The 2024 Zhongguancun Forum will convene in Beijing from April 25th to 29th.

Chen Jiachang, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, outlined that this year's forum, themed "Innovation: Constructing a Better World," will feature five main segments: forum conferences, technology transactions, achievement showcases, frontier competitions, and supplementary events. Nearly 120 activities are scheduled, with invitations extended to over 100 countries and regions, as well as representatives from more than 150 foreign government entities and international organizations.

Chen Jiachang emphasized three key characteristics of the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum. Firstly, it will spotlight frontier exploration, focusing on cutting-edge sectors such as artificial intelligence, life sciences, and new materials. A series of conferences and events will unveil the latest significant scientific and technological breakthroughs, showcasing its role in fostering new productivity and steering global technological innovation. Secondly, the forum will emphasize sharing achievements, concentrating on technological domains that impact people's lives, including achieving carbon neutrality, advancements in medical health, and clean energy. Through activities like the Zhongguancun International Technology Transaction Conference and the Zhongguancun International Frontier Technology Competition, a platform will be provided for trading and sharing over 3,000 technological achievements from more than 40 countries and regions. Thirdly, it will prioritize open collaboration, facilitating not only government-to-government dialogues on scientific and technological cooperation but also broad participation from international scientific and technological organizations, researchers, innovative enterprises, and investors. The goal is to harness global expertise, foster exchange platforms, and inject new vitality into global scientific and technological cooperation.

Yu Yingjie, Member of  Beijing Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Education Working Committee, announced that the opening ceremony and plenary session of the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum will be held on the morning of April 25th. Throughout the forum, national ministries and commissions, international organizations, and provinces and cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei will organize 60 parallel forums. These will cover topics including basic research, artificial intelligence, space science, future industries, engineering technology, state-owned enterprise innovations, and ultra-high-definition audio and video.

Yu Yingjie highlighted that April 27th will be designated as AI Theme Day, featuring one main forum, four special forums, and seven featured forums. Over a hundred top experts, including five Nobel Prize and Turing Award laureates, will engage in discussions on cutting-edge topics such as large-scale models, embodied intelligence, and trustworthy AI. Additionally, a range of significant achievements will be unveiled to support the development of Beijing as a hub for AI innovation and industry.

On the afternoon of April 29th, a special release event will showcase major original achievements, significant innovative policies, and the latest research reports to continue shaping the direction of global cutting-edge technology and future industries.

As one of the parallel events of the Zhongguancun Forum, the 8th China Science Fiction Conference will take place at Shougang Park in Shijingshan District from April 27th to 29th. Themed around science fiction technology, creation, and industry cultivation, the conference will feature 18 events including forum discussions and a science fiction film week.

Notably, this year's Technology Transaction Conference, as part of the Zhongguancun Forum, will further emphasize its global, cutting-edge, and practical aspects. With 30 activities planned, including six targeted matchmaking sessions with countries like the UK, Italy, and South Korea, four national-level technology transfer "debut" events, and eight high-precision product "launch" events, the conference will showcase over 6,000 innovative projects from more than 40 countries and regions. Additionally, it will release lists of a hundred new technologies and international technology trading projects.

Established in 2007 with "Innovation and Development" as its enduring theme, the Zhongguancun Forum has successfully convened for 14 sessions. Serving as a vital platform for China to integrate into the global innovation network with an open stance, it remains committed to fostering collaboration and driving progress in science and technology on a global scale.