中文版

The Tencent AI Lab Rhino-Bird Focused Research Program aims to identify challenging research problems in industry applications and integrate the wisdom, effort and resources of academia and Tencent to launch pioneering joint research.

 

Who can Apply?

  • The project's PI (Principle Investigator) must be a full-time faculty or researcher at any university or research institution in the world around the world. The application must be submitted by the PI.
  • The project PI and team members should conduct research in AI fields including machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing and speech signal processing. The specific research fields are introduced in Attachment 1: 2019 Tencent AI Lab Rhino-Bird Focused Research Program_Research Topics.
  • The employer of the project PI (i.e. the university) can sign a cooperation agreement with Tencent (in China) or accept research funding from Tencent (in Europe, North America and other regions).

 

How to Apply?

Finish the Application Form:Download application form template in Attachment 2: 2019 Tencent AI Lab Rhino-Bird Focused Research Program_Proposal Template.

Submit Application:

Click Apply at the bottom of this page, log in with your WeChat account or QQ account. (Click Here  to see how to download the WeChat App and create an account if you don’t have one).

If you decide to apply, we would encourage you to submit basic information as early as possible (with or without the Application Document), so that you can get timely updates via email. In the follow-up procedure, please log in with the same account for information updates (submitting the Application Document). You may update your application many times prior to the deadline.

If you decide to abandon the application process, please let us know by sending us an email.

Note: Do NOT include any confidential information in the application materials or during discussions with Tencent personnel such as information that you do not have the right to disclose to Tencent or unpublished research work. 

 

How Applications will Be Reviewed?

The review process will take into account the research background of the applicant and team, the relevance, feasibility and innovation of the research plan and Tencent AI Lab (hereinafter referred to as the Lab).

The review process will be divided into the preliminary field review and final Lab review. At least three researchers from relevant fields at the Lab will participate in the preliminary field review and a comprehensive list of recommendations in this field will be selected. In the final Lab review, the final list of projects will be formulated from those recommended in the preliminary field review.

The results of the review will be announced via email to all applicants.

 

How to Start a Project?

The Lab will assign researchers in the relevant fields to cooperate with the selected projects PI. The cooperating researcher will discuss the final project plan and budget with the project PI. The project budget will be determined based on the project plan and ranges between RMB200,000 and RMB500,000 (in China) or USD40,000 and USD60,000 (in Europe, North America and other regions). About 20 to 30 projects will be sponsored in 2019.

After the project plan is fixed, the program management team will cooperate with the project PI and university to sign the research cooperation agreement (in China) or sign the Gift Fund agreement and NDA (in Europe, North America and other regions). After that, the project will be officially established.

In principle, the project PI cannot be replaced or withdraw from the project. In special cases, before the project is officially established, the project PI need to sign the Withdrawal Statement, which will be archived by Tencent.

If the project establishment procedure cannot be completed, the project will not be conducted; if the applicant wishes to cooperate with the Lab next year, the applicant needs to submit an application again.

 

Termination

The project period is generally one year.

Before closing the project, the PI should submit a project report, and a meeting or tele-conference will be organized to review the project.

After the establishment procedure is completed, where the project cannot be carried out due to reasons attributable to the PI, the termination procedure must be completed and an expense report submitted. The balance of the allocated budget will be refunded to Tencent based on the actual expense of the project.

 

When Is the Deadline for Submitting an Application?

Application deadline: 14:00, January 22nd, 2019 (Beijing time, UTC+8)

Notification date: March 2019

 

Contact

Tencent AI Lab Rhino-Bird Focused Research Program Review Board: Focused_Research@tencent.com

 

FAQ

Q: I know a researcher at the Lab. Can I talk with him/her when I fill out the application form?

A: We encourage you to talk with research fellows at the Lab so that your application meets mutual interests. However, please do not disclose any confidential information such as information that you do not have the right to disclose to Tencent or unpublished research work.

 

Q: I do not know any researchers at the Lab. Can you assign a researcher to help me understand Lab’s research interest?

A: Sorry, we are not able to assign you a research fellow in advance as we receive a great number of applications. However, you may:

1.Visit the Lab's website (ai.tencent.com) and WeChat official account (腾讯AI实验室, which literally means Tencent AI lab);

2.Read the Lab's academic papers and latest presentation materials;

3.Meet researchers from the Lab at international academic conferences.