The First International Conference on Granular-Ball Computing (ICGBC 2026), Co-hosted by Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Concludes Successfully in Chongqing

From October 16 to 18, 2026, the First International Conference on Granular-Ball Computing (2026 International Conference of Granular-Ball Computing, ICGBC 2026) was held in Chongqing. The conference was sponsored by Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing Normal University, and Chongqing Ant Consumer Finance Co., Ltd.; jointly organized by the School of Artificial Intelligence of Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications and the Key Laboratory of Cyberspace Big Data Intelligent Security (Ministry of Education); and co-organized by the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Sichuan University, Dalian University of Technology, Westlake University, Chongqing University of Technology, and Yangtze Normal University. The conference focused on granular-ball computing, an emerging foundational theoretical model for artificial intelligence. This theory is a multi-granularity data representation and computing model inspired by the "large-scale priority" of human brain cognition, establishing a novel artificial intelligence computing theoretical system centered on granular balls that is more efficient, robust, and interpretable than traditional methods. Granular-ball computing has now developed into numerous directions, including granular-ball rough sets, granular-ball fuzzy sets, granular-ball classification, granular-ball clustering, granular-ball deep learning, granular-ball graph learning, and granular-ball agents. In recent years, it has attracted widespread attention from renowned domestic scholars and has also drawn experts from over 100 research institutions in more than ten countries and regions worldwide to conduct follow-up research, including scholars and experts from the University of Michigan, National University of Singapore, Seoul National University, the Indian Institutes of Technology, and the University of Alberta, indicating broad prospects for research in this direction. The theory has achieved remarkable application results in multiple fields. Granular-ball graph learning technology has been applied to core scenarios in digital finance such as risk management, business marketing, and user growth, greatly enhancing the user operation efficiency and effectiveness of leading enterprises in this field, improving the quality of financial services, and generating significant economic benefits. Meanwhile, in the field of smart agriculture, the multi-granularity representation capability of granular balls and related technologies have been applied to intelligent agricultural machinery operations in hilly and mountainous areas, achieving accurate measurement of irregular operational areas in hilly regions and reducing the measurement error of traditional artificial intelligence from 20% to within 5%. The related technology has become the foundational technology of leading enterprises in this field and is being promoted and applied nationwide.

As the first international event in this field, the conference brought together more than 60 experts and scholars from China, Singapore, Australia, Japan, and other countries and regions to participate in discussions. The conference featured 4 keynote speeches and 4 parallel sessions, with over 600 registered participants and nearly 30,000 online viewers. The opening ceremony was chaired by Prof. Shuyin Xia, Chair of the Conference, Vice President of the Chongqing Association for Artificial Intelligence, and Vice Dean of the School of Artificial Intelligence at Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications.

                Gathering of Minds in the Mountain City, A New Chapter for Granular-Ball Computing      

At the opening ceremony, Prof. Lin Li, Secretary of the Party Committee of Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, delivered a welcome address and expressed warm congratulations on the convening of the conference. He stated that Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications has persisted in deepening its efforts in information and communication, computer science, and artificial intelligence, proactively seizing opportunities in artificial intelligence development, and vigorously promoting interdisciplinary integration. The university has been approved for the first batch nationwide and the only one in Chongqing for the doctoral degree authorization in Intelligent Science and Technology, and has been approved for the only National Natural Science Foundation of China Innovation Research Group in the field of artificial intelligence in Southwest China and the second nationwide. It has gathered 36 national-level talents in artificial intelligence-related directions and possesses more than 50 high-level innovation platforms in various artificial intelligence fields, forming a disciplinary support system covering the basic theories, key technologies, and industry applications of artificial intelligence. In the past five years, the university has led more than 20 national major and key projects and over 500 national-level projects in the field of artificial intelligence, achieving multiple major results in solving the country's "bottleneck" scientific research problems. Related research has received multiple instructions from central leadership and has made positive contributions to promoting the development of artificial intelligence technology and industrial progress. The university will take this conference as an opportunity to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with experts and scholars, contributing CQUPT wisdom to promoting academic progress, technological development, industrial prosperity, and the building of an education powerhouse. He pointed out that this International Conference on Granular-Ball Computing, as the first in this series of conferences, is an important platform for experts and scholars in related fields worldwide to engage in in-depth exchanges and advance cooperation. The convening of this conference will play a positive role in promoting the future development of granular-ball computing and even the entire field of artificial intelligence.

                Frontier Insights, Leading New Academic Dimensions      

The conference was honored to have Prof. Guoyin Wang from Chongqing Normal University, Prof. Xindong Wu from Hefei University of Technology, Principal Research Scientist Tianyi Zhou from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, and Prof. Shuyin Xia from Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications as keynote speakers. The four speakers shared their latest research findings, unlocking innovative pathways for granular-ball computing applications in diverse scenarios such as multi-granularity cognitive computing, large language models and knowledge graphs, enterprise-grade agent platforms, and novel artificial intelligence theory.

                Multidimensional Perspectives, Exploring New Frontiers of Granular-Ball Computing      

The conference also featured four parallel sessions, bringing participants innovative practices in interdisciplinary applications of granular-ball computing.

                Intellectual Exchange, Showcasing the Vitality of Research      

In addition, the conference hosted28 oral presentations. Young scholars from numerous universities and research institutions, including Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Dalian University of Technology, Sichuan University, Yangtze Normal University, Chongqing Normal University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Huaiyin Normal University, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, North Minzu University, Nagoya Institute of Technology / the University of Tokyo, and Abdelmalek Essaadi University (Morocco), enthusiastically shared their research findings. The presentation topics covered innovative applications of granular-ball computing in representation modeling, clustering methods, graph learning, multimodal reasoning, anomaly detection, semantic communication, and beyond. During the coffee breaks, scholars engaged in discussions at the poster display area, exchanging ideas in a relaxed atmosphere and furthering their research directions. The lively on-site interactions effectively advanced the integration of granular-ball computing with industrial practices.

                Awards Ceremony, Recognizing Outstanding Research      

At the awards ceremony, following rigorous review by the conference technical program committee and comprehensive evaluation of innovation, academic value, and experimental completeness, four "Best Paper Awards" and four "Best Paper-Runner-up Awards" were presented. Prof. Guoyin Wang, Honorary Chair of the Conference and Secretary of the Party Committee of Chongqing Normal University, and Principal Research Scientist Tianyi Zhou of A*STAR Singapore and invited guest of the conference, presented trophies to the faculty and students who won the Best Paper Awards. This awards ceremony not only recognized the academic achievements of the winners but also reflected the academic community's value orientation of encouraging original exploration while emphasizing practical application.

                Exploration Never Ends, Looking Forward to Next Year's Reunion      

Mountain City Chongqing, Wisdom in Granular Balls. TheFirst International Conference on Granular-Ball Computing (ICGBC 2026) has come to a successful conclusion with the joint efforts of all parties.

We sincerely express our gratitude to all sponsors, organizers, and co-organizers for their dedication, to all speakers for their generous sharing, and to every participant for their enthusiastic engagement. Looking ahead, ICGBC will continue to expand its international collaboration network, deepen university-industry collaborative innovation, focus on interdisciplinary integration and industrial application of granular-ball computing, and promote more high-quality research outcomes from academic conferences to engineering practice.

This has been an unforgettable academic feast of wisdom and ideas in Chongqing! We eagerly look forward to reuniting next year, joining hands with global scholars, industry experts, and young talents to embark on a broader and more dynamic new journey of research with greater openness and more concrete actions!

ICGBC 2026 · Thank You for Joining Us