FOUNDER & BACKGROUND
This page provides supporting context for the association. It explains the academic standing of founder Zhang Yicheng, the international network around the initiative, and the broader bridge-building logic behind SAILs.
PROFILE
Professor Zhang Yicheng is introduced in the source material as a founding leader of the Swiss Big Data Center and an internationally recognized interdisciplinary scientist working across physics, big data, and information economics.
The materials describe him as a member of Academia Europaea and highlight long-standing participation in European research programs, academic evaluation work, and China-Europe scientific exchange.
Within the website, this background is presented in a concise public format: enough to establish credibility, but not so detailed that the page reads like an internal dossier.
DISTINCTIONS
RELEVANCE TO SAILs
The founder story helps explain why SAILs can credibly convene researchers, institutions, and cooperation partners across different sectors and geographies. It supports the association brand without overshadowing it.
LEADERSHIP SNAPSHOT
Vice President. Research profile spanning ETH-related experience and independent PI-level academic work in Germany.
Secretary General. Full professor-level academic background with European research project experience.
The broader leadership list spans academia, law, business, culture, and cross-border community networks.
