The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) has introduced a new initiative called “Celesphere” to demonstrate advanced industrial metaverse applications that can help accelerate the development of the digital economy and promote smart manufacturing. The technology showcased in Celesphere includes award-winning research and development solutions, highlighting the HKPC’s commitment to supporting industries in their efforts towards new industrialisation.
The Commissioner for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government; the Chairman of HKPC, and the Executive Director of HKPC were in attendance at the grand opening ceremony of “Celesphere”.
Celesphere is Hong Kong’s first technology hall that focuses on the industrial metaverse. It aims to integrate metaverse, Industry 4.0 (i4.0), artificial intelligence, and human-machine interface technologies to help businesses improve production processes and embrace digitalisation as a core business strategy. The goal is to accelerate the integration of digital economy and the real economy.
Celesphere showcases a range of industrial metaverse application solutions, including “i4.0 Digital Lean in Metaverse for Virtualised Process Optimisation.” This solution has received several prestigious international awards and recognitions from renowned professional bodies. It was a finalist in the 2022 R&D 100 Awards and the 2023 Edison Awards, and it won the Hong Kong Smart Living Partnership Awards 2022 in the Metaverse category for Outstanding Production Line Optimisation Solution.
During the ceremony, HKPC also highlighted their latest innovation, the “Owl Production Line in Industrial Metaverse.” This solution employs “Digital Twin” technology and the concept of 3i Maturity Level in i4.0 to bring physical production scenes into the virtual space of the industrial metaverse.
By incorporating advanced i4.0, artificial intelligence, and human-machine interface technologies in the design, production, operation, training, and optimisation processes, it enables real-time integration of data exchange between physical and virtual production processes. This paves the way for the imminent arrival of the intelligent factory, as it lays the foundation for seamless communication between physical and virtual production processes.
The Chairman of HKPC stated that with the establishment of “Celesphere,” HKPC aims to promote industrial metaverse applications and facilitate their adoption, thereby contributing to the development of new industrialisation. HKPC hopes to highlight industrial metaverse production line solutions to help businesses optimise their business and production processes, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and address challenges such as talent recruitment and spatial and temporal constraints.
HKPC plans to strengthen the collaboration among the government, industry, academic, and research sectors, and support the industry with advanced technology, FutureSkills training, and government funding. The goal is to promote and leverage advanced technologies, such as industrial metaverse application solutions, to enhance the productivity and overall competitiveness of the industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao-Greater Bay Area.
The term “metaverse” refers to an immersive 3D virtual world experience that is achieved through the use of a combination of technologies, such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR). The metaverse platform enhances the internet experience by creating a virtual world in which users can engage in various activities, such as immersive gaming, conducting business, socializing, buying and selling virtual real estate, and enjoying immersive entertainment. The metaverse allows for a new level of immersion and interactivity, creating a unique and engaging online experience.
According to market research, the global metaverse market size was valued at US$65.51 billion in 2022, and it is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41.6% from 2023 to 2030. The market’s revenue growth is expected to be driven by several factors, including a growing focus on integrating the digital and physical worlds through the internet, the increasing popularity and momentum of Mixed Reality (MR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR), and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as its subsequent developments and outcomes.
