2022 U-Corp Fall Symposium: Learning from the REAL World; Learning with the REAL World; Learning for the REAL World

Autumn is coming to an end, and the seven projects launched by U-Corp also embrace their harvest season. This symposium is not only the ultimate challenge for project participants, but also a precious opportunity to present their insightful results. With the combined support between InE and cooperated companies/organizations, participants could conduct in-depth research in fields they are interested in and provide new directions for the upward development of companies/organizations.

U-Corp is the abbreviation of the Duke Kunshan University-Corporation Innovation Lab, a co-innovation platform that connects innovative organizations/companies with the vibrant DKU research and entrepreneurial community. The goal is to provide DKU students with the opportunity to master industry-proven innovation research methodologies through productive practice and co-creation projects with companies. Meanwhile, the projects also offer cooperative enterprises with forward-looking insights and innovative solutions.

During this symposium, students will present their projects, including identifying the research questions, developing practical strategies for retrieving, analyzing, and interpreting data, and developing instructive insights under 7-8 weeks of supervision. More importantly, attendees will also be able to exchange critical ideas with our invited advisors and broader audience during the symposium.

• 8:50AM–9:00AM
  Brief Introduction about U-Corp
  Host:
  Liqi Ren Ph.D.
  Associate Director of DKU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative

• 9:00AM-10:00AM
  Understand and Engage Creative Practitioners/Entrepreneurs in China
  U-Corp @ Knitup
  Members:
  Soyoltuya Enkhbayar (Leader), Muhammad Ajlal, Wenqing Pan, Jiaxin Wang
  Advisor:
  Martin Daffner
  Founder of Innobrix
  Dorothy Pun
  VP of Digital Commerce at Cobalt Fashion and Founder of Knitup.io

• 10:00AM-11:00AM
  Operation for NGO Project: Supporting the Rural Education Development
  U-Corp @ Huochai Box
  Members:
  Jiaxin Shi (Leader), Xiaoxi Liu, Tianyu Xu
  Advisor:
  Shuaishuai
  Founder of Huochai Box Charity Group
  Aiki
  Operation Specialist of Huochai Box Charity Group
  

• 11:00AM-12:00PM
  An Investigation on the Consumption Behaviors of Blue-collar Workers in Kunshan
  U-Corp @ 我的打工
  Members：
  Jiaying Li (Leader), Ziqi Li, Yifei Luo
  Advisor:
  Kuanhu Xiang
  Director of I-nci² Research Institute
  Tao Jiang
  Senior Manager of 我的打工网 Marketing Team
  Operation Specialist of I-nci² Research Institute

• 12:00PM– 1:00PM
  Lunch Break & Group Photo

• 1:00PM-2:00PM
  Investigate and Enhance the Experience of Chinese Female Young Adults in Sports
  U-Corp @ Nike
  Members:
  Yifei Tang (Leader), Xinhe Li, GuangZhi Su
  Advisor:
  Martin Daffner
  Founder of Innobrix
  Ou Garrie
  Greater China Women’s Insights Director

• 2:00PM-3:00PM
  Food Safety and Nutritional Study of Left-behind Children
  U-Corp @ Synear
  Members:
  Dong Ding (Leader), Wenxing Dong, Taya Rozenshtey, Jiayu Gao
  Advisor:
  Yuanwei Shi
  Public Affairs Manager of Synear Food Group

• 3:00PM-4:00PM
  The Trajectory of Quantum Computation in China
  U-Corp @ World Economic Forum (Quantum Computation)
  Members:
  Jinchen Zhao (Leader), Edessa Sahin, Hanyang Zhou, Yihuan Wang
  Advisor:
  Grigory Shutko
  Quantum Computing Global Future Council-Manager
  World Economic Forum
  Ziqiao Wang
  Business Engagement Lead, Greater China
  World Economic Forum

• 4:00PM-5:00PM
  Tea Break

• 5:00PM-6:00PM
  Driving the Data: The Emerging Role of the Chief Digital Officers
  U-Corp @ World Economic Forum (Chief Digital Officer)
  Members:
  Yifei Yang (Leader), Soukaina El Adraoui, Yingtong Liu, Bouchra Daddaoui
  Advisor:
  Davide Del Ben
  Community Specialist, Data and Digital Transformation
  World Economic Forum
  Ziqiao Wang
  Business Engagement Lead, Greater China
  World Economic Forum

In Fall 2022, DKU InE collaborated with six companies/organizations on seven projects covering a wide range of topics, including supporting rural education development, an investigation of the consumption behaviors of blue-collar workers, the trajectory of quantum computation in China, the emerging role of chief digital officers (CDO), investigate and enhance the experience of Chinese female young adults in sports, understand and engage creative practitioners/entrepreneurs in China, and the food safety and nutritional study of left-behind children. To enrich students’ research experience, InE team led several field studies, allowing students to gain first-hand data in the real world. Illuminating observations and perceptions can be generated from the REAL world, which will benefit the REAL world for its future trajectories.

Before this project, my learning method had been to keep digging into abstract concepts. In the process of cooperating with the World Economic Forum, we analyzed the development of the entire quantum computing industry from a macro perspective of “stakeholders”. While the boundaries of human knowledge are being broadened by researchers, an emerging industry also needs “leaders” like the World Economic Forum to guide the direction of development and promote multilateral cooperation. This made me think more deeply about my future postgraduate studies and how to establish my individual development.

——U-Corp @ WEF (QC)  Jinchen Zhao

We used questionnaires and field research to understand blue-collar workers’ living environment, consumption concepts, consumption plans, and impulse consumption behaviors, etc. We also used Python and Statistics methods to process the data we collected. Over the past seven weeks, the biggest gain is to know the methods of conducting social research, the strategies for interviews, and the methods of data analysis.

——U-Corp @ 我的打工网 Ziqi Li

What we are studying is the development of quantum technology in China, which is a very grand topic, but it is through U-Corp’s project that we can get close to the horizon beyond our daily life, and be inspired to explore, perceive, understand, and practice different things.

——U-Corp @ WEF (QC) Hanyang Zhou

In this U-Corp project, as the group leader, it is necessary to arrange team members’ work in advance, organize and coordinate field investigations. I fully practiced my leadership, organizing and coordinating skills.

——U-Corp @ 思念 Dong Ding