Free Rein · Global Youth AI Forum Countdown Begins！
Free Rein · Global Youth AI Forum
Countdown Begins: Global Scholars Gather in Shenzhen for Premier AI Event
The countdown is on for the Free Rein: Global Youth AI Forum! Co-hosted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shenzhen Loop Area Institute, and co-organized by Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society (AIRS), this premier international academic forum will officially commence on March 28–29, 2026, in Shenzhen.
As a cross-sector gathering that merges high-level academic exchange with targeted talent recruitment, the forum will not only bring together cutting-edge insights from the global AI community but also provide exceptional career opportunities for outstanding young scholars with leading institutions. It aims to create a unique three-dimensional interactive platform of Academia, Industry, and Talent.
I. Key Event Information
? Date: March 28–29, 2026
?? Location: Shenzhen
- March 28 Main Venue: Sin Wai Kin International Conference Centre, Administration Building W201, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
- March 29 Main Venue: Auditorium, Shenzhen Loop Area Institute
??? Hosts: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen; Shenzhen Loop Area Institute
Co-Hosts: Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society
Co-Chairs
Professor Yangsheng XU, President, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Professor Zhiquan LUO, Vice President, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen; Executive Dean, Shenzhen Loop Area Institute
Organizing Committee
Jianwei HUANG, Associate Vice President & Presidential Chair Professor, School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Haizhou LI, Dean & X.Q.Deng Presidential Chair Professor, School of Artificial Intelligence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Minghua CHEN, Presidential Chair Professor, School of Data Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Tsung-Hui Chang, Associate Dean & Professor, School of Artificial Intelligence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Jie XU, Assistant Dean & Associate Professor, School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Yanmei ZHU, Ph.D., Dean’s Advisor, Shenzhen Loop Area Institute
Special Guest
Xiaokui Xiao, Deputy Head, Professor, Department of Computer Science, National University of Singapore
Ding Ning, Executive Associate Director, Ph.D., Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society (AIRS)
II. Global Lineup Announced
The forum has confirmed the participation of nearly 100 leading scholars from around the world, representing prestigious universities, top-tier research institutions, and cutting-edge technology companies. This establishes a truly international and multidisciplinary communication matrix:
? Top Universities: Stanford University, University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), National University of Singapore (NUS), ETH Zurich, and more.
? Renowned Institutions & Companies: Microsoft Research Asia, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Meta, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and more.
The research interests of participating scholars span the entire spectrum of AI, including Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing, AI for Science, and other frontier areas. These fields align closely with the strategic development of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shenzhen Loop Area Institute, promising a high-density and dynamic exchange of ideas across disciplines and cultures for global youth.
III. Core Forum Agenda at a Glance
The two-day event balances academic sharing, in-depth communication, and career connections, creating a multi-faceted interactive experience:
- Keynote Speeches: Top scholars share cutting-edge research insights, followed by interactive Q&A sessions.
- Oral Presentations: Quick sharing of special reports, precise and efficient connection of academic networks.
- Poster Sessions: Poster presentations by all attendees, enabling one-on-one in-depth discussions with experts and peers
- Industry-Academia-Research Tour: An immersive experience of the industry-research ecosystem, connecting with local Shenzhen industrial resources and exploring cross-sector collaboration opportunities.
- Targeted Talent Recruitment Session: A dedicated zone featuring consultation booths from six colleges of CUHK-Shenzhen and five centers of Shenzhen Loop Area Institute, providing direct pathways to research and faculty positions to support young scholars' career development:
- CUHK-Shenzhen Booths: School of Science and Engineering, School of Data Science, School of Artificial Intelligence, School of Management and Economics, School of Humanities and Social Science, School of Public Policy (in no particular order).
- Shenzhen Loop Area Institute Booths: Center for Embodied AI and Computer Vision, Center for Scientific and Engineering Intelligence, Center for AI Theory and Systems, Center for Social Intelligence, Center for Language Models and Human-Computer Interaction (in no particular order).
- Private Networking Events: Includes themed lunch and a welcome dinner, offering opportunities for one-on-one in-depth conversations with faculty members to gain comprehensive insights into the academic and research ecosystems of both host institutions.
Note: The final agenda is subject to on-site arrangements.
IV. Why Follow This Event?
Co-hosted by three powerhouse institutions, CUHK-Shenzhen, Shenzhen Loop Area Institute and Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society, and rooted in Shenzhen's dynamic innovation hub, this forum connects global AI resources to provide young scholars with a premier platform for "Visibility, Communication, Collaboration, and Growth":
?? More than Academic Exchange – A Career Launchpad: Engage face-to-face with the heads of top institutions and directly connect with high-quality research and job opportunities.
?? More than Presentations – Deep Connections: Network with nearly 100 leading international scholars in one go, expanding your global academic network.
?? More than Ideas – Capturing Opportunities: Immerse yourself in the AI industry innovation ecosystem of the Greater Bay Area and grasp cutting-edge development prospects.
As the opening day approaches, more exciting details about the forum will be revealed. We sincerely invite scholars, industry professionals, and AI enthusiasts worldwide to stay tuned and witness global youth intelligence Free Rein in Shenzhen!
?? Contact & More Information
Forum updates will be posted continuously. Please follow the official WeChat accounts of the host institutions.
For inquiries, email: [email protected]
About US
About the Hosts
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) inherits CUHK’s profound academic tradition. It currently comprises eight schools: School of Management and Economics, School of Science and Engineering, School of Humanities and Social Science, School of Data Science, School of Medicine, School of Music, School of Public Policy, and School of Artificial Intelligence. With a global outlook, CUHK-Shenzhen deeply engages in AI research, with strengths in robotics and AI, data science and computing, and extensions into interdisciplinary directions such as AI for Science, AI for Medicine, and AI for Social Science—bringing together world-class faculty teams to build an open, diverse, and internationally aligned research ecosystem. More information: www.xha20hl.xyz
Shenzhen Loop Area Institute aims to enhance national core competitiveness in AI and has established a “3I” talent development model: International—bringing together top global scholars and introducing international academic systems and first-class facilities; Interdisciplinary—building a comprehensive discipline system spanning fundamental theory, core technologies, and broad applications; Industrial—promoting industry mentors, training bases, and two-way industry–research collaboration to drive theoretical innovation and application breakthroughs in key areas. More information: www.slai.edu.cn
About the Co-Host
Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society (AIRS) is one of the ten foundational research institutions in Shenzhen, established under the auspices of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. The Institute focuses on cutting-edge fundamental research and key technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and robotics. By bringing together world-class research teams, AIRS builds a comprehensive ecosystem that spans fundamental research, technological innovation, outcome commercialization, and industrial deployment. It promotes the deep application of intelligent technologies in fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, and urban services, contributing to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into a world-class hub for AI and robotics innovation, and supporting the national strategic goal of achieving technological self-reliance and strength. More information: airs.cuhk.edu.cn
Together, the three platforms join forces to create a premier, boundary-free stage for global young AI scholars. You are warmly invited to join us—take AI as your wings, run free without boundaries, and embrace the future.
