Global travel technology company Dida has signed a five-year strategic partnership with Tsinghua x-lab – a non-profit innovation and entrepreneurship platform at Tsinghua University in Beijing– to develop next-generation travel tech solutions and strengthen the industry’s global talent pipeline.
The agreement marks a shift from ad-hoc collaboration to a deep, ecosystem-level integration between one of the world’s leading academic institutions and a global powerhouse in travel technology.
The signing ceremony, held at Dida Engage China Roadshow 2026 in Beijing, brought together over 80 international hotel partners, underlining the initiative’s direct relevance for 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 footprint. "Tsinghua x-lab has long been a cradle for interdisciplinary talent," said Professor He. "Dida’s expansive resources and cutting-edge work in travel tech provide our students with a unique platform to tackle real-world industry challenges. This five-year commitment is a natural evolution of our success, moving us towards 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 a key driver of development," said Lee. "Dida is committed to reinvesting its resources and platform capabilities into the next generation. We are not just supporting projects; we are helping shape the future of travel."
In a move that drew the attention of the international delegates, Lee announced the launch of the Global Travel Technology Innovation Competition. The inaugural edition is set to take place in Europe later this year, aiming to bring together ideas from young talent worldwide 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:
- Technological development: Driving R&D in the travel tech sector.
- Incubation: Accelerating industry-university research projects from concept to market-ready solutions.
- Talent development: preparing a new generation of professionals with skills aligned 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.
