An AI research institute is established by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and China's Techconn Holding Group in Deqing, Zhejiang province on July 9 2019. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

A national forum focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and talent cultivation was held in Huzhou's Deqing county Dec 1, according to local media reports.

Numerous scholars and experts in the AI sector from across the country participated in the forum, exploring such topics as development trends in new-generation AI and enterprise-university cooperation in technology research and talent cultivation.

The forum, which has been held in Deqing for the past three years, witnessed the robust development of the AI sector in the county.

In 2017, Deqing had allocated a fund worth 1 billion yuan ($152.83 million)) to develop AI.

In 2018, the county hosted the United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress. In the same year, it also initiated a campaign to build the nation's first citywide demonstration zone for auto pilot and smart transport.

Now, Deqing is home to more than 400 enterprises and research institutions in the AI sector. Their total revenue amounted to 20 billion yuan last year.

In 2019, the county was designated a national pilot zone for new-generation AI innovations, the only county-level pilot zone in the country.