Recently, the First China-Europe Youth AI Innovation Salon on Structural Engineering (CEYAI-SE 2026) was inaugurated at the School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University.
Centered on the theme “AI-Driven Structural Engineering: From Theory to Practice,” the salon explored frontier applications and emerging prospects for artificial intelligence within structural engineering. Its primary objective was to forge a dynamic platform for exchange among young scholars, educators, and industry stakeholders across China and Europe, thereby nurturing talent, strengthening inter university ties, and catalyzing academic industrial cooperation. The agenda featured a rich array of activities—including keynote addresses, pedagogical sessions, laboratory demonstrations, enterprise visits, and cultural immersion—all carefully curated to deepen mutual understanding and cultivate enduring friendships among a diverse, multinational cohort. The opening session drew over 100 experts and academics, attending either on site or virtually, representing Mainland China, Hong Kong, the UK, Italy, Hungary, the US, and other nations. Prominent European participants included Prof. Stergios Aristoteles Mitoulis (University College London) and Associate Prof. Amedeo Manuello (Polytechnic University of Turin), alongside more than 100 European early career researchers who joined online.
Following the opening ceremony, the salon transitioned into a series of academic exchange sessions, featuring keynote presentations, teaching lectures, youth sharing forums, laboratory visits, corporate tours, and cultural activities. These events emphasized face-to-face interaction between Chinese and European youth, encouraged in-depth dialogue between senior experts and early-career researchers, and promoted the integrated innovation of artificial intelligence and structural engineering. The salon aspires to contribute youth wisdom and international collaborative strength toward building safer, more resilient, low-carbon, and intelligent infrastructure systems for future cities.
Source: School of Civil Engineering, SEU
Translated by: Melody Zhang
Edited by: Leah Li
