Chongqing forum explores two-way link between science, development

The 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum (WSTDF) brought nearly 800 participants from science and technology, education, economics and other fields to Chongqing, southwest China, from Oct. 21 to 23 to explore how scientific innovation and development can reinforce each other.

Jointly hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and the Chongqing Municipal Government, the forum was themed "Co-evolution: Shaping New Ecology of the Future Industry."

From discussions on emerging technologies to research on local industrial needs and the presentation of new findings, the event explored how scientific advances can support development and how real-world challenges can, in turn, guide innovation.

The 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum opens in Chongqing, southwest China, Oct. 21, 2026.

Broadening dialogue across disciplines

"What is nicer is (that it's) not only people from telecommunications, but (also people) from many different fields," said David López-Pérez, Spanish co-dean of Beihang Valencia Polytechnic Institute and a professor at the Universitat Politècnica de València in Spain.

Discussions on topics such as digital twins helped him identify common ground among different research fields, he said, adding that he had met many peers and planned to stay in touch with them.

David López-Pérez, Spanish co-dean of Beihang Valencia Polytechnic Institute and a professor at the Universitat Politècnica de València in Spain, speaks at the 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum in Chongqing, southwest China, Oct. 21, 2026.

"The days when a scientist or engineer could say, 'I work in one field and I don't cross over into any other,' are gone," said Kenneth Thomas Victor Grattan, president of the International Measurement Confederation.

Addressing shared challenges requires people with different skill sets to work together on interdisciplinary research, he said.

Kenneth Thomas Victor Grattan, president of the International Measurement Confederation, addresses the 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum in Chongqing, southwest China, Oct. 21, 2026.

The WSTDF featured four thematic areas: frontier sensing and digital foundations, intelligent products and advanced manufacturing, green energy and low-carbon systems, and global challenges and collaborative governance. It also included 12 parallel sessions, bringing technological exploration, industrial development and governance into a shared discussion.

As a flagship event under CAST's International Month 2026, the forum provided a platform for participants from different disciplines and sectors to exchange ideas.

This year's International Month carries the theme "Originating Innovation, Nurturing Excellence," emphasizing consensus-building through comprehensive international conferences, innovation through specialized discussions, and trust-building through exchanges at the intersection of science and the humanities.

Guests network on the sidelines of the 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum in Chongqing, southwest China, Oct. 21, 2026.

Connecting global expertise with local needs

The WSTDF was held in Chongqing for the first time this year, offering an opportunity to connect scientific research with practical challenges arising from the city's complex terrain.

For López-Pérez, the city's mountainous landscape and high-rise buildings present challenges for wireless communications. At the same time, Chongqing's manufacturing base and businesses in artificial intelligence and drones offer opportunities to test and validate technologies, he said.

Grattan, meanwhile, saw potential applications for fiber-optic sensing in the city's infrastructure, including bridges, roads and dams.

"There is considerable potential for infrastructure in the Chongqing region through the use of fiber-optic sensors," he said, adding that he was keen to work with colleagues to establish new collaborations.

These perspectives illustrate how local challenges can inform international research discussions, while global expertise can offer new approaches to regional development.

The forum also extended this exchange to targeted research. Seven research groups, led by 12 academicians and comprising more than 100 experts, conducted studies focused on Chongqing's needs as it pursues high-quality development.

Guests attending the 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum take part in a technology-focused site visit in Chongqing, southwest China, Oct. 22, 2026.

Turning exchanges into lasting cooperation

The forum sought to translate discussions into practical outcomes.

At the opening ceremony, the 2026 Top 10 Science and Technology Foresights were released, the book series "Open Cooperation: International Science, Technology and Cultural Exchanges" was launched, and CAST signed a memorandum of understanding with the World Federation of Engineering Organizations. Outcomes from several parallel sessions were also presented.

The book series "Open Cooperation: International Science, Technology and Cultural Exchanges" is launched at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum in Chongqing, southwest China, Oct. 21, 2026.

Mohammad S. Obaidat, a professor at Monmouth University in the United States and the University of Jordan, highlighted the importance of common standards in discussions on artificial intelligence simulation.

"You need a standard in one country, and also we need a standard agreed on for all countries in the world," he said, pointing to open and unified standards for data interoperability and model validation as important prerequisites for applying technologies across platforms.

Mohammad S. Obaidat, a professor at Monmouth University in the United States and the University of Jordan, speaks at the 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum in Chongqing, southwest China, Oct. 22, 2026.

Mikaa Blugeon-Mered, a senior expert in global hydrogen market research at the Université du Québec and a Canadian clean hydrogen specialist, emphasized the need to take a broader view of the hydrogen industry.

"If you have a policy that's focusing only on hydrogen itself, you are missing one part of the equation," he said, arguing that talent, infrastructure, application demand and standards need to be considered across the entire value chain.

Mikaa Blugeon-Mered, a senior expert in global hydrogen market research at the Université du Québec and a Canadian clean hydrogen specialist, speaks at the 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum in Chongqing, southwest China, Oct. 22, 2026.

An industry map, the Top 10 Science and Technology Foresights and other outcomes presented at the forum reflected efforts to address these challenges and support cooperation across different fields.

From broadening interdisciplinary dialogue to connecting research with industrial needs and strengthening the foundations for collaboration, the WSTDF explored the relationship between science and development at multiple levels.

The gathering in Chongqing highlighted how bringing together different fields and perspectives can help identify shared challenges and strengthen collective efforts to address them.