SFC Market Talk | Why have so many scientists convened in the Greater Bay Area?

南方财经全媒体记者杨雨莱 广州报道

With open science as a driver for high-quality development, the 2024 Greater Bay Area Science Forum, is being held collaboratively in the three regions of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao from November 12th to 19th.

The forum, revolving the theme of "Leading Through Open Science," features an opening ceremony, a main forum, 14 sub-forums, and 5 special events, which will discuss cutting-edge and hot topics in the scientific and industrial communities. 

The forum has invited notable guests such as Nobel Prize winner Barry J. Marshall, Fields Medalist Efim Zelmanov, as well as numerous heads of international academic institutions, renowned domestic and foreign academicians, and representatives from leading enterprises to participate.

Here comes to my questions. Why are so many scientists willing to come to the Greater Bay Area? How does the technological innovation gather in the Greater Bay Area?

I would say there are two significant aspects of advantages for the Greater Bay Area. 

Firstly, emphasizing basic research and promoting the commercialization of scientific achievements. Guangdong insists on placing basic research in a more important position in the province's scientific and technological innovation work, launching the "Zhuoyue" Plan for basic research over a decade. The plan includes building a basic research platform system with distinctive features of the Greater Bay Area, promoting the formation of a high-level and multi-level laboratory system led by Pengcheng Laboratory and Guangzhou Laboratory.

It is also worth noting that during this forum, the "Chinese Academy of Sciences & Guangdong Province Science and Technology Achievements Matchmaking Conference" was officially launched, promoting the landing and transformation of the latest scientific and technological achievements of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in the GBA.

Secondly, deepening international cooperation to build a global open environment for science and innovation. With top experts and scientists from nearly 20 countries, one of the sub-forums, the "Big Science Project and International Cooperation," is further advancing the technological and organizational progress of the "π-HuB Project", which is a global initiative proposed by Chinese scientists to better understand the human proteome. By leveraging big science initiatives to drive international collaboration, the "π-HuB Project" has jointly constructed a global innovation governance system with 50 institutions from nearly 20 countries and regions.

The Fields Medalist Efim Zelmanov accepted SFC journalist during the forum, he spoke highly of the science development in GBA. He considered there is enormous support for science and in particular mathematics. From the society, and governments at levels, he found the support of education in China. And he witnessed great interest in science of Chinese students when he visited the local high schools. 

In the "Global Innovation Index 2024" released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), for the ranking of the world's top technology innovation clusters, the "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou" region ranks second globally for consecutive 5 years. Looking ahead to the future of the Greater Bay Area, with its promotion of the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements, and deepening international cooperation for science and innovation, it is only a matter of time before the GBA becomes an "international hub for science and innovation with global influence."

Director | Yu Xiaona 

Producer | Shi Shi 

Editor | Li Yinong 

Reporter | Yang Yulai

Video Editing | Li Qun