The 16th Pujiang Innovation Forum has kicked off in Shanghai, bringing together over 300 experts from 32 countries and regions. With the theme of Open Innovation Ecosystem: Innovation for Global Connectivity, the three-day forum aims to promote international scientific and technological cooperation and address global challenges through innovation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sent congratulatory letters to the forum, highlighting the importance of scientific and technological innovation in promoting peace and development. President Xi expressed his hope that the forum would make significant contributions to enhancing the common well-being of humankind.
Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining emphasized the need to create an open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment for science and technology development, echoing President Xi’s vision. He also underlined the significance of activating innovation vitality as a core component of the city’s reform and opening-up efforts.
Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang highlighted China’s extensive partnerships in science and technology with over 160 countries and regions. The ministry aims to deepen cooperation between government departments and civil groups, expand the sharing and opening of scientific and technological resources, and actively participate in international science and technology governance.
The forum’s opening ceremony featured the launch of two notable events, the first being the WeStart entrepreneurship conference. WeStart serves as a platform for connecting investors with startup projects, focusing on the fields of biological medicine, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing. Over 500 incubators and 200 investing institutions are set to select 100 candidates from a pool of over 1,000 projects for road shows.
The second event, the fourth China-Brazil Innovation Week, also commenced during the opening ceremony. Both Brazil and Hubei province were honored at the forum this year. The Global Tech-Matching Fair, known as Inno-Match Expo, was a highlight of the forum, where industry leaders discussed the latest advancements in various fields such as thermonuclear energy, the Human Phenome Project, and large passenger aircraft.
Pietro Barabaschi, director-general of ITER Organization, announced significant progress on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, while Kumsal Bayazit, CEO of Elsevier, praised the quality and influence of scientific papers by Chinese authors. She highlighted the increasing trend of international collaboration in science and technology research.
In the aviation sector, He Dongfeng, chairman of Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (CACC), shared that the company had received an impressive 1,061 orders for the C919, China’s self-developed large passenger aircraft. He also revealed that the C929, a wide-body passenger jet with seating for 250-350 people, has entered its initial design phase.
The Pujiang Innovation Forum serves as a platform for global connectivity and open innovation, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among experts from around the world. With its diverse range of events, the forum provides valuable insights into the latest scientific and technological advancements while promoting international cooperation for the benefit of humankind.
