From July 8 to 19, the 2025 International Summer School on Risks in New Aviation and New Energy was held at the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University. Organized by the Smart Aviation Center (SAC) of Hangzhou International Innovation Institute (H3I) of Beihang University and co-organized by the International Education Center of H3I, the program brought together more than 80 outstanding students from over 10 leading universities worldwide, including Beihang University, the French Civil Aviation University (ENAC), and the Polytechnic University of Milan. The summer school focused on common risks and challenges and opportunities in innovation in aviation and new energy. Adopting a three-dimensional model that integrates academic discussion, technical training, and cultural immersion, the program aimed to establish a cross-border high-level platform for young students around the world to interact and learn from each other. This will support the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University to advance international education collaboration and cultural exchange.
On the afternoon of July 8, the summer school kicked off at the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University. Zhang Wei, Vice Director of H3I, Frédéric GENTY, the French Dean of Zhongfa Aviation Institute of Beihang University (ZFAI), Wang Xin, a faculty member of SAC, and Yang Nan, a student representative, delivered speeches. As hosts, they warmly welcomed participants and wished the summer school every success.
During the academic discussions, students attended the 2025 International Symposium on Smart Aviation and other cutting-edge academic lectures. Held in parallel with the summer school from July 10 to 11, the symposium was jointly initiated by Beihang University, ENAC, and the Civil Aviation University of China (CAUC). With the theme of “Exploring Innovation, Intelligence, and Integration in Future Air Transport”, the symposium charted the future of space and aviation through 11 keynote speeches and eight special sub-forums. In the keynote report section, speakers shared their unique insights on focal topics such as intelligent civil aviation operation, aviation safety and maintenance, the low-altitude economy, and sustainable development. They were Dou Peng, Director of Operation, Safety and Security Department of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in North Asia; Yang Suili, Chairman of Loongair (Hangzhou) Aviation Maintenance Engineering Co., Ltd.; Lionel MARQUIER, Project Manager of Dassault Systèmes; Professor Christophe HURTER from ENAC; Professor Piero BARALDI from the Polytechnic University of Milan; Gao Lijia, Director of CAUC's Research Institute of Four-Type Airports; Benoit RULLEAU, Co-CEO of Kansai Airports Group; Professor Zeng Zhiguo from Paris-Saclay University; Associate Professor Karim RAGUI; Associate Professor Lu Dan; and Associate Researcher Hu Yang from H3I.
International Symposium on Smart Aviation
During the sub-forums, more than 200 experts and scholars delved into cutting-edge exploration and hands-on experience in the development of smart aviation, covering multiple frontier directions such as smart operation, low-altitude safety supervision, green air traffic control procedures, aviation economy and policies, aviation decarbonization pathways, life-cycle management, and the application of emerging aviation technologies.
In addition, this summer school offered six cutting-edge academic lectures. Professor Pierro Baraldi from Polytechnic University of Milan elaborated on complex system diagnosis and health management techniques; Professor Li Xiaoyang from Beihang University shared multiple types of forward design-for-reliability cases rooted in belief reliability theory; Professor Zeng Zhiguo from Paris-Saclay University explained predictive maintenance using a digital twin case; Professor Patricia Noguera Murray from the Polytechnic University of Valencia introduced the basic concepts and application scenarios for chemical sensors and biosensors; Professor Pedro Yuste from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, reviewed the current progress and hands-on experience in European UAV traffic management; and Professor Tarik Taleb from Ruhr University Bochum analyzed the autonomous deployment and life-cycle management of ultra 5G services enabled by the integration of cloud, networking, and artificial intelligence.
