On 9 October, Instituto Superior Técnico and China University of Petroleum (CUPB) signed an agreement to create the ‘AI for Climate and Energy’ laboratory. The ceremony took place at Alameda campus, in the Main Building’s meeting room, in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador to Portugal, Zhao Bentang.
The collaboration between the two institutions began in 2014. “This protocol is a milestone in our partnership,” said CUPB Vice-President Bao Zhidong. In addition to the joint ‘AI for Climate and Energy’ laboratory, Liao Zonghu, who is leading this project alongside Leonardo Azevedo, a professor at Técnico and president of the Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente (CERENA), also emphasised the goals of establishing a Forum for Economic Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, as well as an International Forum on Clean Energy.
‘This initiative will strengthen our joint efforts in education and research in carbon neutrality and the future of technology, which will contribute to the global fight against climate change’, said Bao Zhidong, referring to the partnership with Técnico. Regarding Técnico, the CUPB leader emphasised the ‘various research units’ and the ‘strong emphasis on international cooperation’.
Leonardo Azevedo sees this project as the consolidation of ‘a long-standing relationship between the Department of Engineering in Mineral and Energy Resources at Técnico and the China University of Petroleum-Beijing. The main objective of the new institute is to create new methodologies, based on spatial data science and artificial intelligence, which will improve understanding of the Earth’s complex systems, such as climate and energy resources.’
The Chinese ambassador described the agreement as a ‘win-win’ collaboration in the field of energy. Zhao Bentang pointed out that ‘everyone should have access to the energy they can afford’ and that climate change is a ‘common concern around the world’. ‘Science has no borders and innovation has no limits,’ he concluded.
The president of Técnico, Rogério Colaço, took the opportunity to present the school and its historical context.
