Chinese internet giant Baidu Inc will partner with Shanxi University and Phoenix, a company focusing on energy technology, in establishing a cloud system to upgrade the coal industry in Shanxi.

According to the trilateral agreement signed on July 11, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing and internet of things technologies will be applied to the cloud system which consists of a security monitoring platform for coal mining, an intelligent coal production platform, and a big data platform targeted at coal businesses.

The security monitoring platform serves companies and safety supervision institutions in the coal industry, helping collieries improve online monitoring, and providing risk analysis, as well as early warning of accidents and hidden dangers. The intelligent coal production platform will focus on automatic production and the management of collieries. The big data platform will integrate big data from coal companies using Baidu's technologies such as AI.

Baidu Inc, Phoenix and Shanxi University will establish the cooperative project in Shanxi Demonstration Area for Economic Transformation and Reform. With scientific research, advanced technologies, business experience and products from the three parties, the partnership will boost technological development of Shanxi’s coal industry.