（英文版在較下方）

    2021年11月5日，上海——在第四屆中國國際進口博覽會上，微軟（中國）有限公司（以下簡稱“微軟”）與索尼半導體科技（上海）有限公司（以下簡稱“索尼”）宣布發起合作伙伴賦能計劃（Partner Enablement Program），鼓勵具備資質的中國本土獨立軟件供應商（ISV），以及系統集成商（SI）合作伙伴基于商業AI攝像頭解決方案（AI camera-driven solutions）進行創新。該解決方案將全球首款*具有 AI 處理功能的圖像傳感器——索尼IMX500智能視覺傳感器與微軟智能云的AI能力相結合，實現邊緣人工智能處理。在此之前，微軟也與索尼在中國發起了聯合創新實驗室（Co-Innovation Labs），為計算機視覺和視頻分析領域的合作伙伴和企業客戶提供構建、開發、原型和測試解決方案所需的支持與服務。

*在圖像傳感器領域，根據索尼方的調查（截止該款傳感器發布之日-2020年5月14日）

圖為索尼半導體科技（上海）有限公司總裁木村信（左）和微軟中國區總裁包嘉峰（右）

    微軟中國區總裁包嘉峰表示：“此次與索尼攜手，將微軟可信、企業級的人工智能技術和分析解決方案領域的專長，與索尼在成像傳感器市場的公認的領導地位相結合。雙方攜手深耕智能邊緣領域，進一步挖掘各行業潛能，為我們的客戶和合作伙伴發掘無限機遇。”

    索尼半導體科技（上海）有限公司總裁木村信表示：“索尼的創新成像和傳感技術結合微軟卓越的智能云及人工智能服務，將帶來更強大、更高效的AI攝像頭解決方案。我們相信，索尼與微軟在中國市場的合作，將進一步強化我們與本土合作伙伴和客戶的關系，幫助他們進一步拓展商業價值。”

基于Azure人工智能的全球首個*AI處理圖像傳感器

    索尼智能視覺傳感器IMX500可在傳感器上進行高速AI處理，僅輸出語義元數據信息而非圖像數據，從而減少數據流量并解決隱私問題。通過與微軟合作，索尼將Azure AI嵌入傳感器，這種集成可以為通用應用程序提供多樣化功能——如高速AI處理下的實時目標追蹤等——為商業場景帶來更智能的 AI 攝像頭解決方案，并在邊緣和云端之間更有效地分配資源，以提高成本效率和功耗效率。

    索尼還創建了基于Azure IoT和認知服務（Cognitive Services）的AI攝像頭托管應用，不僅對IMX500傳感器進行了完善，也為合作伙伴和客戶拓展了視頻分析領域的能力及范圍，幫助其把握更多機遇。

發掘商業應用無限潛力

    借由此次合作，AI攝像頭解決方案將索尼尖端的成像及傳感技術，與微軟的智能云技術及AI平臺相結合，展現出在商業應用領域的無限潛力。用戶可以創建、選擇和上傳AI模型至傳感器，對智能攝像頭解決方案進行完整定制，各行各業的客戶都能夠基于這一解決方案發掘新的營收機遇，簡化運營并解決挑戰。

    例如，零售業企業可以借助AI攝像頭來檢測何時補充貨架商品，或根據顧客隊列長度調整收銀臺的開放數量。此外，使用AI攝像頭，制造業企業可實時識別鑒別車間的危險情況，防患于未然。傳統意義上，這類應用程序的數據收集往往依賴于分布在商店、倉庫和配送中心等站點的AI攝像頭，計算資源的分配難以優化，進而導致成本或能耗的增加。

合作伙伴賦能計劃——鼓勵更多有志者 “入局”

    在2021中國國際進口博覽會上，微軟與索尼推出了合作伙伴賦能計劃（Partner Enablement Program），通過微軟人工智能和物聯網實驗室進行招募，吸引更多優秀的本土ISV和SI合作伙伴“入局”，共創更加多樣化的行業解決方案。這一計劃的推出將豐富現有的生態系統，招募在其主導行業具備豐富的海內外經驗、銷售和營銷資源的優秀合作伙伴，并助力其打造應用于不同行業場景的解決方案，在克服技術挑戰的同時，為這些合作伙伴提供產品上市資源。

    早在2020年5月，微軟與索尼半導體集團就已在全球范圍內宣布合作，此次發起的合作伙伴賦能計劃也是這一全球合作的本土延續之一，點擊鏈接了解更多細節。

    作為微軟的全球認證合作伙伴、以及首批加入該計劃的合作伙伴，漢朔科技（Hanshow）打造了基于零售行業場景的解決方案，通過部署具有多種AI模型的智能攝像頭，可監控產品量、客流量、銷售狀態。通過集成固定位置的攝像頭，它將生成店內客戶軌跡的熱圖，為客戶提供更有價值的數據信息，強化數據洞察力，從而提升門店銷售額。

    漢朔科技CEO侯世國表示：“漢朔在全球零售市場擁有豐富的經驗，在微軟和索尼的技術支持下，加快了三方共同創新的進程，也讓我們能夠更好地服務于快速變化和多元化的泛零售行業，幫助客戶獲得更高的靈活性和更多收益。”

關于微軟公司

微軟（納斯達克上市代碼“MSFT”）致力于成就“智能云與智能邊緣”時代的數字化轉型，予力全球每一人、每一組織，成就不凡。

關于索尼半導體集團公司

索尼半導體集團公司是圖像傳感器領域的全球領導者。我們努力提供先進的影像技術為人們的生活帶來更多便利與愉悅。此外，我們還開發并將新的傳感技術推向市場，致力于將人類與機器的視覺和認知能力提升到新的高度。欲了解更多詳情，請瀏覽網站： Sony Semiconductor Solutions Group.

