CAST Unveils Plans for the International Month 2026
The press conference site. (PHOTO: CAST)
On September 22, the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) announced at a press conference that the International Month 2026: Openness, Cooperation, Trust will be held this October under the annual theme "Originating in Innovation, Nurturing Excellence." The month-long event will bring together scientists, engineers and research organizations from around the world for a series of conferences and exchange activities.
Three sections, three focuses
Guided by the aims of advancing global governance, tracking frontier science and technology, and gathering talent worldwide, the International Month 2026 has streamlined its sections to mobilize the international science and technology community around three priorities: consensus building, innovation leadership, and trusted cooperation.
The Comprehensive International Science and Technology Conference section focuses on "consensus building." These conferences cover a wide range of disciplines and carry significant international weight. Their value lies not in a single technological breakthrough, but in setting direction, clarifying principles and pooling strength for global science and technology cooperation. They bring together scientists, engineers and representatives of international sci-tech organizations for high-level dialogue on common challenges and build broad agreement on directional, principled and governance-related issues.
The Specialized High-level Academic Conference section focuses on "innovation leadership." Aiming at breakthroughs in basic research, technology iteration trends and future industrial transformation, it will organize in-depth discussions among Chinese and foreign experts on key scientific questions and technological challenges. More than 30 high-level international academic conferences will be held in fields including new energy, materials science, space science, artificial intelligence, brain science, integrated circuits and quantum technology. The goal is to produce high-quality research reports and academic papers, release strategic and forward-looking standards and rule initiatives, and create an international debut platform for original scientific and technological achievements, innovative application scenarios and open-source ecosystems.
The Demonstrative Science-Humanity Exchange Mechanism section focuses on "trusted cooperation." This section will hold more than 30 people-to-people science and technology exchange activities in key regional bilateral mechanisms, with a highlight on the World Young Scientist Summit. It will build a science dialogue mechanism for scientists, engineers, and particularly young and female science and technology workers, allowing short-term exchanges to develop into long-term cooperation and laying a solid foundation of trust for an open and inclusive international science and technology cooperation environment.
Flagship events take shape
According to the press conference, the 2026 Midterm Meeting of Members of the International Science Council & Beijing Science Dialogue will be held in Beijing from October 19 to 23, with a total of about 1,200 participants, including around 400 international guests. The meeting will issue the Beijing Declaration and unveil a series of major scientific achievements and innovation platforms.
The World Science and Technology Development Forum will be held in Chongqing, southwest China, from October 21 to 23, with more than 160 international guests from nearly 40 countries and regions already invited. It will release a series of forward-looking outcomes, including a science and technology foresight report and a plan to enhance engineering capacity in developing countries.
The World Young Scientist Summit will be held in Wenzhou, a city in east China's Zhejiang province, from October 24 to 25, with participants under the age of 45 accounting for more than 70 percent. The World Academy of Sciences will attend for the first time as the summit's guest international organization, bringing a delegation of nearly 30 young corresponding academicians. The summit will also partner with 33 high-level Chinese and international journals to call for papers.
The World Laureates Forum will be held in Shanghai from October 30 to November 1, with 33 top scientists, 92 senior scientists and 79 young scientists confirmed to attend. It will introduce an award for young scientists, establish a joint academic committee of Chinese and international scientists, and launch an international cooperation initiative.
According to the press conference, this year's events will focus on delivering practical results rather than pursuing scale or spectacle. Organizers are encouraged to hold activities in universities, research institutes, enterprises and industrial parks, and to use digital tools where they help. The aim is to keep the events lean and pragmatic, showcase China's commitment to open cooperation, and invite partners from around the world to join hands in advancing science and technology for shared benefit. A special publication on the series of events will be available on CAST's official website.
Sources: Science and Technology Daily