Data for Policy 2025 (DfP’25) Conference – Asia Pacific Edition: Advancing AI: Innovations, Governance, and Ethical Frontiers

23-24 October 2025 |  Shanghai Research Institute for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Tongji University, Shanghai

The Data for Policy 2025 Asia-Pacific Conference programme has now been published. Explore the exciting lineup of sessions and speakers, and secure your place today as registration remains open!

We are thrilled to announce the Data for Policy 2025 Conference – Asia Pacific Edition, to be hosted by the Shanghai Research Institute for Intelligent Autonomous Systems at Tongji University, Shanghai, on  23 – 24 October, 2025.  This conference will bring will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and industry experts to explore the cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence and the challenges they present under the theme of “Advancing AI: Innovations, Governance, and Ethical Frontiers

Amid rapid technological disruption, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a defining force of our era—capable of reshaping economies, redefining industries, and altering societal structures. Yet, as AI’s transformative potential grows, so too do critical questions about its governance, ethical boundaries, and societal impact: can innovation in AI align with human values, or will unchecked advancement exacerbate inequalities and risks? How do we balance breakthroughs in autonomy and creativity with accountability and fairness? How should we objectively assess the tendency of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)? What are the most pressing vulnerabilities in current AI ethics governance and regulatory frameworks? How can we establish effective global governance mechanisms for artificial intelligence?

We recognize AI development and governance as a multidimensional challenge that spans technological, ethical, economic, and geopolitical dimensions. The private and public sectors are racing to harness AI’s potential, with governments crafting policies to steer its development and industries investing heavily in frontier applications—from healthcare diagnostics to intelligent autonomous systems. Meanwhile, the rise of generative AI, large-scale models, and adaptive machine learning has intensified debates about data sovereignty, algorithmic bias, and existential risks. Data and collaboration lie at the heart of this transition. Robust frameworks for transparency, safety, and equity are essential to ensure AI serves as a tool for collective progress rather than disruption. From mitigating biases in decision-making to securing global cooperation on governance, data-driven insights and interdisciplinary dialogue can bridge the gap between innovation and responsibility.

At this nexus, we invited submissions in the form of extended abstracts, full papers, and/or panel session proposals reflecting the conference theme Advancing AI: Innovations, Governance, and Ethical Frontiers” explored through following core topics:

  • Innovation and Challenges in Frontier Technologies of Artificial Intelligence focusing on the latest technological advancements in the field of AI, including generative artificial intelligence, deep learning with large models, reinforcement learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. It will also explore the challenges these technologies face in practical applications, such as data quality, model interpretability, and security issues.
  • Current Status and Future of Artificial Intelligence Governance delving into the current state of AI governance, including existing regulations, policies, and standards. The conference will discuss how these governance mechanisms affect the development and application of AI technology and predict future trends.
  • Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Social Responsibility focusing on ethical issues in the development of AI technology, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the social impact of automation. It will discuss how businesses and society can ensure the responsible use of AI technology and how to promote social welfare and sustainable development through AI technology.
  • Applications of Artificial Intelligence Across Industries exploring how AI technology drives innovation and improves efficiency in different industries. The conference will showcase practical applications of AI in fields such as medical diagnostics, autonomous driving, and smart manufacturing, and discuss how these applications change industry landscapes and business models.
  • Global Governance and Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence discussing how to build effective AI governance mechanisms in the context of globalization. It will explore how international organizations, governments, and the private sector can cooperate to ensure the healthy development of AI technology and address transnational AI ethical and regulatory issues.

The submission period for the Data for Policy 2025 – Asia Pacific Conference has now ended. We sincerely thank you for your interest!

Conference proceedings will be published in the Data & Policy journal published by Cambridge University Press.

For detailed information about the post-acceptance process, please visit the Submission & Guidelines page.

Join us at Shanghai Research Institute for Intelligent Autonomous Systems (SRIIAS), Tongji University in Shanghai, in October 2025 as we explore data’s pivotal role in advancing sustainable and inclusive futures !

For any inquiries or further information, please contact lingzhe@tongji.edu.cn and team@dataforpolicy.org.

Keynote Speakers

Discover thought leaders and innovators shaping the future of data, AI, and public policy, who will be speaking at Data for Policy 2025 Asia-Pacific.

Explore the Day 1 Line-up        Explore the Day 2 Line-up

  • Lihua Xie, Director of Centre for Advanced Robotics Technology Innovation of Nanyang Technological University
  • Weiwen Duan, Executive Dean of the School of Philosophy, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Director of the Department of Philosophy of Science and Technology, Institute of Philosophy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
  • Jiang Liu, Professor of Faculty of Science and Engineering, Global Center for Science and Engineering, Waseda University
  • David Barber, Director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, University College London and Director of the AI Hub in Generative Models, UK
  • Ruipeng Lei, Professor of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
  • Lei Ma, Associate Professor of the University of Tokyo
  • Lucas Noldus, Noldus Information Technology,
  • Sumei Cheng , Deputy Director and Research Fellow at the Institute of Philosophy, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences
  • Jon Crowcroft, Marconi Professor of Communications Systems in the Computer Lab, at the University of Cambridge, and researcher-at-large at the Alan Turing Institute

Huiling Jiang

Professor Huiling Jiang, the Dean of the Law School at Tongji University and chairs the Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of AI Social Governance, is a pioneering scholar in digital justice. He previously held the position of Senior Judge at the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China for 22 years, where he was responsible for overseeing national judicial reform programs, including internet courts, online dispute resolution, and judicial transparency, among others.

Jamie Paik

Jamie Paik, Founder and Director of the Reconfigurable Robotics Laboratory and Vice-Dean of the School of Engineering at EPFL, is a world-leading expert in soft and self-morphing robotics. Her “robogami” technology has applications in automotive, medical, space, and wearable systems. Her work has been published in top journals including Nature, Science, IEEE Transactions on Robotics, and Soft Robotics Journal, combining pioneering academic research with successful commercial translation.

DfP’25 Asia-Pacific Conference Partnership

As we work to build an inclusive global ecosystem that harnesses the power of data science, AI, and emerging technologies for the public good, we welcome collaboration from all stakeholders in the Data for Policy space.

The Data for Policy 2025 (DfP25) – Asia Pacific Edition offers a variety of partnership opportunities, including main conference sponsorships, individual panel or keynote session sponsorships, and exhibition and demonstration spaces. By partnering with us, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of data-driven policymaking and contribute to meaningful discussions on the role of AI and technology in the public sector.

For more details and to explore how you can get involved, please visit our partnership page.