TCL Corp, a Chinese home appliance manufacturer, is gearing up in artificial intelligence, new display technology, 5G, intelligent manufacturing and industrial internet, with the hopes of more partners participating in its cutting-edge technologies and related projects.

TCL invested 5.6 billion yuan in R&D in 2018 and has more than 12,000 employees engaged in R&D. Up to May 2019, TCL applied for 61,234 patents worldwide, including 39,011 domestic patents and 11,067 foreign patents, said Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of TCL, at the company's technology cooperation conference in Shenzhen.

In particular, the company has 822 public patents in the field of quantum dot light-emitting diodes, ranking second in the world, Li added.

TCL has signed agreements with the University of Hong Kong to establish an AI research institute and Suzhou Institute of Nano-tech and Nano-bionics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences to explore new development paths in the industry.

"These collaborations are just the beginning. I hope to build partnerships with more top universities, enterprises and research institutes at home and abroad," said Li, adding he is confident that through technology cooperation, TCL will seize the opportunity in the new round of changes and turn itself from a follower and runner to a leader in the industry in the future," Li added.

Yan Xiaolin, chief technology officer of TCL, launched over 10 cooperation projects involved in cutting-edge technologies. He said TCL will provide support in AI data, R&D algorithms, supporting technology platforms and R&D manpower and capital. For technologies that have already made major breakthroughs, collaboration on intellectual property could occur.