The 2019 Zhongguancun Forum will be held at the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center from Oct 16 to 18, according to a press conference held at the Conference Center of the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center in Beijing on Oct 11.

A representative of the forum organizer introduced the overall situation and the agenda of the 2019 Zhongguancun Forum, and the renovation of the venue. Zhai Lixin, director of the Zhongguancun Administrative Committee, Zeng Jin, deputy head of the Haidian District People's Government, and Zhao Changshan, chairman of Zhongguancun Development Group, attended the meeting.

Zhai Lixin, director of the Zhongguancun Administrative Committee, gives a speech at the conference. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

At the press conference, Zhai introduced the overall situation, the progress and the highlights of the forum.

Zhai said that compared with previous sessions, this year's forum has been upgraded in all aspects. In terms of level, it is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Association for Science and Technology and the Beijing Municipal People's Government, and it is supported by the World Intellectual Property Organization and Science magazine.

The forum is undertaken by the Zhongguancun Administrative Committee, the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, the Haidian District Government, Zhongguancun Development Group and the Torch High Technology Industry Development Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

It will last for three days and offer more than 30 events including forums, exhibitions and publications. The number of participants has also increased compared to previous sessions.

Zhai pointed out the highlighted characteristics of the 2019 Zhongguancun Forum:

First, focusing on hot issues and having distinctive features. At present, innovation is a hot topic in the world. Beijing, with the most science education resources, is a scientific and technological innovation center with global influence. Zhongguancun is a pioneer of innovative development in China.

Second, rich content and novel form. This year’s forum adopts the framework of "conference + exhibition + launch event", which can be summarized as "1+18+1+1", where the first 1 is the opening ceremony and plenary session, 18 is the number of parallel forums, the second 1 is the Zhongguancun International Advanced Science and Technology Achievement Exhibition and the last 1 is the launch event of significant achievements.

Third, having high-end and diverse participants. The guests participating in the forum include representatives of international organizations such as the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the European Patent Office, Nobel laureates in physiology and medicine, and winners of the Fields Medal.

Fourth, international. Since the launch of online registration, the forum has received widespread attention from the international community. To date more than 400 foreign guests from 50 countries and regions have confirmed their participation.

Subsequently, Zhao Changshan introduced the main agenda and the guests of the forum.

According to the agenda, the opening ceremony and plenary meeting will be held on the morning of the second day of the forum (Oct 17). Then, representatives of the organizers, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation, and invited guests will give speeches. After the opening ceremony, a plenary session will be held, in which masters in science and technology circles will delivers speeches and make exchanges.

In terms of guest invitations, Zhongguancun Development Group has invited many distinguished guests, including partners in international innovation exchanges in recent years. It has created a market-oriented platform that innovates through channels such as universities, alliance associations, enterprises, social institutions, and experts and scholars.

In response to reporters' questions, Zeng Jin said that the Zhongguancun Forum is closely connected with Haidian District. Haidian District, as the seat of Zhongguancun Science City, has made the following preparations for this year's Zhongguancun Forum: it has included the forum in Beijing's new urban plan, it has greatly improved the capacity of technological innovation and it has developed a high-standard plan.

Zeng Jin also said that Haidian District will hold AI World Conference & Expo 2019 during the forum.

Founded in 2007, the Zhongguancun Forum has determined "innovation and development" as a permanent theme. Since its launching, it has continuously innovated concepts and forms to better serve national science and technology and economic development and global innovation and entrepreneurship. It has increased communication between domestic and foreign scientific and technological circles and industries, and promoted international cooperation in innovation.