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Dr Ya-Qin Zhang is a renowned scientist, technologist and business executive. He is the founder and Chairman of Blue Entropy LLC, a Seattle-based technology consulting firm. He joined Tsinghua University as the Chair Professor of AI Science in 2020, starting the Tsinghua Institute for AI Industry Research (AIR). Dr Zhang was President of Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) from September 2014 to October 2019, a leading Chinese multinational technology company specialising in Internet-related services, mobility, artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Prior to joining Baidu, he was a key executive of Microsoft Corporation for 16 years, including Corporate Vice President for Mobile and Embedded Products, Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia and Chairman of Microsoft China.

Dr Zhang has made significant contributions to digital media, AI, autonomous driving and cloud computing industries, with over 60 granted US patents, 500

peer-reviewed publications, and numerous contributions to international standards. Dr Zhang was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) in 2019 and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) as the only foreign fellow in 2017, and became a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 1997 at the age of 31, making him the youngest scientist winning this honour in the 100+ year history of the organisation.

Dr Zhang has served on the Board of Directors of Chinasoft International Ltd (HKEX: 354) and AsiaInfo Technologies Ltd (HKEX: 1675). He serves on the Board of Stewardship for the Future of Mobility of the Davos World Economic Forum and Chairman of the Apollo Alliance, the largest open platform for autonomous driving in the world. Dr Zhang received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China, and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from George Washington University.