Co-sponsored by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and the People's Government of Shandong Province, the 22nd Annual Meeting of CAST is to be held in Qingdao, Shandong Province from August 10 to 15, with the theme of “Innovation-driven Reform and Opening-up: Technology Fuels Cooperation and Development”.

The construction of the Innovation China will be integrated to the annual meeting to help Shandong build itself a prototype room of the integration of industry, university and research, said Liu Xingping, director general of the CAST's Department of Academic Affairs.

Relying on the “Innovation China” digital platform and Qingdao and Tai 'an, two “Innovation China” pilot cities, the annual meeting will, through technical services and transactions, introduce domestic and foreign technologies and talents, projects and enterprises, and foreign scientific and technological resources, break through the breakpoints of technology transfer and achievement transformation, and promote technological innovation, industrial transformation and regional upgrading.

The symposium of the provincial Party and government leaders and academician experts is the highlight of the annual meeting. Since September last year, Shandong has carried out research in 13 cities, involving more than 100 academicians and experts. They have put forward ten think tank consultation reports and ten decision-making suggestions, and made suggestions on the construction of a comprehensive pilot zone for reform and opening up in Shandong province and the conversion of old growth drivers into the new ones.

During the annual meeting, the host will hold the China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pioneer Forum and high-end seminars on artificial intelligence, advanced materials and other fields. 100-odd scientists, 100-odd entrepreneurs and enterprise science and technology personnel will gather to contribute their wisdom, and deepen the interaction among government, industry, university, research, finance and application.

At present, 13 cities in Shandong have reached cooperation intention with the national societies on 46 projects, involving agriculture, new materials, ocean, intelligent manufacturing and other aspects, and cooperation agreements will be signed at the annual meeting.

On the list of needs for science and technology innovation in Shandong Province, 89 projects have confirmed the academicians and experts for cooperation, and 19 projects have reached cooperation intention and will sign cooperation agreements at the annual meeting.