2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum Unites Global Tech Leaders in Shanghai

The 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum, an essential platform for fostering international collaboration in science and technology, convened from September 20 to 22 in Shanghai. Founded in 2008, this forum has consistently evolved, solidifying its reputation as a prominent venue for discussing technological innovations not just in China, but globally. With the theme "Sharing Innovation, Shaping the Future – Building an Open and Cooperative Global Sci-Tech Community," this year's event showcased a robust agenda aimed at forging new pathways for international technological partnerships.

The forum attracted around 550 prominent science and technology leaders from over 300 institutions hailing from 45 distinct countries and regions. Notably, nearly 40% of the international participants came from nations including Belarus, the United States, Germany, Switzerland, and Denmark, alongside representatives from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The event's structure included an inaugural ceremony, a primary forum, and 30 thematic sessions, as well as five major events: the InnoMatch Tech-Matching Fair, the WeStart Entrepreneurial Investment Conference, a Young Scientists Roundtable, an International Talent Roundtable, and the concluding ceremony of the "China-Belarus Sci-Tech Innovation Year."

Central to the forum was the emphasis on practical applicability and problem-solving. Representatives from various sectors contributed their insights to bolster China's strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing its leadership in science and technology. The Science and Technology Policy Forum delved into the integration of technological advancements with industrial innovation, assessing vital measures required for the reform of the existing technology framework. Additionally, the Regional Innovation Development Forum and the National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone Forum focused on advancing regional collaboration and promoting effective dialogues aimed at synchronizing innovation resources across regions.

Reflecting the dynamic trends emerging in global science and technology, the 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum set the stage for discussions on the future industries. The thematic sessions covered pivotal topics such as Web 3.0, computational biology, next-gen materials, future energy solutions, aerospace, marine science, global health challenges, and sustainable low-carbon technologies. A highlight of the forum was the InnoMatch Tech-Matching Fair, which posted a staggering 10,000 global technology requests, with participating enterprises pledging over 20 billion yuan in support.

The fair also announced 2,000 exciting new job opportunities and highlighted more than 80 innovative products and demonstration projects from advanced fields. Participation included over 120 major corporations, more than 200 small and medium enterprises, and upwards of 200 universities, research facilities, and service providers, engaged both online and in-person.

The WeStart Entrepreneurial Investment Conference gathered significant attention, receiving 1,487 applications for the prestigious WeStart TOP100 Innovation Competition across four emergent sectors: biopharmaceuticals, integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, and future industries — inclusive of 71 international initiatives. Following rigorous preliminary assessments, 100 exemplary projects were chosen to present at the investment conference, where they engaged in crucial discussions regarding investment opportunities with numerous venture capital firms and financial entities.

The 2025 Pujiang Innovation Forum not only facilitated a meeting of minds but also laid down crucial groundwork for future advancements within the global science and technology community, making strides towards a more collaborative and innovative world. It has set a profound example of how international cooperation can engender meaningful technological progress that benefits societies worldwide.