Chen Siqi

vankochensq@163.com

THE fifth World Science and Technology Development Forum, gathering nearly 200 eminent figures from over 20 countries and regions, will take place in Shenzhen from Nov. 23 to 25.

This year’s edition will delve into four key topics — exploring frontiers in technology, promoting development through technology, addressing challenges with technology, and effectively governing technology, according to a press conference held by the city government yesterday.

The forum will consist of one main forum and 11 parallel subforums, inviting approximately 200 leading figures in technology, education, and economics from around the world to share insights. The forum will be held both online and offline, and globally livestreamed.

Notable international speakers include Turing Award winner Jack Dongarra; Nobel Prize laureates Thomas Sargent, Thomas Südhof, Erwin Neher, and Stefan Hell; Rohinton P. Medhora, president of the Center for International Governance Innovation (Canada); and Andrew Carrick of the Royal Academy of Engineering in the U.K.

The forum will announce  top 10 emerging technologies in chemistry worldwide and  top 10 scientific and technological achievements in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

This year’s forum, to be jointly held by Shenzhen and Hong Kong for the first time, will host the inaugural Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Development Forum.

It aims to help develop the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone into a key platform for promoting efficient and convenient flow of innovative elements and for fostering scientific and technological innovation cooperation within the GBA.

Chen Qingquan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering who will also give a speech at the main forum, said at yesterday’s conference that the forum will be a good opportunity for Shenzhen to showcase its vibrant atmosphere for  scientific and technological innovation on a global scale, thus attracting more researchers and talents to the city.

Before the forum, attendees will be treated with a helicopter tour to experience the urban charm of Shenzhen, known as the City of Miracles and City of Innovation.

Besides, scientists will be invited to give lectures in local schools.