From a conference meeting to research collaboration in Shanghai

When Dr. Meng Jiang attended the IEEE International Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference (I2MTC 2026) in France, she met Associate Professor Jiwei Shen from East China Normal University (ECNU) in Shanghai. A discussion about shared research interests quickly developed into a research collaboration.

- I made contact with a researcher on the I2MTC2026 in France, and we had a nice discussion which leads to a quick collaboration, says Dr. Meng Jiang.

In the summer of 2026, Jiang travelled to Shanghai for a research exchange at the Faculty of Information Technology at ECNU. During the visit, she presented her research and Mid Sweden University while working with Jiwei Shen on shared research interests and potential collaborations.

Research for better hearing support

The exchange was connected to Meng’s research on binaural microphones, a technology that can, among other things, be used in hearing aids to identify where a sound is coming from. The aim is to provide better information about the surrounding sound environment and create new possibilities for hearing support.

During the exchange, Jiang and Shen tested different signal processing approaches and made significant progress.

- Jiwei Shen is very experienced in signal processing and gives sharp opinions during discussions. We made efficient progress during the visit, and we are still working on the project, tells Meng.

The work is expected to result in a scientific publication as well as a publicly available dataset when the project is completed.

New perspectives on research

The research exchange also gave Meng an opportunity to experience the research environment at ECNU. She attended supervision meetings with Jiwei Shen’s students and gained insight into a research culture that differs from what she is used to in Sweden.

- It is a different research culture compared to what we have here. The working tempo is very fast, and the meetings are short but frequent, says Meng.

At the same time, Jiang highlights the open and straightforward communication with her research partner as an important part of the successful collaboration.

- Jiwei Shen is very easy to talk to. There is no stress or misunderstanding after a discussion, and that was also one of the reasons why I contacted him about an exchange visit after our discussion at the conference, says Meng

The experience was also valuable on a personal level.

- I really enjoyed the experience and learned a lot about how to prioritize tasks during a large project that contains many important details, says Meng.

Continuing the collaboration

The research exchange in Shanghai has now come to an end, but the collaboration will continue.

- I will probably continue working closely with them remotely. There might also be other opportunities for collaboration or joint applications in the future, says Meng.