Chinese universities forge new AI paths: a commentary by Professor ZHAO Yupei in Vanguardia Dossier

Professor ZHAO Yupei, the Vice Dean of College of Media and International Culture of Zhejiang University, published an article in prestigious Spanish journal Vanguardia Dossier. The article, titled “De los avances de la IA a su integración” (“AI: From Progress to Integration”), appears in a special edition dedicated to the theme “El siglo de China” (The Chinese Century), which examines China’s development and influence in the global economy, technology, and broader international landscape.

ZHAO’s article examines the role of Chinese universities in advancing artificial intelligence, highlighting collaborative efforts between academia and industry in research and development, with a particular focus on Zhejiang University’s educational initiatives in AI. She argues that China is cultivating a digital innovation ecosystem driven by university-led research, educational reform, breakthroughs in core AI technologies, and a growing community of young entrepreneurs. This ecosystem, she notes, not only strengthens China’s capacity for scientific and technological innovation but also offers new pathways for collaboration and reference points for the global digital economy.

Vanguardia Dossier is a prominent European publication focused on international affairs. This special edition brings together leading scholars in Chinese and international studies, including Meg Rithmire (Harvard University), historian Rana Mitter (Oxford University), Manuel Castells (University of Southern California), and Evan S. Medeiros (Georgetown University), who contribute perspectives on economic growth, industrial upgrading, geopolitics, and technological innovation.

Editor: HAN Xiao