On the afternoon of 10 March, the first meeting of the Tengchong Scientists Forum Development Advisory Committee for 2026 convened in Beijing. Attendees included Academician Gu Binglin, Chairman of the Tengchong Scientists Forum and former President of Tsinghua University; Academician Xu Zhihong, Co-Chairman of the Forum and former President of Peking University; Academician Rao Zihe, Co-Chairman of the Forum and former President of Nankai University; alongside nearly 50 members of the Forum's Development Advisory Committee.
The meeting was chaired by Academician Zheng Hairong of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Executive Vice President of Nanjing University, and Director of the Forum's Development Advisory Committee.
Pooling Wisdom and Strength, Embarking on a New Journey Together
The meeting commenced with a ceremony to present appointment certificates to newly appointed committee members. Last year's forum inaugurated the Tengchong Young Scientist Award, inviting recipients to join the forum's Development Advisory Committee on a voluntary basis. The addition of 17 new members has infused fresh impetus and youthful dynamism into the forum's think tank, signifying continuous enhancement in its strategic advisory and resource integration capabilities while further strengthening its intellectual foundation.
During the meeting, Chen Yu, Secretary-General and Director of the Yunnan Tengchong Scientists Forum Centre, delivered a work report on the 2026 Tengchong Scientists Forum. This comprehensively reviewed the outstanding achievements of the 2025 forum and previous editions across guest calibre, academic outcomes, results transformation, and international outreach. It also systematically outlined the 2026 forum's overarching vision, objectives, activity framework, and support arrangements.
The meeting focused on reviewing and discussing the ‘2026 Tengchong Scientists Forum Overall Plan (Draft for Discussion)’. The Development Advisory Committee engaged in in-depth exchanges on key issues including forum theme planning, guest invitations, international cooperation, outcome transformation, and market-oriented operations. They put forward a series of targeted and forward-looking suggestions to ensure the high-quality delivery of the fifth-anniversary forum. Committee members affirmed their commitment to leveraging professional expertise and resource networks to assist in inviting leading scientists, multinational corporate executives, and representatives from international organisations. This will foster deeper integration between industry, academia, research, and finance, thereby enhancing the forum's global influence. Members also offered valuable insights on further improving the Tengchong Young Scientist Award and the Tengchong Young Scientists Forum.
Members of the Development Advisory Committee actively contributed their views and suggestions.
Gu Wei, Deputy Director of the Yunnan Tengchong Science Forum Centre and Head of its Beijing Representative Office, presented the Development Advisory Committee's work plan for 2026. Committee members deliberated on the annual agenda and operational mechanisms, further clarifying the committee's core responsibilities in strategic foresight research, agenda setting, project evaluation, resource linkage, and outcomes transformation support. These efforts provide robust safeguards for advancing the forum's professionalisation, internationalisation, market orientation, and sustainable development.
Looking ahead, scaling new heights
At the conclusion of the meeting, Academician Gu Binglin, Chair of the Tengchong Scientists Forum, alongside co-chairs Academician Xu Zhihong and Academician Rao Zihe, and Ma Minxiang, Deputy Director of the Forum's Organising Committee Office, delivered concluding remarks. They expressed gratitude for the intellectual contributions of the Development Advisory Committee and the wholehearted support of its members. Furthermore, they outlined requirements and aspirations for delivering a high-calibre fifth-anniversary forum, enhancing the forum's international influence, facilitating the implementation of scientific and technological innovation resources, and successfully organising the Tengchong Science Prize and the Tengchong Young Scientist Award.
The successful convening of this meeting charted a clear course and galvanised formidable synergy for the Forum's fifth-anniversary celebrations. Moving forward, the Forum will harness the collective wisdom and strength of all committee members to organise the 2026 Tengchong Scientists Forum and its annual programme with elevated standards and concrete measures. It will also steadfastly advance the comprehensive enhancement of both the Tengchong Science Prize and the Tengchong Young Scientist Award, from their operational execution to their broader impact.
Development Advisory Committee
The Development Advisory Committee serves as the supporting body for the Academic Committee and Advisory Committee.
Comprising one Chair and several Vice-Chairs, the Committee is organised into divisions including Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, Information and Technology Sciences, Agriculture and Ecological Environment, and Social Sciences and Economics. Its membership encompasses young scientists, science and technology policy researchers, industrial technology experts, and international affairs specialists, with an emphasis on practical capabilities and cross-disciplinary perspectives.
