The “AI for Sustainable Future” Competition, hosted by the United Nations Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development in Ningbo (RCE Ningbo), has concluded. Two projects from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC)—“Photovoltaic Power Generation and Grid Optimisation Dispatch System” and “Otter Tide Initiative”—emerged from nearly 100 entries to win second and third prizes respectively, with the latter also receiving the Popular Choice Award. Dr Jonghwi Park, Academic Programme Officer and the Head of Innovation and Education at the United Nations University, served as a judge and commended UNNC students for their strong capability in applying AI to real-world challenges.
RCE Ningbo, the tenth United Nations University-accredited centre of its kind in China, leverages UNNC’s academic and research strengths to advance collaborative innovation across industry, academia and research in sustainable development. The centre aims to deliver demonstrable impact, support Ningbo’s deeper engagement with global sustainability initiatives, and accelerate the city’s green and international transition—while distilling locally grounded practices into globally relevant “Ningbo experience”. It also provides students with hands-on opportunities to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
A defining feature of the competition was its emphasis on real-world problem-solving. The “Otter Tide Initiative” addressed ecological and economic challenges surrounding the Eurasian otter population on Ningbo’s Jintang Island. Through field research, the team identified key issues including limited genetic diversity, reliance on government funding for conservation, and an underdeveloped cultural tourism sector.
By integrating AI-driven cultural branding with an educational app, the project proposes a sustainable model that links conservation, community engagement and tourism. Revenue generated through cultural tourism is designed to support scientific research and incentivise local participation, forming a resilient cycle of “tourism–research–conservation”.
The competition also highlighted UNNC students’ interdisciplinary strengths. Dr Park noted that finalist teams combined technical expertise with commercial awareness,and highlighted the photovoltaic optimisation project for its potential to scale from campus-based applications to wider urban energy systems. This reflects the university’s continued focus on embedding AI and sustainability within its curriculum and experiential learning.
“Through this competition, we have brought together students from different universities, mobilising regional youth to work collectively towards a sustainable future. These student-led projects translate cutting-edge artificial intelligence into practical solutions—precisely the kind of innovation our region and our planet urgently need,” said Professor Dai Jing, Chair Professor of Sustainable Operations and Technology Management at UNNC and Director of Centre for Responsible Business and Innovation (CRBI) and RCE Ningbo.
Published on 28 April 2026