On Feb 20, the Innovation China Conference 2023 was held by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) under the theme of "Innovation Creating Confidence for Development, Science & Technology Injecting Vitality into Industries" in Beijing.

The conference reviewed the main achievements of Innovation China initiative and made arrangements for the full implementation of its three-year action.

In his speech at the conference, Wan Gang, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and president of the CAST, put forward a three-point proposal for the further development of the initiative in 2023.

First, he called for efforts to strengthen the building of new engines for talent-driven development, to make full use of all national strategic sci-tech resources available, and bridge high-level talents and technological elements with industrial sectors.

Second, he suggested the cultivation of new development patterns for technological and economic integration, which is expected to closely follow the development of China's strategic emerging and future-oriented industries, accelerate the commercialization of sci-tech results, shore up weak links in the industrial and supply chains, and promote integrated development among innovation, entrepreneurship and venture investment.

Third, he called on the CAST to create more space for opening-up and coordination, to thoroughly implement its cooperative agreements with strategic partners, conduct multi-layer and constructive dialogue with the global sci-tech industry, and endeavor to build an opening-up and innovative ecology with international competitiveness.

The annual conference awarded outstanding individuals and groups for their contributions to the collaborative development among enterprises, universities and research institutions, unveiled role-model sci-tech service organizations in 2022 and released a series of award-winning lists. A financial partnership initiative for Innovation China. was also launched at the conference.

Innovation China is an important platform launched by the CAST to further bolster the country's sci-tech strength and promote the building of new development patterns. During the past three years, it has fully leveraged digital technology and organizational innovation to deepen sci-tech and economic integration in pilot cities.