU companies have also begun actively promoting talent-building initiatives.
GPU startup Biren Technology announced at the end of June 2024 that it completed RMB1.5 billion (US$209 million) in Series B funding and plans to IPO in Hong Kong as early as 2025. Its self-developed BR100 GPU has already been deployed in multiple AI data centers in collaboration with China Mobile and ZTE to promote talent development.
Shanghai's Zhaoxin, which focuses on x86 architecture, continues to work closely with universities to cultivate chip design and train research and development talents. GPU startup MetaX is also actively expanding its talent base through campus recruitment and partnerships.
Additionally, Huawei has built a global network of ICT academies and now collaborates with over 3,000 universities worldwide to promote talent development in AI, communications, and computing infrastructure.
As China pushes ahead with computing infrastructure and semiconductor innovation, AI chip companies are increasingly treating talent cultivation as a core strategy. Through university collaborations, course funding, and industry platforms, they are strengthening the talent pipeline for the increasingly competitive industry sector.
Article translated by Emily Kuo and edited by Jerry Chen
