ITMO Rector Suggests Creation of Russian-Chinese AI Alliance

The alliance will include several top-tier Russian and Chinese universities, expanding the cooperation between the two countries in the field of AI. Now, it will be possible not only to exchange the best educational programs, digital education practices, and research experience, but also organize the academic exchange of students and staff within the entire alliance – not just between individual universities.

“We’ve been collaborating with universities in China for over 30 years and 10% of ITMO students are Chinese nationals. We already have established models for training professionals, conducting research, and delivering educational programs in frontier fields – now, we are moving forward. The next step will be the creation of a Russian-Chinese AI alliance. Information technologies have transformed all fields: from education to industry and medicine. A new model of institutional collaboration will help bring together the brightest minds of both countries to develop AI-based solutions for specific problems,” said Vladimir Vasilyev, the Rector of ITMO University.

The Minister of Education of China, Huai Jinpeng, supported this initiative while noting that the joint contributions of China and Russia have the potential to change science on a global scale.

“Information technologies and digital education have to be regulated through corresponding rules so that AI can benefit society, not harm it. Cooperation between the universities of our countries will doubtlessly help this initiative. The research projects already implemented by ITMO and Chinese universities have demonstrated that we easily find common ground on our way towards common goals,” added the minister.

ITMO is ready to act as a coordinator of the AI alliance from the Russian side, being the only university in the country featured in the global top 100 of the QS ranking in data science and AI, as well as the ShanghaiRanking in Automation & Control. What’s more, over 2,000 AI specialists graduate from ITMO every year. 

“At ITMO, we have a unique system for training AI professionals. We attract talented school students and winners of competitions, while our lecturers are among the best experts in computer science. Moreover, our educational programs are created in collaboration with major industrial partners. Graduates of our Bachelor’s programs are ready to work as junior+ and middle level developers. Enriched by the best practices of Chinese universities, this experience will serve as a solid foundation for the alliance,” shared Daria Kozlova, the First Vice Rector of ITMO University. 

AI is a cross-cutting technology that is integrated into every research project and process at ITMO. The university uses IT tools in education, research, and when providing solutions to the applied tasks of its industry partners. Among the priority applications are robotics, photonics, quantum communications, metamaterials, and nanotechnologies. 

“Our mission lies in shortening the path from frontier research to industrial solutions. We develop technologies that help practitioners make decisions in ambiguous situations. At the moment, we are focusing on three frontier fields: AI capable of creating AI; technologies for designing real-world objects, such as ports and cities; and AI that will take on the role of a scientist, assisting researchers with their tasks,” concluded Alexander Boukhanovsky, the head of ITMO’s National Center for Cognitive Research and the Research Center “Strong AI in Industry.” 

At the meeting, rectors of ITMO University and Harbin Engineering University signed an agreement on the creation of a world-class research center in Qingdao that will also act as a joint campus. There, Master’s and PhD students from both universities will attend classes by leading lecturers, take part in internships, and work on applied research in metamaterials, flexible optoelectronics, and marine engineering.