Chancellor Youmei Feng and Sinodata Chairman Yedong Zhu launch the Sinodata-Duke Kunshan AI Lab watched by Executive Vice Chancellor Denis Simon, Sinodata President Sa Shen and Xin Li, director of iAPSE and head of the new lab
Duke Kunshan University has teamed up with leading fintech company Sinodata to launch a joint artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory that aims to advance innovation and train high-quality, interdisciplinary researchers.
The lab will focus on emerging fields such as big data collection, data storage and analysis, risk assessment, financial modeling and fraud detection.
It will also aim to help businesses adopt new intelligent technologies, improve operating efficiency and reduce operating costs, according to Xin Li, professor of electrical and computer engineering, who will lead the joint lab.
‘This is the first lab at Duke Kunshan that integrates research with education. Its significance is unprecedented,’ said Li, who is also director of Duke Kunshan’s Institute of Applied Physical Science and Engineering (iAPSE) and its Data Science Research Center.
‘The lab will explore a new model of interdisciplinary education called AI+X. This way, we expect to inject new vitality into the future development of AI.’
Based on campus, the lab was officially unveiled on June 14 at a ceremony attended by leaders from both partners including Chancellor Youmei Feng, Executive Vice Chancellor Denis Simon and Sinodata Chairman Yedong Zhu, as well as Wendy Kuran, associate vice president of Duke University.
Zhu said the joint lab is an important part of Sinodata’s innovation strategy, adding that his company will continue to deepen collaboration with the Sino-U.S. university and leverage their complementary resources to drive developments in technology and talent.
Simon said Duke Kunshan’s liberal arts education focuses on critical thinking and the ability to solve complex problems, and that the Sinodata partnership will provide faculty and students with industry knowledge and hands-on opportunities.
Shen Sa, president of Sinodata, added that the cooperation is based not only on the complimentary combination of technology and research, but also on the common commitment to education.
