- The University of Debrecen stands at the threshold of a very promising future. Tsinghua University is currently the world’s leading higher education institution in the field of artificial intelligence, associated, among other things, with China’s AI applications and DeepSeek algorithms. We are entering a period where we can learn technologies from our Chinese partners. The effectiveness of our collaborations is reflected in our integration into the Chinese Silk Road industrial development network, and in the fact that next year, the University of Debrecen will host the annual presidential roundtable forum of the Belt and Road university research cooperation network (University Network For Research Collaboration: A Belt and Road Science and Technology Initiative - IUNRC). Today’s symposium and the lecture by Professor Shao Li, Director of the Tsinghua University Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, are indicators of this process – said Rector Zoltán Szilvássy in his opening speech at the scientific meeting.
In his welcome speech, the Rector of the University of Debrecen emphasized:
- As artificial intelligence technologies increasingly reshape the global landscape of medical research, Professor Shao Li rightfully stands at the forefront of international scientific collaboration. His work uniquely fuses the wisdom of millennia-old healing traditions with the rigor of modern scientific research. His pioneering contributions – as the „father of network pharmacology” and a leading figure in AI-assisted traditional medicine – have revolutionized methodologies in drug research and cancer prevention, and have fundamentally redefined the global concept of systems-based and integrative medicine. By building a bridge between Chinese traditional medicine and Western biomedical sciences, Professor Li points toward a future where precision and personalized medicine will dominate. This vision not only inspires scientific communities but also gives hope for the emergence of a more comprehensive, effective, and human-centered global healthcare system.
-The conferral of an honorary doctorate upon Professor Li Shao marks a historically significant milestone in the life of the University of Debrecen – for the first time in its 500-year history, this highest academic honor is being awarded to a Chinese scientist. Today's recognition reflects the University's firm commitment to advancing scientific excellence and educational innovation. We are confident that through our joint efforts, we can open new frontiers in integrative medicine and innovative therapies – moving toward a future brightened by cross-cultural cooperation and boundless scientific innovation.
The rich knowledge base of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is currently recognized in more than 170 countries for health preservation and disease management. Nearly 88% of China’s population has used this ancient system of medicine, and since 2015, its practice has been legally recognized in Hungary as well. While Eastern traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes a holistic approach and herbal-centered treatment methods, Western medicine is rooted in reductionism, disease-focused approaches, and pure pharmacological interventions. However, today, big data and artificial intelligence can offer solutions to these once irreconcilable differences" – emphasized Professor Shao Li from Tsinghua University in his lecture.
The Director of the Interdisciplinary Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Tsinghua University added: using cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, researchers have not only revealed the modern scientific significance of TCM’s complex systems, but also created new paradigms – like "network pharmacology" – paving the way for precision medicine.
-This pioneering research has been recognized by leading journals as a transformation of the traditional drug development model. The related results have been applied to global health challenges such as cancer and metabolic diseases, proving the vitality of traditional Chinese medicine in contemporary times. At the same time, our international collaborative projects with countries like Hungary – including regenerative and digital medicine research at the University of Debrecen – further demonstrate the role of intercultural innovation in advancing global medical transformation, Shao Li emphasized.
Okszana Kiszil, Director of Coordination and Strategy at the University of Debrecen, sees the University's several years of work within the Silk Road university research network being acknowledged through its membership in the Belt and Road Initiative’s partner university network, the University Network for Research Collaboration. Moreover, in the next two-year cycle, the University will assume co-presidency of the network. She stated that the institution remains committed to further developing its relations with China.
At the Doctor Honoris Causa Symposium, held at the Life Science Center, Zoltán Szabó, President of the University of Debrecen Clinical Center, presented the institution’s healthcare system. Ildikó Bácskay, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, gave a lecture on the pharmaceutical aspects of dietary supplements and medications, while Árpád Kovács, Director of the Oncoradiology Clinic, spoke about the University's theranostic activities.
During his visit to the University of Debrecen, Professor Li Shao signed a letter of intent with Rector Zoltán Szilvássy to establish an International Artificial Intelligence Club.
- The International Artificial Intelligence Club will support the University of Debrecen’s medical and pharmaceutical developments through global exploration of scientific and technological innovations. In the field of patient care, it may help enhance the effectiveness of anti-cancer therapies and tumor treatments," stated Rector Szilvássy at the follow-up meeting after signing the agreement.
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