Scientists unite behind vision of excellence

The X-Lake Forum in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, has demonstrated the Chinese city's economic ambition to push the envelope in its high-quality sustainable growth through innovation and integrated regional development.

The forum held on Tuesday, a sideline of the ongoing China Hi-Tech Fair 2022, has put scientists — including Roger Kornberg, a Nobel chemistry laureate from the United States; and Russian-American mathematician Efim Zelmanov, a Fields Medal winner — academicians; professors; engineers and entrepreneurs from around the world in the limelight.

In his speech, Kornberg spoke about the importance of disease prevention and control. He regarded atmospheric particle pollution a leading factor in global human health.

The professor of structural biology at Stanford University School of Medicine believes that solutions to air pollution should be achieved through science and technology. Smartphones and devices with massive data empowered by technology dissemination can help make society healthier and more efficient, he said.

Zelmanov, a world-renowned algebraist, urged Shenzhen and the wider Pearl River Delta and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to foster top-notch universities, as well as other mathematics education systems at different levels, not just in schools, but top universities and comprehensive research institutions.

He joined the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen as chair professor of the department of mathematics in September.

The Chinese government is paying great attention to the development of science, especially mathematics, said Zelmanov. He expressed hopes that over the coming decade, Shenzhen will be able to become a world-class research center, talent training center and international exchange center.

Covering a range of cutting-edge technologies, advanced industries and creative business models with one main forum, 13 parallel subforums and activities involving regional and global major players, the event served as a regional platform for in-depth academic and industrial exchanges, business and technology cooperation, and regional collaboration and integrated development.

Wang Zhigang, the minister of science and technology, one of the event sponsors, said that Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have made fruitful outcomes in integrated development, citing the World Intellectual Property Organization's latest Global Innovation Index, in which Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou ranked second among the world's leading science and technology clusters.

Wang said the ministry, along with other government departments, will work closely with Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and support X-Lake Sciensity of Shenzhen in pooling high-quality innovation resources to make it a major platform for international industrial and technological cooperation.

The X-Lake Sciensity is home to more than half of the universities, over 60 percent of high-caliber talents and 70 percent of innovation and entrepreneurial platforms in Shenzhen.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said via video link that Hong Kong will "create an economic zone at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen port to further drive the development of the cities".

He noted that his government will discuss with its counterpart a plan to launch a special cross-border policy in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park on a trial basis to promote the cross-border flow of innovation and technology resources.

Shenzhen also announced the founding of several new innovation and technology platforms at the forum. They include X-Institute and Shenzhen innoX Academy, as well as the launch of the New Cornerstone Science Foundation.