On May 16，the inaugural meeting of the Artificial Intelligence Alumni Chapter of the Nankai Alumni Association was held on Jinnan Campus at Nankai University. Alumni from across China joined faculty and student representatives at the event.

Attendees included Yang Qingshan, Secretary of the CPC Nankai University Committee and Chair of the Nankai Alumni Association; Gong Ke, former President of Nankai University and Executive Director of the Chinese Institute of New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies (CINGAI); Guo Lei, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor at Beihang University; Zhang Wenzhong, Lifetime Trustee and Distinguished Professor of Nankai University, Chair of the Nankai Alumni Entrepreneurs Association and Founder of Wumart Group; Zhou Ruxin, Trustee of Nankai University, Vice Chair of the Nankai Alumni Entrepreneurs Association, and Founder and President of Beijing BDStar Navigation Co., Ltd.; Bao Jigang, Trustee of Nankai University, Chair of the Mathematics Alumni Chapter of the Nankai Alumni Association, and Chairman of Shenzhen Wukong Investment Management Co., Ltd.; Fang Yongchun, Vice President of Nankai University; Wen Biao, Trustee of Nankai University and Executive Chair and Secretary-General of the Nankai Alumni Entrepreneurs Association; Yu Li, a Nankai alumnus, both members of the Technical Committee on Control Theory and the Technical Committee on Process Control of the Chinese Association of Automation, and Professor at Zhejiang University of Technology; and Lin Zhouchen, a Nankai alumnus and Professor at the School of Intelligence Science and Technology of Peking University.

Alumni representatives from Chinese universities, research institutes and enterprises including Inspur Group, Sugon, Unitree Robotics and Chang'an Auto attended the event, along with officials from relevant departments of Tianjin’s Nankai District, and faculty and student representatives of Nankai University. The event was presided over by Qiu Lin, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the College of Artificial Intelligence.

On behalf of Nankai university and the Nankai Alumni Association, Yang Qingshan extended warm congratulations on the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Alumni Chapter and expressed sincere appreciation to alumni and friends from all sectors who have long supported the university’s development. Yang said that artificial intelligence is a core driving force behind the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. Nankai University, he noted, attaches great importance to the development of artificial intelligence as an academic discipline and to talent cultivation in the field. Through sustained efforts over the years, the university has built a strong academic foundation and robust research strength, achieving notable progress in fundamental artificial intelligence research, technological innovation and the application of research outcomes. In particular, it has made a series of major breakthroughs in areas including intelligent robotics and brain-computer interfaces, emerging as an influential national hub for talent cultivation and research innovation in artificial intelligence.

Yang Qingshan emphasized that, at this new starting point, artificial intelligence discipline carries an important mission and offers broad prospects for development. The establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Alumni Chapter is therefore timely and significant. He called for efforts to fully implement the guiding principles of President Xi Jinping’s important remarks at the symposium on strengthening basic research and to keep in mind the expectations and responsibilities entrusted during his visit to the university. Nankai University should further strengthen fundamental research, vigorously promote interdisciplinary integration, strive to achieve breakthroughs in key core technologies, and deliver more achievements in original and independent innovation, contributing greater wisdom and strength to China’s artificial intelligence development.

Zhao Xin, Dean of the College of Artificial Intelligence, delivered a report on the development of Nankai University’s artificial intelligence discipline. He reviewed its development history and introduced representative achievements made in recent years in talent cultivation, research innovation and platform development.

At the meeting, a representative of the Nankai University Alumni Affairs Office read out the official approval for the establishment of the Artificial Intelligence Alumni Chapter of the Nankai Alumni Association. Yuan Xiaoyu, Secretary-General of the Chapter, introduced the members and organizational structure of its inaugural council.

Gong Ke, Zhang Wenzhong, Zhou Ruxin, Fang Yongchun and Zhao Xin jointly unveiled the plaque for the Artificial Intelligence Alumni Chapter of the Nankai Alumni Association.

Fang Yongchun presented appointment certificates to Gong Ke and Zhang Wenzhong, Honorary Chairs of the Chapter, and to Zhou Ruxin, Chair of the Chapter.

Zhou Ruxin, Gong Ke, Zhang Wenzhong, Guo Lei, Lin Zhouchen and Lu Guizhang delivered remarks at the meeting. Yang Liu, representing faculty members of the College of Artificial Intelligence, and Zhang Peiyao, representing students, also spoke at the event.

Zhang Wenzhong, Zhou Ruxin, Wang Zengyin, and Gao Xuedong from the 1979 Class in Control Theory, jointly presented the Special Contribution Award for Artificial Intelligence Discipline Development to Professor Lu Guizhang, an important pioneer in China’s intelligent robotics field and a key founder of Nankai University’s artificial intelligence discipline, paying tribute to his outstanding contributions.

Lu Guizhang, Zhang Wenzhong, Zhou Ruxin, Fang Yongchun and Zhao Xin jointly launched the Lu Guizhang Fund for Artificial Intelligence Development. Initiated by Zhou Ruxin, who also made the first donation, the fund aims to carry forward the scientific spirit and patriotism of Professor Lu Guizhang as well as earlier generations of the university’ scholars. By bringing together support from alumni and wider society, the fund will focus on talent cultivation, research innovation, platform development and collaborative cooperation in artificial intelligence, supporting both the development of Nankai University’s artificial intelligence discipline and the advancement of China’s artificial intelligence sector.

The inaugural meeting of the Advisory Committee on Artificial Intelligence Discipline Development and the Artificial Intelligence Development Forum were held on Jinnan Campus on May 15. Zhao Meirong, Executive Deputy Secretary of the CPC Nankai University Committee, presented appointment certificates to members of the Advisory Committee. With Gong Ke serving as Chair and Huang Yalou serving as Secretary-General, the Committee brings together 33 renowned experts and scholars in artificial intelligence, forming a high-level advisory body that connects experts in China and abroad and promotes integration of industry, education and research. During the forum, participants held in-depth discussions on discipline development, breakthroughs in key technologies and the industrial application of artificial intelligence.

（Edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)