The 2026 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Meeting was held in Beijing from March 25th to 29th. With the annual theme "Full Integration Between Technological and Industrial Innovation," this year's forum featured five major sections comprising over a hundred events in total: forum conferences, announcement of achievements, trading of technologies, competitions of frontier technologies, and other assorted activities. More than a thousand guests from more than 100 countries and regions gathered for these activities to discuss innovation and development.
Three international faculty members from Peking University—Kyle Gannon, Thien Duong, and John Alekna—were invited to attend this year's forum. They participated in multiple events, including the forum's opening ceremony, the Beijing International Youth Innovation and Development Forum, and the World-Class Sci-Tech Journal Development Forum. They engaged in in-depth exchanges with fellow attendees and scholars on topics such as scientific innovation and research cooperation.
Kyle Gannon, an American assistant professor at the Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research, commented: "As a first-time attendee, I wasn't sure what to expect from this year's Zhongguancun Forum, but it turned out to be a great experience. The sessions featured a wide range of talks on recent technological innovations from companies based in Beijing and across China, with a strong focus on AI. One of the more memorable moments was seeing dancing robots. The robots also played musical instruments with their hands, which was quite impressive. My favorite session, however, highlighted the top 10 scientific advances of 2025. Two stood out to me: the successful gene-edited pig liver transplant, which marks a significant breakthrough in cross-species transplantation, and the new discoveries from the far side of the moon, particularly the finding that the mantle on that side is significantly drier than the near side. I'm already looking forward to seeing what innovations 2026 will bring."
Regarding his experience in the "Enjoy Learning Chinese" program, he said: "When I first arrived in Beijing three years ago, I couldn't speak a word of Chinese. Now I can confidently chat with native Beijingers. Learning Chinese has made my life in Beijing much more convenient and comfortable. The Beijing International Center for Mathematical Research gathers many outstanding mathematicians and is an excellent platform. I look forward to achieving results together with colleagues from around the world."
"The 2026 Zhongguancun Forum was an inspiring window into the future of innovation," said Thien Duong, a Vietnamese associate researcher at the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering. One of the most unforgettable moments for him was watching a performance by a humanoid robot orchestra, in which the robots' precision in playing instruments was astonishing. Through the forum, he gained a deeper understanding of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which emphasizes "enhancing self-reliance and strength in science and technology while deepening international cooperation."
During the conference, Thien Duong was also interviewed by China Global Television Network (CGTN), where he shared his experience at the forum and introduced his research work at Peking University, expressing great anticipation and confidence in his research endeavors in China.
Background Information:
The Zhongguancun Forum is a national-level platform for global scientific and technological innovation exchange and cooperation. Established in 2007 with "Innovation and Development" as its permanent theme, the forum aims to promote the sharing of global innovative ideas and development concepts among nations, facilitate discussions on cutting-edge technology and future industry trends, deliberate on global innovation rules and governance, and jointly advance science and technology for the benefit of people worldwide.
