Chinese PhD Researcher at LSE Achieves $978,000 Valuation for AI Platform Driving Sustainable Digital Development

London, UK – July 2025

Ziqi Zhong, a Chinese PhD researcher in Quantitative Marketing at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Visiting Professor at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, has received a certified granted value of 978,000 USD (equivalent to 7 million CNY) for his proprietary AI platform AquaMind®. The valuation was issued by a licensed third-party appraisal agency in accordance with official Chinese asset evaluation standards.

AquaMind® is a lightweight AI platform designed to support decision-making in sales forecasting and supply chain management. By combining practical AI algorithms with applied business functions, it reflects ongoing efforts to explore how emerging technologies can contribute to broader goals such as digital transformation and sustainable development. The software is officially registered with the China National Copyright Administration.

Zhong is also the creator of PrivaAI, a recognizable AI platform designed to support privacy-aware digital transformation. His academic work has been presented at leading international conferences, including the ISMS Marketing Science Conference, the American Marketing Association (AMA) Conference, and the European Marketing Academy (EMAC) Conference.

“This evaluation is an encouraging step,” Zhong noted. “I hope it shows that early-stage academic ideas, when combined with continuous learning and collaboration, can gradually contribute to solving practical challenges.”

His case illustrates how young researchers may increasingly play a role in the interface between science, innovation, and global cooperation—an area emphasized by China’s vision for modernization and shared development.

Ziqi Zhong presenting the PrivaAI architecture at EMAC.