The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the Crystal International Group, and the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) have signed a tripartite agreement to integrate advanced artificial intelligence across the textile value chain. The partnership focuses on developing Textile-GPT, establishing an AI Innovation Hub, and cultivating future-ready talent.
- Textile-GPT will be built using manufacturing data, academic AI expertise, and industry knowledge graphs.
- Applications include design automation, material innovation, quality inspection and consumer experience personalisation.
- Partners will create AIaaS tools and deploy large model technologies in Crystal Group’s global production.
- Joint initiatives will support green manufacturing and circular economy solutions through applied AI.
THE AGREEMENT: HKUST, Crystal Group and HKRITA formalised their AI-powered textile transformation partnership recently through a signed framework agreement. The collaboration was announced alongside the launch of a comprehensive agenda to apply large language models across fibre, apparel, and manufacturing functions.
- The agreement covers development of AI agents for fibre innovation, textile design and workflow optimisation.
- Industry-specific knowledge graphs will guide data-driven decision-making across materials, processes and markets.
- HKUST will contribute AI and data science expertise to large model development.
- Crystal Group will offer production-scale data and deployment environments for field applications.
- HKRITA will add industry insight and R&D capabilities for applied integration.
WHERE THINGS STAND: The collaboration outlines three main areas: development of a textile-specific large language model, creation of advanced AI agents, and application in smart wearables and green innovation. These objectives reflect growing industry demand for domain-specific AI integration.
- Textile-GPT will incorporate multimodal models to power design, automation and predictive capabilities.
- AI agents will streamline workflows, monitor supply chains, and improve inspection and material handling systems.
- Smart wearables will be enhanced through demand analysis, virtual fitting and intelligent fabric engineering.
- Circular economy innovations will use AI to improve sustainability in production and recycling systems.
- The tripartite model aligns academic, commercial and technical strengths of the respective organisations.
READING BETWEEN THE LINES: This move signals a broader pivot from traditional tech pilots towards scalable industrial AI implementation. With both application scope and infrastructure in place, the partnership may influence how AI is embedded at core levels of apparel production.
- The AI Innovation Hub institutionalises long-term applied R&D
- Standardised Textile AIaaS tools aim to make LLM technologies accessible to startups and SMEs.
- Joint talent programmes will support skill-building across domains in engineering, manufacturing and AI.
- Real-time decision tools will link design and operations with predictive data intelligence.
- Positioning Hong Kong as an industrial AI hub suggests alignment with regional policy ambitions.
COMING UP: The partners will begin implementation with projects at Crystal Group’s global facilities and launch AIaaS infrastructure through the new Innovation Hub. Forums and training events will follow to engage wider industry stakeholders and workforce talent.
- Crystal Group sites will serve as pilot zones for model testing and deployment.
- AIaaS tools will provide modular access to large model capabilities for textile enterprises.
- Research projects and forums will begin under the Textile AI Innovation Hub initiative.
- Talent development initiatives will build AI-textile integration capacity through joint programming.
- Future phases aim to scale across global supply networks and product lines.
WHAT THEY SAID
HKUST is proud to lead this collaboration, which is a concrete step in cultivating the new quality productive forces central to Hong Kong's and the nation's future economic strategy. Developing the textile-specific LLM, establishing the AI Innovation Hub, and fostering cross-disciplinary talent are precisely the kinds of innovation-driven upgrades needed to transition from traditional manufacturing to high-tech, sustainable production. This is how we translate policy vision into industrial reality and global competitiveness.
— Prof Tim Cheng
Vice-President for Research and Development
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Artificial intelligence is key to the future of manufacturing. We're excited to work with HKUST and HKRITA to extend our digital transformation and co-develop a scalable, sustainable smart manufacturing model that drives new energy into the industry.
—Andrew Lo
Chief Executive Officer
Crystal International Group Limited
Our vision goes beyond technology. It’s about positioning Hong Kong as a hub for industrial AI innovation. Hong Kong knows how to navigate the textile world, and now, it is ready to grow through AI.
—Jake Koh
Chief Executive Officer
Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel
