At the opening ceremony, Prof. John Zhou, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at UNNC, delivered a warm welcome to guests from around the world and highlighted the crucial role of engineering design in addressing global challenges. This was followed by opening remarks from Prof. Christos Spitas, Head of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering. He emphasized how multidisciplinary integration, intelligent tools, and emerging materials are rapidly reshaping engineering design, and encouraged young researchers to boldly pursue innovative problem-solving in practice.

The plenary session unfolded with a series of powerful talks and fresh insights.

Prof. Christos I. Papadopoulos from the National Technical University of Athens opened the session with a talk on hybrid digital twin technologies for marine shaftline and bearing prognostics, showcasing recent breakthroughs in maritime engineering. The second plenary session featured Prof. Roham Rafiee from the University of Tehran, who presented an industrial solution for predicting long-term composite pipe performance from limited experimental data—sparking further discussion on intelligent prediction and materials reliability.

Prof. Guanyun Wang from Zhejiang University explored the potential of smart materials in product innovation design, illustrating the transformative force of materials science in next-generation engineering. Prof. Xipei Ren from the University of Macau followed with a data-enabled approach to smart health innovation, underscoring the importance of integrating data pipelines, user needs, and clinical contexts in medical product development.

To celebrate outstanding young researchers, Prof. Christos Spitas also presented the Excellent Paper and Showcase Awards, recognizing students who demonstrated exceptional performance in engineering design research.

During the group photo and networking session, participants from industry, academia and research institutes exchanged ideas and explored potential collaborations, fostering an atmosphere that was both vibrant and inspiring.

Four Parallel Sessions · Multi-Field Insights · Innovation in Full Bloom

In the afternoon, four parallel sessions ran simultaneously. These sessions showcased the breadth of engineering research and the future trajectory of interdisciplinary integration.

Thermofluids Session

Chaired by Dr. Shanshan Long and Prof. Yong Ren, this session focused on key topics in aerospace, energy systems, and electronic thermal management. Presentations covered ultrasonic atomization micro-propulsion, sustainable aerospace propulsion strategies, microfluidic photocatalytic pollutant degradation, high-efficiency cold plate design, phase-change thermal management, and more—delivering deep interdisciplinary inspiration.

Product Design & Manufacturing Session

Chaired by Dr. Bingjian Liu, this session spotlighted smart health technologies, wearable biosensors, human–machine interaction, and socially driven design. Talks ranged from flexible biosensor-based wearable health monitoring to driver distraction assessment, AI-assisted behavioral interventions, air-haptic interfaces, and socially assistive robots—highlighting design research that blends technological innovation with human-centered care.

Dynamical Systems & Control Session

Chaired by Dr. Dunant Halim and Dr. Chung Ket Thein, the session covered motion control, unmanned systems, maritime detection, aircraft modeling, and energy harvesting. Topics included precision motion control, Formula Student engineering practice, sonar-based 3D reconstruction, underwater thruster configuration optimization, Simulink-based aircraft modeling, and vibration transfer mechanisms—showcasing dynamic systems innovations with broad industrial relevance.

Materials & Structures Session

Chaired by Dr. Alireza Pak and Prof. Hao Chen, this session explored structural optimization, advanced manufacturing, laser processing, composite recycling, and biomedical materials. Presentations covered functionally graded structures, customized pharmaceutical tablets, alloy laser processing mechanisms, composite cellular structure optimization, CFRP recycling pathways, ballistic milling improvement, vibration attenuation using acoustic black holes, high-temperature oxidation studies, and an engineering career journey shared by an industry guest.

The UNNC Robot Olympics and Cloud Competition: Drone Football Obstacle Race drew enthusiastic participation from student teams, showcasing creativity in robot control, drone maneuvering, and intelligent system design. The Sustainable Design Showcase presented innovative projects on green technologies, eco-materials, and future urban living—reflecting students’ interdisciplinary creativity and strong sense of social responsibility.

Hands-on workshops, including introductions to VR/AR applications, APP development, FabLab manufacturing practice, and sketch design, provided immersive opportunities for participants to explore engineering design through making, prototyping, and visualization.

These events not only created a platform for creativity and exchange but also highlighted the essential role of experiential learning and industry-academia collaboration in engineering education.

With high-quality plenary talks, in-depth thematic discussions, dynamic competitions, and hands-on workshops, CSIAED 2025 once again served as an international platform connecting academia, industry, and government. The exchange of ideas across multiple domains broadened participants’ perspectives and injected fresh momentum into future innovation, research translation, and industrial application.

As global engineering challenges continue to evolve, UNNC remains committed to openness, collaboration, and innovation. We will continue to advance cutting-edge research in advanced engineering design, strengthen interdisciplinary integration, and work with global partners to explore greener, smarter, and more efficient engineering solutions. Together, we aim to nurture future engineers with international competitiveness and contribute meaningfully to technological progress and societal development.