Microsoft and Sony Semiconductor Solutions Partner to Expand AI Camera-Driven Solutions in China

Nov 5, 2021, Shanghai – At the 2021 China International Import Expo (CIIE), Microsoft China and Sony Semiconductor Solutions (Shanghai) Ltd. (Sony) announced a Partner Enablement Program to encourage China local qualified independent software vendors (ISV) and system integrators (SI) partners creating commercial AI camera-driven solutions, which combines Sony's intelligent vision sensor IMX500, the world's first* image sensor equipped with AI functionality, with Microsoft Azure's AI technology capabilities to achieve AI processing on edge. As part of the partnership, Microsoft and Sony jointly launched Co-Innovation Labs in China for partners and enterprise customers in the areas of computer vision and video analytics, which offers access and facilities to build, develop, prototype and test solutions for partners and customers.

*Among image sensors. According to Sony research (as of its announcement date on May 14, 2020).

Makoto Kimura, President of Sony Semiconductor Solutions (Shanghai) Ltd. (Left) and Joe Bao, President of Microsoft China (Right)

Joe Bao, President of Microsoft China said:” Our partnership has combined Microsoft's expertise in providing trusted, enterprise-grade AI technology and analytics solutions with Sony's established leadership in the imaging sensors market. The edge intelligence we ignite together has great potential in every industry, this uncovers unlimited opportunities for our mutual customers and partners.”

Makoto Kimura, President of Sony Semiconductor Solutions (Shanghai) Ltd. said: "The combination of Sony's innovative imaging and sensing technology with Microsoft's excellent cloud AI services will bring more powerful and efficient AI camera-driven solutions. We are confident that Sony's collaboration with Microsoft in the Chinese market will further strengthen our ties with our partners and customers in China and contribute to the expansion of their business value." 

World's first AI-processing image sensor, powered by Azure AI

Sony's  intelligent vision sensor IMX500 feature high-speed AI processing on the sensor, and output only semantic metadata information instead of image data, that helps in reducing data traffic and addressing privacy concerns.

Sony collaborates with Microsoft to embed Microsoft Azure AI technology capabilities on the sensor. This integration makes it possible to deliver diversified functionality for versatile applications, such as real-time object tracking with high-speed AI processing. This integration results in smarter AI camera-driven solutions for enterprise scenarios as well as a more efficient allocation of resources between the edge and the cloud to drive cost and power consumption efficiencies.

In addition, Sony created AI camera managed application powered by Azure IoT technology and Cognitive Services technology that complements the IMX500 sensor and expands the range and capability of video analytics opportunities for partners and customers.

Discover unlimited potential for commercial use

As result of the collaboration, AI camera-driven solutions bring together Sony's cutting-edge imaging and sensing technologies, with Microsoft's cloud technology and AI platform, and it unveils an unlimited potential for commercial use.

Users can create, choose, and upload AI models of their choice to the sensor and the AI camera-driven solution can be fully customized, enabling customers across industries to uncover new revenue opportunities, streamline operations and solve challenges.

For example, retailers can use AI cameras to detect when to refill products on a shelf or to better understand the optimal number of available open checkout counters according to the queue length. Additionally, a manufacturer might use an AI camera to identify hazards on its manufacturing floor in real time before injuries occur. Traditionally such applications rely on gathering data distributed among many AI cameras across different sites like stores, warehouses and distribution centers, and struggle to optimize the allocation of computing resources, resulting in cost or power consumption increases.

Partner Enablement Program to encourage more players joining the game

At the 2021 CIIE event, Microsoft and Sony released a Partner Enablement Program (PEP) to recruit more China local qualified ISV/SI partners through Microsoft AI & IoT Insider Labs, leveraging the AI camera-driven solution to co-create more diversified industrial solutions. The launch of PEP enriches the existing ecosystem to recruit qualified partners with experiences, sales and marketing resources in their leading industry to develop and enrich solutions in various of industrial scenarios, overcome technological challenges and invests in go-to-market resources.

Both companies' collaboration in China is part of the partnership between Microsoft and Sony Semiconductor Solutions, which was globally announced in May 2020 of which its details can be found here.

One of the Microsoft certified partners, Global ISV Hanshow, made the first wave of building its intelligent solution in the retail industry by onboarding a Partner Enablement Program. Hanshow's solution employs multiple intelligent cameras with various AI models for monitoring product volume status, customer traffic flows, and sales status. By integrating stationary cameras, it can also provide a heat map tracking in-store customer journeys, providing retailers with valuable insights to increase sales.

Hanshow's experience in global retail markets, combined with the technological support from Microsoft and Sony “can accelerate co-innovation initiatives to better serve the rapidly changing and diversified retail industry, helping retailers to be more agile and profitable. We are also exploring application of this solution in manufacturing and other industries together with Microsoft and Sony.” said Shiguo Hou, the CEO of Hanshow.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

About Sony Semiconductor Solutions

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation is the global leader in image sensors. We strive to provide advanced imaging technologies that bring greater convenience and joy to people's lives. In addition, we also work to develop and bring to market new kinds of sensing technologies with the aim of offering various solutions that will take the visual and recognition capabilities of both human and machines to greater heights. For more information, please visit: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Group.