Dida signs a five-year partnership with Tsinghua University | News
Global travel technology company Dida has signed a five-year strategic partnership with Tsinghua x-lab – a non-profit innovation and entrepreneurship platform based at Tsinghua University in Beijing – to develop the next generation of travel technology solutions and strengthen the industry’s global talent pipeline.
The agreement marks a shift from ad-hoc collaboration to deep ecosystem-level integration between one of the world’s leading academic institutions and a global travel technology powerhouse.
The signing ceremony, held during the Dida Engage China Roadshow 2026 in Beijing, brought together more than 80 international hotel partners, underscoring the initiative’s direct relevance to global travel distribution players. The partnership aims to bridge the gap between academic innovation and the operational needs of the travel industry, enabling faster development of scalable solutions.
The event was attended by Professor He Ping, Vice Dean of the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University, and Daryl Lee, Group CEO of Dida Holdings.
Professor He Ping emphasized that Tsinghua x-lab’s mission to nurture creative and entrepreneurial talent is perfectly complemented by Dida’s global presence. “Tsinghua x-lab has long been a cradle for interdisciplinary talent,” says Professor He. “Dida’s extensive resources and pioneering work in travel technology provide our students with a unique platform to tackle real-world challenges. This five-year commitment is a natural evolution of our success and moves us toward a more integrated ecosystem that creates value for both academia and industry.”
Building on a strong track record, including the 2025 Tsinghua University SDG Open Hackathon, the partnership demonstrates Dida’s commitment to innovation and talent development. During his keynote, Daryl Lee reaffirmed the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and youth-led innovation. “Young minds are an important driver of development,” says Lee. “Dida is committed to reinvesting its resources and platform capabilities into the next generation. We don’t just support projects; we help shape the future of travel.”
In a move that caught the attention of international delegates, Lee announced the launch of the Global Travel Technology Innovation Competition. The first edition will take place in Europe later this year, aiming to bring together ideas from young talent around the world and support the international expansion of Chinese travel innovations.
A roadmap for future growth
Under the new agreement, Tsinghua x-lab and Dida will focus on three core pillars:
Technology development: Stimulating R&D in the travel technology sector.
Incubation: accelerating research projects between industry and universities, from concept to market-ready solutions.
Talent development: preparing a new generation of professionals with skills tailored to industry demands
By combining Tsinghua’s academic capabilities with Dida’s global distribution infrastructure, the partnership aims to contribute to a more efficient, connected and innovation-driven travel ecosystem.
