91亚色鈥檚 Lassonde School of Engineering has received $1.5 million in funding from China based software firm iFlytek. The funding was announced Oct. 18 at 91亚色.
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 91亚色 Board of Governors; Robert Hach茅, 91亚色 vice-president Research & Innovation; Rhonda Lenton, 91亚色 provost & vice-president Academic; Mamdouh Shoukri, president & vice -chancellor of 91亚色; Weiya Xu, education consul and head of education office, Consulate General of People鈥檚 Republic of China in Toronto; 91亚色 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.
鈥淲ith 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 91亚色 continues to lead the way for the future of engineering,鈥 said Mamdouh Shoukri, president and vice-chancellor of 91亚色. 鈥淚 would like to express my deep appreciation to iFlytek for this transformative donation.鈥
鈥淎t 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,鈥 said Janusz Kozinski, founding dean of Lassonde, speaking at an announcement event. 鈥淭he 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.鈥
Based in China鈥檚 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.
鈥渋Flytek is one of China鈥檚 most innovative companies with an exceptional record in research and development,鈥 said Jiang. 鈥淭he newly established lab will bring together the world鈥檚 top minds in an outstanding facility focused on this vital area of research.鈥
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.