Workers inspect vehicle exteriors, interiors, and other components at a Seres factory. (Photo/Chongqing Daily)

Chongqing - The 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum will be held in Chongqing from October 21 to 23, bringing together about 800 guests from nearly 40 countries and regions, including leading experts, international science and technology organization heads, and high-tech executives, to discuss “Co-evolution: Shaping a New Ecosystem for Future Industries.”

At the opening ceremony, the "Top 10 Annual Science and Technology Foresights" will be unveiled. Keynote speakers include, but are not limited to, leading Chinese and foreign scientists and entrepreneurs such as David López Pérez, Professor, Universitat Politècnica de València; Zhu Huarong, Chairman of China Changan Automobile Group; and Nils Stensønes, Member of Academia Europaea.

The conference will also feature 12 parallel forums over three days, organized by international scientific and technological organizations in China and national societies. Discussions will focus on four themes: frontier technologies and digital foundations, intelligent products and advanced manufacturing, green energy and low-carbon systems, and global challenges and collaborative governance.

The forum will also host a symposium where government leaders, academicians and experts will advise on Chongqing’s future industrial development. Ahead of the event, 12 academicians and more than 100 experts formed seven research groups to study key issues related to the city’s high-quality development. At the symposium, they will present recommendations to support local growth.

To let guests experience up close Chongqing's strong innovation ecosystem and its potential for open cooperation as a science and innovation highland in western China and a major advanced manufacturing base, the organizers will also arrange science and technology visits for Chinese and foreign guests during the forum. 

Four science and technology visit routes will focus on Chongqing's development achievements in energy revolution and future industries, embodied intelligence and super factories, germplasm innovation and biotechnology, and transportation and urban planning.

The China Association for Science and Technology and the Chongqing Municipal People's Government co-host the forum. Chongqing is at a critical juncture, leaping from "manufacturing" to "intelligent manufacturing."

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Chongqing's high-tech enterprises increased 2.5-fold, science and technology enterprises increased 2.9-fold, high-level science and innovation platforms increased 2-fold, R&D personnel doubled, technology contract transaction value increased 6.4-fold, and invention patents per 10,000 people increased 1.4-fold. 

Recently, the World Intellectual Property Organization released the 2026 Global Innovation Index ranking of the world's top 100 innovation clusters, in which Chongqing ranked 52nd globally, up five places from 2025.