Tencent: fostering innovation in digital ecosystem

—Winner of Innovation Breakthrough under the 2024 World Internet Conference Distinguished Contribution Award for Enterprises 

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in South China's Shenzhen, Tencent is an internet-based tech and cultural company that has long been committed to advancing core technologies through independent R&D and enhancing product competitiveness. It has invested over 320.5 billion yuan ($44.47 billion) since 2018 and has consistently ranked among the top private enterprises in China. To date, Tecent has obtained approximately 90,000 global patent applications, ranking second among global internet companies.

As large-scale AI models continues to gain momentum, Tencent has positioned AI as a core long-term strategy. The company is ramping up its investment in AI and related technologies to further improve these models. Tencent's Hengyuan Large-Language Model, developed through an end-to-end proprietary R&D, is a practical-level model with a parameter scale exceeding 100 billion and pre-training data surpassing 2 trillion tokens. The model excels  in Chinese-language creation, logical reasoning in complex contexts, and reliable task execution.

The company has built a comprehensive product matrix centered around its large-language model. This matrix includes foundational infrastructure, self-developed large models, development platforms for both large models and intelligent agents, as well as a diverse range of intelligent applications tailored for real-world specific scenarios. It enables enterprise clients to rapidly apply large models into real-world applications.

In the social domain, Tencent continues to lead with innovation. Its core products, QQ and WeChat, have not only transformed how people socialize but also deeply impacted digital life in China. Features such as WeChat Official Accounts, WeChat Pay, and WeChat Red Envelopes have become integral to daily life. Emerging products like WeChat Video Channel, WeChat Search, and mini-programs are constantly being updated, fueling the development of the ecosystem.

The WeChat digital ecosystem has generated increasing employment and income opportunities year after year, surpassing 50 million to date. On average, each startup project based on mini - programs or video channels creates over 11 such opportunities.

In payment solutions, Tecent has introduced WeChat palm-scanning payment system, which uses a combination of palm print and palm vein recognition system to offer users a contactless, convenient, and secure payment method. As a significant force in technology export, it has been successfully deployed in international markets like Singapore.

Beyond these efforts, Tencent has delved into applying game-based technologies across diverse social contexts, including digital cultural heritage preservation, industrial manufacturing, and cutting-edge exploration. By leveraging digital technology as a connector across sectors, the company has been actively integrating digital and real-world elements and building digital engines in fields such as intelligent manufacturing, smart energy, digital government affairs, medical health, and education.

According to Tencent's Senior Vice-president Guo Kaitian, the company has always been prioritizing its independent R&D capabilities and keeping a close eye on global trends in cutting-edge technologies, particularly generative AI. Tencent is committed to making technology more inclusive and accessible, striving for innovation-driven growth, Guo noted.

The World Internet Conference launched its Distinguished Contribution Award in 2024 to recognize individuals and enterprises that have made outstanding contributions to the global internet sector. The first award ceremony was held at last year's Wuzhen Summit, where seven global leaders and 14 renowned companies were honored.

The award for enterprises is divided into three categories: Social Contribution, Innovation Breakthrough, and Growth Potential. The winners come from diverse sectors, including internet platforms, mobile communications, artificial intelligence, chip design, energy and power, and cybersecurity. The award paints a vibrant and prosperous picture of the global internet ecosystem, encouraging more excellent enterprises to contribute to the development of the internet industry and explore the infinite possibilities of the digital future.