In the section of technical practice, the SAC leveraged its teaching and experimental resources to develop eight experimental and hands-on courses for summer school participants. “Flight Exploration” by Researcher Wang Xin brought participants to a complete flight process by operating general aviation aircraft and Airbus A320 flight simulators; “UAV Swarm Flight Control Experiments” by Associate Professor Zhang Qingyuan and postdoctoral fellow Li Yingyi covered single-UAV and swarm simulations, semi-physical simulations, and live flights; “Digital Safety Testing for Low-altitude Systems” by Associate Professor Lu Dan focused on 3D scenario building, high-density route planning, and real-time obstacle avoidance simulations; “Air Traffic Control” by Associate Professor Yang Junnan led participants to practice air traffic control coordination and conflict detection while introducing the operational process; “Anomaly Detection and Fault Diagnosis Simulations” by Associate Researcher Hu Yang and post-doctor researcher Han Danyang trained participants in PHM frameworks and algorithm design; “Flow-field Characteristics Analysis and Algorithm Design Practice” by Associate Professor Li Binghua used data analysis techniques to help participants accurately identify flow-field characteristics; “Fleet Maintenance and Operation Simulations" by Dr. Wang Yu demonstrated how simulation technologies optimize fleet management through actual cases; and “Real-time UAV Design and Rendering with 3DE” by Yin Yue, a consultant of Dassault Systèmes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform, enabled participants to try 3D modeling and real-time material rendering. These courses deeply integrated theory with practice, enhancing participants' technical application abilities in aviation.
With the support of the Liangzhu Culture Corridor Construction Command, a study tour of “Echoes Across Time – Jade and Civilization” kicked off at the Liangzhu Cultural Corridor during the summer school. Using immersive cultural experience as an ice breaker, the activity enabled young people from all over the world to connect naturally through a dialogue between civilizations.
Inside the Liangzhu Museum, social educators brought antique jade cong (tube-shaped ritual objects), jade bi (discs), and jade yue (axes) to life, gradually unveiling the sacrificial rituals and social structure of the Liangzhu civilization. At the Hangzhou Branch of the National Archives of Publications and Culture and the Collection Hall of A Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings, rare ancient books, bronze ware, and high-definition projections of Song paintings complemented each other, leading visitors to touch the inheritance of Chinese civilization in the flow of time and space.
Visiting the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City
Experiencing AR at the Collection Hall of A Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings
“From the 5,000-year-old city ruins to the brush-and-ink world of Song-dynasty masterpieces, this study tour let me truly feel the resilience and grace of Chinese civilization,” said the student from France with sincere emotion. This ice-breaking study tour with cultural significance has not only narrowed the gap between students from different countries, but also laid a rich cultural foundation for the international exchange during the summer school.
Hangzhou International Campus is located in the Yuhang District. With the profound heritage of the Liangzhu Culture Corridor and the innovation vitality of the “No. 1 digital economic zone in Zhejiang”, Yuhang District converges cultural heritage and technological innovation. Arranged by the United Front Work Department of the CPC Yuhang District Committee, the Overseas Chinese Federation of Yuhang District, and the Yuhang District Committee of China Zhi Gong Party, participants took part in a cultural tour of “Bridging Civilizations, Building Prosperity” and a tech tour of “Smart Future Empowered by Technology”.
On July 12, participants embarked on a cultural tour on the Baicheng Shuttle. In the morning, they walked into the “folds of time” in Baizhang Town. At the Cai Zhizhong Cultural Center, participants appreciated Laozi's profound thinking, Zhuangzi's free spirit, and Confucius' rectitude. Then, they sensed the backbone of classical legend when standing face-to-face with life-size heroes from Water Margin. At the Chuansuo Museum, participants traced the time recorded in 23,000 wooden shuttles. Following the weaver's mnemonic “same hand, same foot”, they wove bamboo strips into fans, letting nature's grain and human warmth merge in the height of summer.
In the afternoon, participants arrived at Zhongtai Community for the experience of traditional craftsmanship. At the Bamboo Flute Museum, they looked up at the magnificence of the 3.2-meter giant flute and enjoyed “My Heart Will Go On” and “Butterfly Lovers” played in harmony across time and space. At the Paper Umbrella Workshop, they learned the 72-step procedure during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. Painting plum blossoms, butterflies, pandas, and cartoon characters on the umbrella surface, they completed a civilized dialogue on the plain and white. At the Flute Art Studio, they used 10-year-old bitter bamboo to make flutes: drawing datum lines, drilling tone holes, and then letting the tender melody of “Two Tigers” flow from their fingertips as the brightest envoy of culture.
