The third Overseas Academicians' Qingdao Tour and Qingdao International Academicians Forum kicked off on May 30 in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province.

With a theme of "Opportunity and Challenge: Integrated Innovation and International Cooperation", the event gathered nearly 100 overseas well-known academicians, as well as representatives from more than 500 enterprises and 200 universities and research institutes.

Liu Jiayi, Party secretary of Shandong province, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. He first extended congratulations on the opening of the event and a sincere welcome to all the distinguished guests present, expressing thanks for their care and support to Shandong's development. 

Liu said that Shandong is a coastal powerhouse with abundant economic, cultural, tourism, marine, and education resources. The province is committed to promoting high-quality development, attracting investment and talents, integrating into the construction of the Belt and Road, and building a sound business environment.

He added that Qingdao is a vibrant, bustling metropolis that has competitive strengths in scientific and technological innovation. He noted that Qingdao International Academician Park is an important platform for Shandong to open up to the world and integrate global innovation resources.

He also expressed his hope that academicians and experts from around the world will learn more about China and Shandong, as well as conduct more international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation with the park.

Zhong Zhihua, vice present of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that the event is of great significance and value, as well as that about 100 academicians from more than 20 countries gather here to conduct scientific exchanges and promote industry-university-research cooperation.

He said that the Chinese Academy of Engineering is willing to carry out mutually beneficial cooperation with the academies of sciences and engineering of foreign countries.

He spoke highly of Qingdao International Academician Park, which promotes international academicians' cooperation and motivates regional economy development.

Wang Qingxian, Party secretary of Qingdao, said that Qingdao has a strong industrial foundation and outstanding regional innovation ability. Currently, it is promoting high-quality development driven by scientific and technological innovation, taking Qingdao International Academician Park as an important carrier and platform to pool academicians and experts from around the world, as well as to boost local scientific and technological innovation.

According to the conference agenda, on site tours to innovation centers and industrial zones in Qingdao, project promotions, and sub-forums will also take place.

Founded in 2016, Qingdao International Academician Park is situated in Licang district. It has established a system that includes academician workstations, industry incubators, and research institutes. It has rolled out a policy to provide financial support to academicians based on the process and output of their projects.

Over the past three years, the park has developed into a platform to attract investment and international talent based on its functions of basic research, applied research, and transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

To date, the park has attracted 108 academicians with 85 percent of them from abroad.

Attendees at the opening ceremony of the third Overseas Academicians' Qingdao Tour and Qingdao International Academicians Forum, which opened on May 30. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Liu Jiayi, Party secretary of Shandong province, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony. [Photo/qdlc.gov.cn]

Enterprises and financial institutions sign cooperation agreements with Qingdao International Academician Park. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]