At the opening ceremony, Professor Xu Sun from Product Design and Manufacture programme and Professor Christos Spitas from Aerospace Engineering programme at the UNNC delivered brief welcome speeches, emphasizing the importance of innovation-driven transformation in engineering design. They pointed out that a design strategy that combines creativity with scientific precision is key to addressing today's complex engineering challenges. The symposium's themes covered a range of areas, including new materials and their properties, structural design, power systems, sensing and actuation, control systems, manufacturing methods, and user-centered design, fully showcasing the broad application and future development direction of advanced engineering design.

During the keynote speeches at the symposium, several renowned scholars shared their research findings. Dr Hao Zhang from Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, with his expertise in additive manufacturing technology, delved into the development of advanced heat sinks for high-power chips. Subsequently, Professor Loh Ai Poh from the National University of Singapore shared her profound thoughts on addressing today's global challenges. She emphasized the key role of engineering design in solving these issues and explored how to develop sustainable solutions through innovative thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration. She also stressed the importance of students recognizing the value of project-based learning during their higher education. Professor Christos Spitas, an authority in the field of aerospace, shared his latest research on the optimization of aircraft system architectures. He elaborated on how modern technologies, particularly advanced computational methods and materials science, can be utilized to enhance the performance and safety of aircraft. Finally, Professor Yung-Kang Shen, from Taipei Medical University delivered a fascinating lecture on "Surface Treatment Technology of Ti6Al4V Alloy." He detailed the significance of this technology in improving the performance of the alloy and extending its service life, as well as its potential impact on medical implants and other demanding applications.

At noon, five parallel sessions kicked off simultaneously, each focusing on different themes. Over 20 talented doctoral students and outstanding seniors showcased the latest research findings from their respective research groups. Concurrently, four professors from UNNC led four engaging workshops in the fields of mechanical engineering, industrial design, and aerospace engineering. They engaged in deep conversations with students, sharing their profound insights and extensive experience, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present. These academic activities not only created a rich scholarly atmosphere but also greatly inspired students to think deeply and actively explore future research directions.

In the afternoon, a series of engaging panel discussions and lectures continued. Mr Huang Li, the Technical Director of Barghest (Shanghai) Environmental Technology Co., Ltd., shared his experimental research on boron-doped diamond electrodes in aquatic ecosystem restoration, further expanding the attendees' understanding of boron-doped diamonds. Concurrently, Dr Paulo Debiagi, an Assistant Professor in Renewable Energy and Energy Storage, CBI Green Chemicals and Energy Centre, delved into the pivotal role of waste in the circular economy and how to transform waste into reusable energy and material resources. He shared his profound insights into the circular economy and discussed how to effectively integrate these resources in the design process to promote sustainable development and innovation. Finally, Professor Christos Spitas took the stage again to share his deep insights on "The Dialectics of Design from Plato to the Modern Era," emphasizing the evolution of design concepts and their significance in practice. These enlightening presentations not only broadened the students' horizons but also provided valuable guidance for their academic explorations and practical endeavors.

This symposium successfully established a communication bridge between academia and industry, fostering in-depth collaboration between the two sectors. By showcasing cutting-edge research findings and innovative design approaches, CSIAED 2024 aims to have a broad impact in the field of advanced engineering design, promoting exchange and cooperation among global engineering design scholars and practitioners, and jointly advancing the industry.

At this symposium, UNNC has further solidified its leading position in the international academic community with its outstanding pursuit in research and development. Faced with the growing global demand for sustainable development and smart engineering solutions, UNNC is committed to continuing to lead innovation and cooperation in the field of engineering design. We are dedicated to integrating greener, smarter, and more efficient solutions into future engineering practices to address global challenges and promote technological progress and environmental sustainability.