"AI-Driven New Paradigm in Materials Science: Cross-Disciplinary Integration as a Powerful Engine for Transformative Change." The Zhongrong Interdisciplinary Forum on AI was held at Harbin Institute of Technology

On June 14, 2026, the Zhongrong Interdisciplinary Forum on AI was held at the Auditorium of the International Conference Center, HIT Science Park. The forum was hosted by the Degree Evaluation Sub-Committee of the Intelligent Science and Technology Discipline at Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), and co-organized by the School of Materials Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Computing. Co-Chairs of the Organizing Committee included Professor Xu Jie, Vice Dean of the School of Materials Science and Engineering, and Professor Che Wanxiang from the Faculty of Computing.

Themed AI for Materials, the forum brought together over 220 academicians, experts, young faculty members, and graduate students from institutions including HIT, National University of Defense Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, and Shanghai AI Laboratory. Participants gathered to explore new paradigms, methodologies, and pathways for the deep integration of artificial intelligence and materials science.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Huang Lujun, Party Secretary of the School of Materials Science and Engineering. Professor Liu Ting, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee and Vice President of HIT, attended the opening ceremony and delivered an address.

Professor Leng Jinsong, an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) from HIT, delivered the keynote speech titled Embodied Intelligence: Smart Materials and Artificial Intelligence. Currently, artificial intelligence is accelerating the reshaping of research paradigms, and AI for Science has become a focal point of global technological competition. Materials research and development are shifting from the traditional trial-and-error approach to an intelligent driving model characterized by data + models + automated experiments. This forum serves as a vital practical initiative to advance the implementation of AI for Materials and promote deep interdisciplinary synergy.

Professor Liu Ting, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee and Vice President of HIT, attended the opening ceremony and delivered an address.

Professor Leng Jinsong, an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) from Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), delivered a plenary report.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Huang Lujun, Party Secretary of the School of Materials Science and Engineering.

The invited report session was co-chaired by Professor Zhang Weinan, Executive Dean of the School of Artificial Intelligence at HIT, and Professor Song Xiaoguo, Dean of the School of Materials Science and Engineering.

During this session, experts delivered plenary invited reports focusing on cutting-edge directions such as materials science knowledge feeding back into AI, agentic scientific discovery, intelligent operating systems for materials, atomic-scale microstructural analysis, causal reasoning modeling with small data, AI research cockpits, and autonomous evolving research agents. The speakers included Professor Fu Huadong from University of Science and Technology Beijing, a recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars; Researcher Bai Lei, Young Scientist at Shanghai AI Laboratory; Researcher Wang Shanshan from National University of Defense Technology, a National Young Talent; Chairman Cao Ronggen from Hongzhiwei Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; Researcher Yu Jian from Tianmushan Laboratory; Professor Zhu Liping from Donghua University, a National Young Talent; and Professor Che Wanxiang from HIT, a National Young Talent. Covering fundamental theories, algorithmic models, platform tools, and typical applications, these reports highlighted the latest advancements and development trends in the interdisciplinary field of AI and materials science.

The invited report session was chaired by Professor Zhang Weinan, Executive Dean of the School of Artificial Intelligence. 

 The invited report session was also chaired by Professor Song Xiaoguo, Dean of the School of Materials Science and Engineering

deliver a plenary report

deliver a plenary report

Looking ahead, the School of Materials Science and Engineering at HIT will continue to rely on the interdisciplinary platform of Intelligent Science and Technology, deepen the integrated innovation of AI + Materials, and actively deploy new paradigms driven by AI for materials R&D. The School is committed to comprehensively upgrading materials science research and engineering applications toward an intelligent model characterized by precise design and efficient validation.