On the morning of December 6th,the 2024 Tengchong Scientists Forum,co-hosted by the People's Government of Yunnan Province and the Chinese Association for Science and Technology(CAST),officially commenced.Themed"Science·Global Innovation and the Mission of Scientists-Technology Empowers High-Quality Development,"the forum encompassed an opening ceremony,a keynote forum,11 sub-forums,and 9 series of activities.
The Tengchong Scientists Forum Chairs,Academician Gu Biling and Academician Rao Zihe,presented the 2024 Tengchong Science Award to the recipients,Xue Qikun and Xiao Xiaoliang.The list of awardees was announced by Academician Xu Zhihong,Co-Chair of the Forum.The Tengchong Scientists Forum Development Fund and the Yunnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)Industry Development Fund were inaugurated.A video address was delivered by Academician Ding Zhongli,Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.Academician Chen Zhu,Chief Scientist of the Major Special Project on Four Major Chronic Diseases,attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.The Secretary of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee,Wang Ning,offered remarks,and the Governor of Yunnan Province,Wang Yibo,presided over the ceremony.Other distinguished speakers included Luo Hui,a member of the CAST Secretariat and Director of International Cooperation,and Academician Gu Biling.
This year's forum gathered Nobel laureates,120 academicians,59 university presidents,over 300 young scholars,and more than 600 entrepreneurs in Tengchong.They engaged in discussions centered around the theme"Science·Global Innovation and the Mission of Scientists-Technology Empowers High-Quality Development,"focusing on cutting-edge topics and exploring how technology can drive development and foster cooperation.
Nobel Prize laureate in Physics,George Smoot,remarked that science serves as the lighthouse of human progress,illuminating the path ahead.The Tengchong Scientists Forum provides an exceptional platform for scientists to transcend national and disciplinary boundaries.With an open mindset,innovative thinking,and perseverance,they can contribute significantly to the advancement of science.
The opening ceremony unveiled the results of the 2024 Tengchong Science Award.The recipients were Academician Xue Qikun,a professor at Tsinghua University and president of Southern University of Science and Technology,and Academician Xiao Xiaoliang,director of Changping Laboratory and Morningside Professor at Peking University.
The forum also launched two major funds:the Tengchong Scientists Forum Development Fund and the Yunnan Province TCM Industry Development Fund.The Tengchong Scientists Forum Development Fund aims to reach a total scale of 5 billion yuan,focusing on early-stage and innovative technology investments to promote more research and commercialization in Yunnan.The TCM Industry Development Fund,with a planned scale of 10 billion yuan,will target the TCM industry chain and health enterprises in the province,aiming to become an"accelerator"for the high-quality development of Yunnan's TCM industry.
During the opening ceremony,the People's Government of Yunnan Province signed strategic cooperation agreements with five universities.These included agreements with Peking University,Tsinghua University,and Nankai University to jointly run the Southwest Associated Graduate School,supporting the improvement of graduate education and research levels.The province also partnered with Shandong University to build the Yunnan Research Institute,focusing on joint research in transportation,new materials,and other fields to serve national major projects.Additionally,a collaboration with Southern University of Science and Technology was announced to establish the Yunnan Advanced Institute,promoting core technology breakthroughs through a"Shenzhen R&D+Yunnan manufacturing"model.
At the event,six talent recruitment projects and seven investment projects were signed on-site.In 2024,the forum facilitated 170 talent recruitment projects,introducing over 360 high-level talents,and 600 investment projects with a total agreement amount exceeding 70 billion yuan.Over the past three years,the forum has gained increasing support and influence.It has become an important platform for the exchange of advanced academic ideas,interaction between government,industry,academia,and research,technology transfer,and scientific cooperation between China and South and Southeast Asian countries.The forum has adopted a model of"keynote forum+sub-forums+series of activities,"cumulatively facilitating 496 talent introduction projects and 780 investment projects with a total agreement investment of 190 billion yuan.
Today,the Tengchong Scientists Forum has expanded nationwide and globally.It serves as a bridge for communication among scientists,educators,entrepreneurs,and financiers and as a platform integrating science,technology,and application.Yunnan Province will fully support the high-quality development of the forum and rely on it to bring more opportunities and development momentum to the region.
