Shanghai university launches AI platform for global scientific collaboration

Shanghai-based Fudan University launched NovaInspire, a scientist-centered artificial intelligence open platform, which is intended to significantly accelerate scientific discoveries, during the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Saturday.

Unlike similar existing platforms that primarily focus on AI technologies, NovaInspire places scientists at the core and boasts strong interdisciplinary applicability, said a spokesperson for Fudan University. The university developed the platform along with a number of other institutions, including the Shanghai Academy of AI for Science (SAIS).

The platform provides end-to-end services for scientists from home and abroad during scientific research, offering ready-to-use cutting-edge models, data and tools across multiple disciplines, which helps shorten research cycles, added the spokesperson.

The platform also facilitates open collaboration, linking scientists from various domains with AI engineers to build a global interdisciplinary innovation network based on shared data, models, tools and collaborative capabilities.

Cheng Yuan, vice-dean of SAIS and vice-director of the Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Incubation Institute of Fudan University, said that the latest frontiers of scientific research lie in interdisciplinary fields, where new discoveries are emerging. Therefore, interdisciplinary teams must encompass scientists from various fields to accomplish AI for science and cutting-edge research.

"One thing we aim to do on this platform is that, when a scientist proposes a scientific question, we will use our large model to analyze the set of subtasks required for this task, as well as the corresponding expertise, and then post the subtasks on the platform," Cheng said.

"Interested researchers can then take on tasks on the platform, forming a network of scientists to achieve a larger scientific goal.

"Our platform will also recommend subtasks to scientists who are suitable for a specific subtask because some scientists specialize in a particular field, and they have labels for that field on the platform. We will then recommend them to team up."

Chinese and foreign scientists spoke in favor of open science at the conference. Wu Libo, assistant to the president of Fudan University, emphasized the importance of high-quality scientific data in AI for science, which is predominantly held by scientists and public research institutions.

"By advocating for open science and fostering the sharing of data, models and talent, genuine global cooperation can be achieved to address common scientific challenges faced by humanity," Wu said.