Lingnan University signs MoU with Shenzhen Das Intellitech to jointly establish international laboratory for AI-driven smart building and carbon neutrality research

The MoU was signed by Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning at Lingnan University, and Mr Li Xinhong, General Manager (Product Division) of Das Intellitech, witnessed by Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computingat Lingnan University; Mr Ernest Chan Chi-man, Vice-President (Administration); and Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research) and J.K. Lee Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence; and Mr Liu Bang, Chairman of Das Intellitech, Ms Jiang Yingping, Head of Overseas Division, and Mr Liu Zeru, Postdoctoral Researcher (National Postdoctoral Research Workstation).

Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, said “Lingnan University has always placed great emphasis on nurturing research-oriented liberal arts talents, and translating knowledge and technology into practical applications that benefit society. This collaboration will enable us to apply AI and IoT technologies in building energy management. Through our joint research efforts, we aim to develop smart building solutions that set new international benchmarks, and support green, low-carbon development in Hong Kong and beyond.”

Mr Liu Bang commented “Das Intellitech, a listed company with many years of experience in smart building and energy management, is joining hands with Lingnan University in this. By integrating the company’s extensive real-world building system data and applications with the University’s research expertise and global perspective, we look forward to developing more efficient AIoT energy optimisation algorithms and emission management solutions contributing to new green smart building standards in the Greater Bay Area.”

Under the MoU, the collaboration will focus on three core areas:

1. The partnership will integrate Lingnan University’s groundbreaking research with Das Intellitech’s cutting-edge technology and industry experience to promote smart building energy-saving and carbon-reduction. The Lingnan University Smart Energy Laboratory at Das Intellitech Building in Shenzhen will serve as a joint platform to conduct research in predictive cooling load management, carbon emission monitoring, and energy optimisation through AIoT technologies. Data-driven approaches will be employed to adopt optimal energy management strategies towards national targets for peak carbon emission by 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2060.

2. The two parties will organise global competitions and academic forums focused on smart buildings, AIoT management, and carbon neutrality, providing platforms for scholars, students, and industry professionals to exchange knowledge and gain practical experience. The collaboration will foster cross-disciplinary talent and produce research-oriented liberal arts graduates specialising in both academic innovation and industrial expertise, thus increasing the number of able professionals available for Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area’s future smart city projects.

3. The collaboration will develop a world-class laboratory in smart building and low-carbon technologies, and plan demonstration projects in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, integrating research, applications, and commercialisation, and strengthening Hong Kong’s international standing in AI and sustainable development research.

In recent years, Lingnan University has conducted interdisciplinary research and innovation projects that address global challenges, and the University research team has achieved numerous feats on the global stage. Entering the 11th Silicon Valley International Inventions Festival (SVIIF) for the first time, Lingnan earned the highest number of medals and gold medals of Hong Kong universities, and also won five awards at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2025, proof of its increasing international success.