Risks-X

Institute of Risk Analysis, Prediction and Management (Risks-X), Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)

The Institute of Risk Analysis, Prediction and Management (Risks-X), Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) at Shenzhen China was established in 2019, as a pilot cooperation project between ETH Zurich and SUSTech. The Institute is committed to building a revolutionary dynamic risk management platform, with real-time and dynamically monitoring of extreme risks in various system applications, simulations of future scenarios, analysis and prediction of risk trends, in order to help our society develop strong resilience and improve social responsibility.

The institute is jointly led by Prof. Didier Sornette, member of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences, professor on the Chair of Entrepreneurial Risks at ETH Zurich, (also chair professor at SUSTech, part-time) and Prof. Xiaofei Chen, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, professor and head of the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at SUSTech.

We use rigorous data-driven mathematical and statistical analysis to diagnose system instability, to study the predictability and control of extreme events in complex systems, include financial and economic system, natural disasters, energy security, epidemics and public health, major critical infrastructure, social dynamics and big data, blockchain and cyber-security. We aim to push the limits of silo disciplines by developing a combined inter-, multi- and transdisciplinary view of knowledge, using both fundamental research and operational implementation, as well as entrepreneurial initiatives.



The City and The University

Established in 2012, the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) is a public institution funded by the municipality of Shenzhen, a special economic zone city in China. Shenzhen is a major city located in Southern China, situated immediately north to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. As one of China's major gateways to the world, Shenzhen is the country's fastest-growing city in the past two decades. The city is the high-tech and manufacturing hub of southern China, home to the world's third-busiest container port, and the fourth-busiest airport on the Chinese mainland. As a picturesque coastal city, Shenzhen is also a popular tourist destination and was named one of the world's 31 must-see tourist destinations in 2010 by The New York Times. Shenzhen ranks at the 66th place on the 2017 Global City Competitiveness List, released by the National Academy of Economic Strategy, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and United Nations Habitat. By the end of 2016, there were around 20 million residents in Shenzhen.

SUSTech is a pioneer in higher education reform in China. The mission of the University is to become a globally recognized research university which emphasizes academic excellence and promotes innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. Set on five hundred acres of wooded landscape in the picturesque Nanshan (South Mountain) area, the campus offers an ideal environment for learning and research.