AsianScientist (Dec. 26, 2017) – The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee (SIPAC) will jointly establish the NUS Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Commercialization Center (NUSAIICC) to promote the scientific and technological innovation, application and commercialization of artificial intelligence (AI).
The agreement formalizing the collaboration and the establishment of NUSAIICC was signed in Suzhou by NUS Acting President Professor Tan Eng Chye and SIPAC Vice Director Mr. Ding Lixin. A joint investment of close to RMB100 million (US$15 million) in funding and manpower will be made to support the development and operation of the NUS (Suzhou) Research Institute (NUSRI) in Suzhou, China, where the NUSAIICC will be sited.
The NUSAIICC will be led by Professor Ooi Beng Chin as its inaugural Director. Ooi, who is a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at NUS, will oversee a multidisciplinary research team drawn from across NUS faculties and research institutes to advance AI research, innovation, application and commercialization across various areas, including health care, financial technology and smart city technology. The NUSAIICC will actively promote NUS technologies as well as identify and encourage budding start-ups to venture into the Chinese market through NUSAIICC and its one-stop services.
Start-ups and small businesses will receive technology and incubation support, helping them solve problems with AI. The broader objective is to create an AI ecosystem and industrial chain in the Suzhou area. NUSAIICC aims to incubate 15 innovative companies in its first five years.
NUS students will benefit from this collaboration through real world exposure to the vibrant start-up scene in China. NUSAIIC will also work closely with BLOCK71 Suzhou to strengthen NUS commercialization activities in Suzhou.
As part of NUSAIICC’s role in facilitating robust scientific and technology exchange, it will also host 10 lectures and symposiums over five years to connect science and technology experts and industry leaders in AI-related fields.
“Following on the very recent expansion of NUS’ BLOCK71 ecosystem to Suzhou, we are delighted to strengthen further our ties with Suzhou with the launch of the NUSAIICC. This new NUS AI center, our first in China, will foster deeper scientific and industrial exchange between Singapore and Suzhou, as well as catalyze new technology and breakthroughs that will have an impact on communities in both cities,” Tan added.
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Source: National University of Singapore; Photo: NUS Research Institute .
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