Chen Siqi

vankochensq@163.com

THE annual Guangming Science City Forum will inaugurate its first session Thursday and Friday, bringing together high-end talents to discuss the latest technological developments, a press conference announced yesterday.

The two-day event, consisting of a main forum, nine parallel forums and three supporting events, will focus on the fields of information, life and new materials, as well as the integration of innovation, industry and capital chains and high-end talents, Guo Ziping, director-general of the Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission, said at the press conference.

The main forum will kick off at Cloud Park International Convention Center on Thursday morning. During the forum, top scientists, namely Han Jiecai, president of Harbin Institute of Technology, Nancy Ip, president of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Yan Nieng, head of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation and Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, and Yang Xueming, vice president of Southern University of Science and Technology, will be invited to give keynote speeches. A series of important events, including the settlement of science and technology infrastructures and unveiling ceremony of foundations, will be held during the forum.

The nine parallel forums will cover a range of topics, including artificial intelligence, bioimaging and biomedicines, and new materials. Three supporting events — namely a rowing competition, a nature concert and a cycling event — will be organized simultaneously.

Guangming Science City is dedicated to becoming a first-class global science city. It is currently home to 24 scientific and technological innovation platforms, as well as a university campus and a transitional campus. Construction on nine infrastructures, two provincial labs and 11 scientific research platforms is under way.