On November 20, the 10th Smart Higher Education CIO Forum commenced in Changsha, themed "Digital Education, Innovation Integration, and Cultivating Talent." The event brought together over 380 IT leaders from nearly 200 universities nationwide to explore pathways for digital transformation in higher education amid the AI revolution.

EAST Group was invited to participate, delivering a keynote speech titled *"AI-Driven, Liquid-Cooled Empowerment: Building a New Paradigm for Smart Education’s Computing Foundation,"* which resonated widely with attendees. The company was also honored with the *"Outstanding Comprehensive Strength Award for Smart Campus Solutions,"* solidifying its reputation as an industry benchmark.

**Challenges in the AI Era** As AI reshapes education, universities face surging demand for computing power. From research innovation to smart teaching, and from personalized learning to campus management, robust computational support is essential. However, significant gaps persist between vision and reality.

EAST Group’s representative highlighted three critical challenges for universities: 1. **High Power Density**: Traditional air cooling struggles with AI servers’ escalating power density, leading to frequent GPU throttling and underutilized computing investments. 2. **Energy Inefficiency**: Data centers’ high PUE ratios impose steep electricity costs, conflicting with green campus initiatives. 3. **Complex Maintenance**: Limited IT teams struggle with increasingly sophisticated infrastructure, often reacting to failures rather than proactively managing systems—disrupting teaching and research continuity.

These structural barriers demand solutions that balance efficiency, sustainability, and intelligence.

**EAST Group’s Award-Winning Solutions** The accolade reflects industry recognition of EAST’s innovative approach. Leveraging 36 years of expertise, the company introduced an *"AI-Driven, Liquid-Cooled"* model to address these pain points: 1. **Cooling Efficiency**: Its liquid-cooled plate solution targets CPU/GPU hotspots, enabling 30kW+ per rack without thermal throttling. With PUE below 1.1, it slashes energy waste, aligning with green campus goals. 2. **Smart Management**: A machine learning-powered platform optimizes operations by analyzing real-time data (IT load, ambient temperature, etc.), enabling predictive maintenance and 3D visualization to streamline workflows.

**Building a Digital Education Ecosystem** "Prosperous education nurtures a prosperous nation." Digital transformation is pivotal for universities, and computing infrastructure is its backbone. This award not only validates EAST’s technological prowess but also opens doors for deeper university partnerships.

Moving forward, EAST Group remains committed to advancing smart education through cutting-edge, sustainable solutions—empowering research, learning, and national educational excellence in the digital age.