International Conference on Technology and Design held at ZJU

The International Conference on Technology and Design and the Chinese Congress on Innovation Design Zijingang Summit, jointly initiated by Zhejiang University and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), were held at Qiushi Great Hall on Zijingang Campus. The conference served as an international communication platform that bridges world-renowned institutions of higher education and leading industrial organizations to discuss the trends, challenges and opportunities in the realm of technology and design.

ZJU President WU Zhaohui and SUTD President Chong Tow Chong made opening remarks at the conference. Prof. PAN Yunhe, former executive vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a keynote speech and launched the “Belt and Road” Innovation Design Exhibition with other distinguished guests. ZJU Vice President HE Lianzhen presided over the opening ceremony.

“There will be a fusion of technology and humanity, which will cross disciplinary boundaries and bridge theoretical gaps. Put it differently, there will appear an exciting prospect for the great convergence and deep integration of different disciplines. Technological design, as the cradle of the industry chain, the value chain and the innovation chain, is emblematic of knowledge fusion and interdisciplinarity,” WU Zhaohui said.

“As China is currently promoting the Road and Belt Initiative and the strategy of the Yangtze River Delta Integrated Development in a vigorous manner, we will be embracing a golden opportunity for cooperation in design. I sincerely hope that concerted efforts will be made to promote better-quality interdisciplinarity, cultivate higher-caliber innovation talents, inspire higher-level global partnership and create a shared community in the domains of technology and design.”

“We bring world-renowned universities and pivotal industrial organizations together at ZJU with a view to exploring progress and challenges in the fusion of technology and design and working towards solutions. Artificial intelligence and digitalization are altering the human society, so people-oriented creativity should be stimulated to promote the development of new domains,” said Chong Tow Chong.

PAN Yunhe talked about the shift from traditional industrial design to innovation design in his speech. “Innovative design is indispensable in China’s new industrialization and digital economy,” he said. He also shared with the participants the concept of innovation design proposed by ZJU.

The “Belt and Road” Innovation Design Exhibition, which is set to be staged in “Belt and Road” countries, will feature approximately 1,000 works to showcase cutting-edge achievements and development prospects in innovation design in these countries’. This exhibition will act as a platform for project cooperation, technology transfer, talent exchange and culture promotion. 

Also present at the opening ceremony were Prof. WU Zhiqiang, vice president of Tongji University, Prof. XU Zhilei from the China Academy of Engineering Physics, Prof. ZHANG Yanmin, executive vice president of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society, Prof. Makoto Watanabe, vice president of Chiba University (Japan), and Prof. Petri Suomala, vice president of Aalto University (Finland).