On the morning of July 14, 2026, the opening ceremony of the SMILES 2026 International Machine Learning Summer School was successfully held at Nanjing University Suzhou Campus. Guests attending the ceremony included Jiang Tian, Assistant to the President of Nanjing University and Executive Deputy Director of the Suzhou Campus Management Committee; Evgeny Burnaev, Vice President for Artificial Intelligence Development at Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), Director of the Skoltech AI Center, and Academic Director of the SMILES Summer School; Dai Wangzhou, Associate Dean of the School of Intelligence Science and Technology at Nanjing University; Alexey Zaytsev, Director of the SMILES Summer School and Head of the Skoltech–Sberbank Applied Research Laboratory at the Skoltech AI Center; Ivan Tyukin, Head of the Laboratory of Reliable, Adaptive and Trustworthy AI at Skoltech; Alexander Korotin, Head of the Generative AI Research Group at Skoltech; Aleksandra Pereletova, Head of Special Projects and Key Initiatives at Alfa Bank; Alexey Belov, Head of Academic Programs and Partnerships at Alfa Bank; and Guo Lingbing, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at the School of Intelligence Science and Technology, Nanjing University. Nearly 130 young students and faculty members from universities both in China and abroad participated in the event. The opening ceremony was hosted by Zeng Zheni, Assistant to the Dean of the School of Intelligence Science and Technology, Nanjing University.
The SMILES 2026 International Machine Learning Summer School is jointly organized by Nanjing University and Skoltech, and co-hosted by the School of Intelligence Science and Technology, the National Excellent Engineers College, and the Graduate School of Nanjing University. The summer school focuses on cutting-edge developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence, with a particular emphasis on the theme of "AI for Engineering." It aims to foster in-depth collaboration between Chinese and Russian universities in talent development, academic research, and technological innovation through international curricula, research projects, and cross-cultural exchanges.
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Jiang Tian delivered a welcome speech on behalf of Nanjing University. He reviewed the expanding cooperation and achievements between China and Russia in the fields of education, science and technology, and culture, and emphasized that universities bear an important mission in promoting scientific and technological innovation and cultivating future talent. The hosting of this summer school reflects the shared vision of both sides to deepen collaboration in academic research, scientific cooperation, and the international development of young talent. He encouraged the participating students to make the most of this opportunity, actively engage in coursework and research projects, openly share their research ideas, and broaden their international perspectives. He urged them to explore with curiosity, confront challenges with courage, and achieve success through collaboration—committing themselves to innovation in artificial intelligence so that technological progress can better serve the development of society.
In his speech, Evgeny Burnaev noted that the SMILES Summer School has now been held for seven consecutive years. After its debut outside Russia last year in Harbin, it has returned to China again this year—marking a new phase of normalized and institutionalized cooperation in artificial intelligence between Chinese and Russian universities. He pointed out that the boundaries between AI and fundamental sciences as well as engineering applications are rapidly converging. The development of AI is rooted in disciplines such as mathematics, statistics, biology, and geophysics, while also becoming a key tool for addressing frontier scientific challenges and complex industrial needs. Facing the opportunities and challenges brought by rapid model iteration, this year's summer school focuses not only on continuous performance breakthroughs but also on core issues such as reliability, transparency, and practicality. He expressed the hope that over the next two weeks, participants would ask bold questions, engage in rich exchanges, and—through the collision of different cultural backgrounds and perspectives—identify new research problems and build new collaborations.
Dai Wangzhou delivered a speech on behalf of the School of Intelligence Science and Technology. He noted that this is the first time Nanjing University Suzhou Campus has welcomed such a large-scale international student cohort. The successful hosting of this event not only reflects the campus's growing international influence but also places higher demands on academic exchange and support services. He reviewed the long-standing tradition of deep exchanges between China and Russia in mathematics, physics, and engineering education, and shared from his own experience at a machine learning summer school that the inspiration drawn from a high-level academic event often continues to shape the future research directions of young scholars. He put forward three expectations for the participants: first, to cherish this valuable learning opportunity and fully engage in coursework and research projects; second, to be bold in innovation and leadership—not content with following established paths, but to ask new questions and explore new approaches; and third, to go beyond the classroom, foster mutual understanding through academic exchange, and become young practitioners of Sino-Russian friendship. Finally, he expressed his gratitude to the Skoltech team, the relevant units at the university, and all the staff for their contributions to the event.
Alexey Zaytsev introduced the organizational arrangements and program features of this year's summer school. He noted that the participating students are outstanding undergraduates and postgraduates selected from leading Chinese and Russian universities. The summer school offers not only high-level cutting-edge courses but also team-based research projects, poster sessions, final presentations, and award ceremonies. The research project is the core component of the entire program, allowing participants to experience the complete research cycle—from proposing questions and testing ideas to producing research outputs under the guidance of their mentors. Many previous participants have successfully published their project outcomes in academic journals, and he expressed his hope that this year's cohort will also generate meaningful and sustainable research results.
Alexey Belov spoke on behalf of Alfa Bank, the summer school's general partner. He noted the bank's programs for young talents, including scholarships and curriculum support, and reaffirmed its commitment to AI education. He highlighted the potential for Sino-Russian cooperation in fintech and encouraged students to take charge of their futures and use innovation to build a smarter world.
Student representative Sang Shijie spoke about the rapid advances in AI and the growing challenges of reliability and practical impact. He said the summer school offers more than lectures—it gives students the chance to learn research by doing, through real projects with all their trials and revisions. He encouraged participants to embrace diverse perspectives, exchange ideas openly, and turn cross-cultural encounters into lasting friendships and futurecollaborations.
This year's summer school highlights a training model that combines "cutting-edge courses with real research projects." Over the next two weeks, experts from China and abroad will deliver lectures and lead discussions on topics including large language models, generative AI, model uncertainty, computer vision, medical AI, multi-agent systems, and safe and reliable AI. Participants will form cross-cultural research teams and, under the guidance of their mentors, complete the full research cycle—from problem formulation and experimental design to result analysis and presentation. Their work will be shared through poster sessions and final presentations, offering opportunities for direct academic exchange with experts.
Following the opening ceremony, all faculty members and participants gathered for a group photo. The summer school will further strengthen the ties between Nanjing University, Skoltech, and their industry partners in the field of artificial intelligence, bridging high-quality educational resources, cutting-edge research questions, and real-world industrial needs. It also aims to build a broader platform for nurturing young AI talent with global vision, innovative capacity, and a collaborative spirit.
