Recently the Qingdao Academy of Intelligent Industries, the State Key Laboratory for Management and Control of Complex Systems, and the University of Waterloo signed an agreement to jointly build a world-leading research and development center for artificial intelligence and unmanned vehicles in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. 

The three units plan to invest approximately 75.24 million yuan ($11.89 million) on the project during its five-year construction period, and seek more opportunities to cooperate with other universities and companies as well as seek more sources of scientific funding.

(From left to right) Pearl Sullivan, dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo, Wang Yuefei, president of the Qingdao Academy of Intelligent Industries, Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo and Charmaine Dean, vice president for research at the University of Waterloo ink the cooperation agreement on Feb 21 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. [Photo/dailyqd.com]

Wang Feiyue, president of the Qingdao Academy of Intelligent Industries, and Amir Khajepour, professor of mechanical and mechatronics engineering at the University of Waterloo, will both work as the directors of the center.

Amir also holds the Canada Research Chair in Mechatronic Vehicle Systems, and NSERC/General Motors Industrial Research Chair in Holistic Vehicle Control.

The Qingdao Academy of Intelligent Industries was jointly founded by the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Qingdao National High-tech Industrial Development Zone, and the Qingdao science and technology bureau. The institution holds a leading position in research of big data, social computing, artificial intelligence and knowledge-based design automation system.

Wang Yuefei, president of the Qingdao Academy of Intelligent Industries, gives a lecture on AI and future challenge for intelligent vehicles on Feb 20 at the University of Waterloo. [Photo/dailyqd.com]

The State Key Laboratory of Management and Control for Complex Systems, a research service of the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, focuses on major research directions regarding complex systems and intelligent science, including analysis, modeling, optimization, and management of complex systems that exist in the fields of engineering, society, economy and national defense.

The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive university renowned for science, engineering, mathematics, automotive research and computer science. It was the first unit to receive the permit to test autonomous vehicles in real life situations on public roads in Canada.

(From left to right) Gary Brock, director of Strategic Initiatives at University of Waterloo, Paul Salvini, CEO of the Waterloo Accelerator Centre and vice president of Research Commercialization at University of Waterloo, Wang Yuefei, president of the Qingdao Academy of Intelligent Industries and Amir Khajepour, chairman of Canada Research in Mechatronic Vehicle Systems pose for a photo. [Photo/dailyqd.com]