On March 17, coinciding with the 130th anniversary of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, a donation signing and board appointment ceremony was held for alumnus Eric Jing at the Wenbo Building in the university's Minhang campus. Eric Jing, Chairman of Ant Group and a 1994 undergraduate alumnus, together with his wife, also a 1994 undergraduate alumna, jointly donated cash and Ant Group shares valued at 130 million yuan to their alma mater. This contribution is designated for the university's "AI Future Cornerstone Fund," aimed at supporting innovative research and talent development in the field of artificial intelligence. Ding Kuiling, President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, expressed warm congratulations on Jing's appointment to the board and extended sincere gratitude for the generous donation. He noted that Jing's support extends beyond financial contribution, actively participating in advancing the university's AI strategy from blueprint to reality, embodying the institution's spirit of gratitude and dedication. The university and its alumni will continue to collaborate closely in striving towards the goal of building a world-class university. Eric Jing remarked that his time at Shanghai Jiao Tong University was a pivotal period in his life, significantly influencing his knowledge, perspective, and subsequent life choices. He expressed honor in being able to contribute alongside his wife as the university celebrates its 130th anniversary, describing the donation as both a birthday gift to the alma mater and a celebration of their 30th wedding anniversary. In July 2025, Jing had previously donated 10 million yuan and co-initiated the "AI Future Fund" with fellow alumni to support the establishment and development of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Artificial Intelligence. The recent donation will be fully allocated to the "AI Future Cornerstone Fund," managed by the School of Artificial Intelligence, to bolster the university's AI initiatives, including attracting top scholars, cultivating AI talent, and promoting interdisciplinary AI research. In recent months, several other alumni have made significant donations to Shanghai Jiao Tong University. On February 26, Qi Ji, a 1989 undergraduate alumnus from the Department of Engineering Mechanics and a 1992 master's alumnus from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, donated 100 million yuan to support various university projects. On the same day, Qi Shi, a 1993 undergraduate alumnus from the Department of Materials Engineering, donated 20 million shares of East Money stock, valued at approximately 450 million yuan, to advance educational development with a focus on talent cultivation and technological innovation. On February 27, Cheng Minghe, a 1985 undergraduate alumnus in Biomedical Instrumentation and a 1988 master's alumnus in Biomedical Engineering, donated 15 million US dollars, equivalent to about 100 million yuan, to promote the integration of medicine and engineering, industry-academia collaboration, and enhancement of clinical teaching capabilities.
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