York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering has received $1.5 million in funding from China based software firm iFlytek. The funding was announced Oct. 18 at York University.
The funding will support technology research led by Professor Hui Jiang in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Above: From left, Paul Tsparis, member of the York University Board of Governors; Robert Haché, York vice-president Research & Innovation; Rhonda Lenton, York provost & vice-president Academic; Mamdouh Shoukri, president & vice -chancellor of York University; Weiya Xu, education consul and head of education office, Consulate General of People’s Republic of China in Toronto; York U Professor Hui Jiang; Yu Hu, senior vice-president & director of iFLYTEK Research; Janusz Kozinski, founding dean, Lassonde School of Engineering; Wade Hall, assistant vice-president, Development, Division of Advancement; and Han Wenjin, vice consul, education office, Consulate General of People's Republic of China in Toronto.
“With this generous donation, our Lassonde School of Engineering will continue on the path of innovative education, demonstrating the growing diversity of our research and curriculum, and ensuring that York University continues to lead the way for the future of engineering,” said Mamdouh Shoukri, president and vice-chancellor of York University. “I would like to express my deep appreciation to iFlytek for this transformative donation.”
“At Lassonde we partner without borders. We seek out the brightest and the best from around the world to work with us on critical global challenges,” said Janusz Kozinski, founding dean of Lassonde, speaking at an announcement event. “The combined efforts of iFlytek and Lassonde will establish a new research powerhouse for artificial neural networks with enormous potential to generate new and unexpected discoveries.”
Based in China’s Anhui Province, iFlytek is a speech-recognition software developer that offers voice-based Internet and mobile products in the education, communication, music and intelligent toy industries, as well as e-governance.
The funding will create the iFlytek Laboratory for Neural Computing and Machine Learning (iNCML) as well as a professorship position to lead research in this field at Lassonde.
“iFlytek is one of China’s most innovative companies with an exceptional record in research and development,” said Jiang. “The newly established lab will bring together the world’s top minds in an outstanding facility focused on this vital area of research.”
The partnership was officially announced at a ceremony in the Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence, the home of the Lassonde School of Engineering, followed by the formal opening of the iNCML.