Webinar on Artificial Intelligence in the rail sector in China and Europe: opportunities and challenges
22 January 2026 - 09.00-12.00 CET / 16.00-19.00 CST China
Motivation and Background
The global railway sector is undergoing a profound transformation driven by digitalization, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analytics. Both China and Europe are pioneers in rail technology, yet they often approach innovation from different perspectives shaped by their unique operational, cultural, and regulatory environments. This workshop aims to create a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and scientific collaboration between Chinese and European stakeholders. The event aims at fostering mutual understanding, identify shared challenges, and explore opportunities for co-innovation in the scientific community that can shape the future of sustainable and intelligent rail mobility.
Organising Committee
The European organizing committee is composed of Eurnex and UIC, with support from Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU) in China. The committee brings together representatives from leading universities, railway operators, infrastructure managers, and research institutes across Europe and China, ensuring that the discussions reflect a wide spectrum of expertise and perspectives.
Agenda
The workshop will present the status of AI in rail sector in both China and Europe. Next, opportunities and challenges will be jointly discussed during the panel discussion. The speakers will focus on different expertise fields:
09.00 Welcome address
Representatives from Eurnex, Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU) and UIC
09.10 Speakers China
- Prof. Liping Jing (Beijing Jiaotong University) – Exploring AI in railways
- Dr. Ping Li (China Academy of Railway Sciences) – The Innovation and Development of Intelligent High-Speed Railway in China
- Prof. Guoqing Jing (Beijing Jiaotong University) – AI and Automation for railway engineering in China
- Q&A session
10.15 Speakers Europe
- Dr. Francesco Flammini (SUPSI) – From automation to autonomy in intelligent train control and smart-railways
- Dr. Kenza Harkouken Saiah (Alstom) – Enhancing railway efficiency, sustainability, and reliability through trustworthy AI for predictive maintenance and energy
- Johan Jonsson (Trafikverket) - Topic to be confirmed
- Q&A session
11.20 Panel discussion
Featuring all previous speakers and moderated by UIC
11.50-12.00 Wrap-up and conclusion
By Eurnex / UIC