Tsinghua University alumni and auto industry luminaries gathered in Santa Clara, California on Tuesday for two events: the Silicon Valley Automotive Industry Technology Symposium and the establishment of a Tsinghua alumni association for auto industry affiliates in North America. Nearly 100 alumni and auto industry elites from California, Michigan, Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen attended the conference.

Consul Jiang Yuhong congratulates the inauguration of the alumni association.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

He said the establishment of the association makes him hopeful for the development and application of "intelligent automobile" technology and the "internet of vehicles".

Generally speaking, the main work of an alumni association is to establish and develop friendships between members, and the group may later hold events for scientific and technological exchanges. Jiang encouraged this association to make efforts in building two kinds of platforms: promoting communication and cooperation in the automotive industry and to promote cooperation between China and America in new automotive fields.

Silicon Valley has long been strong in two sectors of the automotive field, Jiang said. One is clean technology and the other is the development of "intelligent cars". The consulate will facilitate collaboration between China and America in science and technology, the consul said.

Professor Cheng Bo presents research and development in the auto industry by the Department of Automotive Engineering at Tsinghua University.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On behalf of the department of automotive engineering at Tsinghua University, Professor Cheng Bo, head of the Suzhou Automobile Research Institute and deputy director of the State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, discussed the developments and achievements of the university. Specific breakthroughs in new energy, intelligent networks, the automotive industry, systems engineering and industrialization were talked about, as well as research and technology cooperation, industrial applications and business incubation between Tsinghua University and the research institute.

Cheng also mentioned further development in the use of intelligent networks so far, as well as their use for domestic OEMs and universities. The technology has received positive response, Cheng said.

Gong Fengmin discusses intelligent connected vehicles.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Gong Fengmin, dean of the Silicon Valley-based Didi Research Institute, presented on the institute's big data analysis abilities. Gong elaborated on the data pulled from an analysis of traffic patterns, the results of which may contribute to more "intelligent" traffic engineering.

Gong also discussed the security situation for the industry, as well as the potential for open cooperation and ecological progress.

Yang Guang introduces Baidu's Apollo Platform.

A 1994 Tsinghua alumnus from the computer science department, Sun Guang, introduced Baidu's Apollo platform. Guang, chief architect and technical director of the company's Silicon Valley R&D center, discussed the platform's development and its popularization of automatic driving technology.

Professor Zhang Hongjun discusses connected and autonomous vehicles from a transportation engineer’s perspective.

International traffic experts updated attendees on the status of international "smart networking" vehicles. Zhang Hongjun, a University of California - Davis civil and environmental engineering professor, also apprised participants on an intelligent network of automotive research, done from an intelligent traffic point of view.

Tsinghua Alumni Association Deputy Secretary-General Cui Jian presents the flag to NATAAAI President Shang Jin.

On behalf of the Tsinghua Alumni Association, Deputy Secretary-General Cui Jian announced the establishment of the North American Tsinghua Alumni Association of Automotive Industry, expressing hopes the association can make efforts to continue overseas industry alumni exchange and further development.

Members of the North American alumni association hold the inauguration banner.

To solemn, warm applause, Cui gave a banner announcing the establishment of the association to the North American group's president, Shang Jin.

With the rapid development of new energy sources and intelligent network technology for vehicles, the automotive industry and its core technologies have become hot topics in Silicon Valley research and attracted a large talent pool.

The establishment of the North American alumni association will provide a more convenient platform for discussion by alumni in the auto industry, and further promote communication and cooperation between groups and scientists in this field.