The Budapest Corvinus University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (ranked 35th globally), and its Shenzhen Research Institute jointly organized the AI Transformation Conference and the China-Hungary AI Summit on October 24-25 at the Corvinus Gellért Campus. The conference’s professional AI partner was the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, with support from NKFIH.

The conference was inaugurated by László Bódis, Deputy State Secretary for Innovation, Dr. Rong Chen, Director of the Shenzhen Center for Strategic Research on Scientific and Technological Innovation, and Professor Wai Yee Chan, Vice President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Other distinguished speakers included Professor Yeung Yam, Director of the Shenzhen Research Institute, Professor Charaf Hassan, Rector of Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and Professor Zoltán Szántó, Vice Rector for Research at Corvinus, who hosted the event. Professors Péter Baranyi from Corvinus University and Yeung Yam were the main organizers of the summit.

This conference was highly significant, not only for the academic presentations and technology exhibition but also for the substantial business and cooperation discussions that took place between Hungarian AI startups, companies, university research groups, and delegations from the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Shenzhen Research Center and Chinese companies. This collaboration stems from the “Academic and Innovation Matrix” agreement established on March 6, 2024, initiated by Professors Yam and Baranyi. The agreement’s goal is to foster joint innovation, incubation, investment, and business processes based on Hungarian and Chinese research, enabling Hungarian solutions to enter the Chinese market and vice versa. Additionally, it aims to manage collaborative developments and secure orders for research teams and development companies involved in large-scale corporate projects in both countries. This unique agreement and the ensuing resource and infrastructure development align with the spirit of the One Belt, One Road Initiative, setting a precedent in the academic world.

The conference’s exclusivity was also highlighted by talks from some of the world’s most renowned professors. Among them was Professor Nesterov, a World Laureate Association Award-winning mathematician from Corvinus University’s CIAS Institute. The WLA prize is equivalent to a Nobel Prize for mathematicians, as no Nobel Prize is awarded in this field. Nesterov’s algorithms and theories on convex optimization have led to breakthroughs across various engineering disciplines. Also, Professor Davenport, a highly respected authority in data analytics, AI, and business innovation; Professor Meng, a pioneering scientist in AI-based cognitive and intelligent sensing; and Professor Péter Baranyi, known for his groundbreaking TP model transformation theory, shared their insights. Professor Spender, a leading figure in the modernization of knowledge management, also presented at the conference.

Besides the academic presentations, a professional AI technology exhibition was held, featuring 50-60 exhibitors, including Chinese companies, universities, research centers, and major Hungarian AI development groups and companies.