On January 11, 2026, the “HIT-Cambridge-Oxford (HIT-Cam-Ox) Cup” Ice Dragon Boat International Friendship Race and China-UK Youth Cultural Exchange Week: China-UK Youth Forum, hosted by the School of Future Technology at Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), was successfully held at the HIT International Campus Smart Hub. Focusing on the theme of “Winter Sports and Technological Innovation,” this event provided a high-quality international platform that integrated technological exchange and cultural experiences for young people from China and the UK.

During the keynote speech session, Ms. Zhang Hong, a member of the International Olympic Committee, Director of the HIT Olympic Research Center, and Winter Olympics champion, delivered a speech titled My Olympic Journey. Combining her multifaceted experience as an athlete and her current role in international sports organizations, she vividly explained the deep integration of the Olympic spirit and technological innovation, highlighting the critical role of technological advancements in the growth and performance enhancement of athletes in winter sports.

Professor Zhang Hong sharing

Chinese and British youth listening to the report

Professor Zhang Yu from the School of Architecture and Design followed with a presentation titled Design and Construction in Extreme Environments from a Sustainability Perspective. Drawing on the innovative practices of HIT’s Cold Region Architecture Research Team, he systematically elaborated on the integrated application of materials, structures, energy, and digital technologies in cold environments and ice-snow architecture. He showcased multi-tiered technical systems ranging from ice-snow structures and cold-region urban renewal to lunar habitation systems, providing systematic solutions and forward-looking exploration for winter sports facility construction and sustainable engineering in extreme environments.

Chinese and British youth note-taking

During the youth dialogue session, parallel forums were chaired by 2023 undergraduate students from the School of Future Technology, including Chen Jianfan, Li Yuanshuo, Du Yuexuan, and Zhu Zimeng. Youth from Oxford, Cambridge, C9 universities, and Hong Kong-Macao institutions gathered to discuss topics such as The Dual Mission of Materials Innovation, Guiding Data Systems for Friendlier Interactions, Human-Machine Collaboration and Safety Partners, and Technology as a Bridge of Inclusion. Through self-introductions, experience sharing, group discussions, and group presentations, they engaged in in-depth dialogues. Integrating their professional backgrounds and cross-cultural perspectives, young participants explored how technology can enable a safer, more inclusive, and sustainable future for winter sports. The atmosphere was lively and interactive throughout the session.

Parallel forum group photo

This event started with the Ice Dragon Boat Friendship Race as the starting point for gathering, and the Youth Forum as an intellectual platform. It incorporated technological innovation into winter sports and facilitated cultural understanding through academic exchange. In the future, the School will continue to deepen its international innovation practices, contribute to the cultivation of a new generation of youth talents with global perspectives, technological literacy, and humanistic spirit, and further promote the integration of winter sports and technological innovation.

Forum commemorative group photo