AIRH and MINTO Unveil China-ASEAN AI Short Drama Festival at “B.E.Y.O.N.D INDIVIDUAL” Global Launch in Hong Kong
[Hong Kong – June 26, 2026] – The Asian Innovation Research Hub (AIRH) officially launched the China-ASEAN AI Short Drama Festival (ACAI) during the “B.E.Y.O.N.D INDIVIDUAL” Global Launch event hosted by MINTO Technology at Hong Kong Cyberport today. Concurrently, AIRH signed a strategic cooperation agreement with MINTO to explore new frontiers in AI-driven content creation.
The partnership will focus on deep collaboration across AI digital content, digital human technology, international competitions, youth talent development, and industrial ecosystem building, aiming to foster synergistic growth between China and ASEAN’s AI digital content sectors.
Delivering his remarks at the launch ceremony, Dr. Tonglin Zhang, President of AIRH, emphasized that generative AI is fundamentally reshaping global content production and cultural dissemination. He noted that AI has evolved beyond mere technological innovation to become a pivotal engine driving the upgrade of the cultural industry.
“With their high dissemination efficiency, flexible formats, strong cross-cultural expressiveness, and rapidly expanding global market, micro-dramas have emerged as a vital direction for the digital content industry,” said Dr. Zhang. “They provide a fresh entry point for deepening cultural exchanges, industrial collaboration, and creative cooperation among youth in China and ASEAN.”
Guided by Malaysia’s National Film Development Corporation (FINAS), ACAI is co-initiated by AIRH and MINTO, alongside a coalition of industry associations, universities, research institutions, enterprises, and innovation platforms from China and ASEAN nations. Centered around AI short dramas, the festival aims to establish an international cooperation platform bridging China and ASEAN. It seeks to drive the innovative application of AI in film production, digital culture, creative industries, and international communication, facilitating the deep integration of technology, content, talent, and industrial resources.
Under the newly signed agreement, AIRH and MINTO will leverage their respective strengths in international resource integration, AI technology application, digital content creation, and ecosystem development. Key focus areas include AI-powered content creation, digital human applications, international tournaments, university AI agent competitions, youth incubation, and cross-border industrial cooperation. Together, they aim to build an AI innovation hub serving the broader China-ASEAN corridor.
Dr. Zhang added that AIRH remains committed to advancing regional tech collaboration across Asia. “Through an open and shared international platform, we will convene government agencies, academia, industry partners, and young creators to pioneer new pathways for AI empowerment in cultural and creative industries, propelling cutting-edge technologies, innovative projects, and young talents onto the global stage,” he stated.
The event drew representatives from a wide spectrum of tech enterprises, investment firms, academic institutions, and Hong Kong’s local innovation ecosystem. Notable attendees included delegates from the Hong Kong Education Promotion Association, Hong Kong Cyberport, Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Hong Kong Software Industry Association, the Hong Kong Web 3.0 Standardization Association, HKU Business School, Hong Kong Baptist University, AWS Hong Kong, Google Cloud, Tencent, Seeyon, Ranyang Capital, HKT, the Hong Kong Sichuan Community Association, as well as key representatives from MINTO, AIRH, and project partners.
As an international innovation platform rooted in Malaysia and serving Asia, AIRH continues to champion advancements in AI, the digital economy, and tech innovation. Moving forward, AIRH will work hand-in-hand with government bodies, industry leaders, and international organizations to deepen exchanges in AI, digital content, and youth entrepreneurship across China and ASEAN, injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of the regional digital economy.
Monday 26 june 2026
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