Cultural tour of “Bridging Civilizations, Building Prosperity”
On July 16, the tech tour began amid a symphony of technology and culture. In the morning, participants visited the Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City Exhibition Center, feeling the pulse of the digital economy and reading the blueprint of urban digital governance through interactive sand tables and models. At the global headquarters of Cainiao Network, participants moved along robotic arms in intelligent warehouses and the route of unmanned delivery, glimpsing the limitless possibilities of smart logistics. “Amazing” – one word acclaimed by participants – revealed the speed and depth of China's innovation.
Officials attending the launch ceremony included Zhu Youqun, Vice Director of the Standing Committee of the Yuhang District People's Congress and Chairman of the Yuhang District Committee of China Zhi Gong Party; Chen Ao, Full-time Vice Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Federation of Yuhang District; Zhao Aili, a member of the Yuhang District Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC); Du Pengcheng, Vice Director of H3I; Shen Lifen, Vice Director of H3I; Frédéric Genty, the French Dean of ZFAI; and Kang Rui, Chief Scientist of SAC.
In the afternoon, favorable policies provided by Xinqiao Innovation and Entrepreneurship Service Center, a warm harbor, brushed every dream-chaser's heart. The elegance of tea-making in the Song Dynasty highlighted the tour: tea leaves were ground into fragments and soaked in water and the bamboo scraper for cleaning tea vessels brought out the leisure of thousands of years ago. One French participant whispered, “This is a sip of history”, as the oriental aesthetics crossed mountains and seas.
The coach home carried both the awe of technology and the aftertaste of tea. Rather than a walk alone, the tour was a duet of digital technology and culture, a dialogue between the present and the future, and even a seed planted in young hearts. One day, all seeds will sprout into bridges for broader global collaboration.
Time flew. The 2025 International Summer School on Risks in New Aviation and New Energy concluded on the morning of July 19, with a warm and solemn closing ceremony bringing an end to this 12-day journey. Frédéric Genty, the French Dean of ZFAI, Researcher Wang Xin from the SAC, and Professor Tarik Taleb from Ruhr University Bochum got together with Chinese and foreign guests, faculty members, and students. Their eyes were filled with reluctance and satisfaction. The closing ceremony was presided over by Lin Mengting, a master's candidate in the ENAC-ZFAI double-degree program.
In his speech, Frédéric Genty voiced his appreciation for this period of cross-border learning. He witnessed changes in participants: they were reserved when first met, but became familiar before parting; and they were concentrated in the classroom, but active in cultural experience.
ENAC students Marya Youmna MAHDID and Tanguy GUAIS shared their “firsts” in China: making Chinese friends, feeling the warmth of Liangzhu jade cong, and appreciating the oriental rhythms from bamboo flutes. The sincerity and emotion in the words have moved everyone present.
In his thank-you speech on behalf of the faculty, Professor Tarik Taleb praised the students' enthusiasm for learning and called teaching across mountains and seas an honor. Dr. Tao Guocheng, who spoke for class advisers, recalled the hard work for days and nights and the satisfaction when watching the students grow. In his closing remarks, Associate Professor Yu Hao, executive director of the summer school, demonstrated the team's dedication to building the platform and endowed this journey with deeper significance.
When honors such as the “Course Contribution Award”, “Tea Master”, “Paper Umbrella Artist” and “Flute Musician” were announced, the soft gleam of trophies and certificates reflected not only the persistence in academic exploration and the enthusiasm for cultural integration, but also participants who met and were enriched by one another. The program of 12 days may be short, but it enabled young participants from all over the world to forge friendships through the collision of knowledge and plant the seeds of understanding through cultural immersion.
Wang Yupeng, President of Beihang University, and Olivier Chansou, Director-General of ENAC, took a group photo with all summer school students.
Approved by Dong Zhuoning, Zhang Wei, Xu Ran
Edited by Yuan Xiaohui
