Shanghai is set to host the 17th Pujiang Innovation Forum from Sept 7 to 10, announced by the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission during a press conference on Monday. Themed "Sharing Innovation and Shaping the Future", the forum, jointly organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai Municipal Government, aims to facilitate a global conversation on open and collaborative technological advancement.

This year's forum places a strong emphasis on creating an inclusive environment for science and technology innovation, with a focus on exploring avenues for open collaboration, seamless integration into the global innovation network and leadership in global technology governance. The overarching goal is to unite nations in establishing a fair and equitable framework for global scientific and technological progress.

With Hungary as the guest country of honor and Shandong Province as the guest province, the forum boasts a diverse agenda. Activities include an opening ceremony, a main forum, 24 specialized thematic forums, two dedicated exhibition and matchmaking events (InnoMatch Expo and WeStart), two special dialogues, and a variety of supporting events such as "Youth Hub" workshops, achievement releases, a guest country of honor night, and innovation competitions.

The forum will host over 300 distinguished figures from international organizations, leading universities, renowned research institutions and industry giants. Notably, nearly 40 percent of attendees represent more than 40 countries and regions, including the United States, Germany, Japan and Hungary. Hungary's involvement will be highlighted by co-hosted events like the China-Hungary Science and Innovation Day, fostering scientific and technological exchange and collaboration. Delegations from past guest countries like the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Brazil will also be in attendance.

Discussions at the forum will delve into crucial areas such as building robust innovation systems, enhancing national innovation capabilities, cutting-edge technological advancements, regional innovation development and the cultivation of new industries. Specialized forums will explore emerging fields like Web 3.0, computational biology, quantum technology, future materials, aerospace and ocean exploration, global health, and green and low-carbon technologies.

The forum will feature the return of key components such as the WeStart Global Entrepreneurial Investment Conference and the InnoMatch Global Tech-Matching Fair. WeStart will connect promising startups with vital capital, incubation resources and support services, showcasing pitches from 100 carefully selected startups. InnoMatch will utilize its online platform to facilitate technology trading, highlighting thousands of technology and talent needs across various sectors.

Recognizing the significance of nurturing the next generation of innovators, the forum will place a special focus on youth engagement. This includes the introduction of "Youth Hub" platforms, offering young innovators a space to exchange insights and experiences. In collaboration with MIT Technology Review China, a global youth forum will also be hosted.

Continuing its tradition of sharing valuable research and insights, the forum will unveil various reports, including the "China Regional Science and Technology Innovation Evaluation Report 2024", "Ideal City 2024", and "Shanghai Science and Technology Finance Ecological Annual Observation 2023".

Luo Bin contributed to this story.