Academicians and a Nobel Laureate Gather as 2026 Donghu Forum Opens in Wuhan

On October 15, the 2026 Donghu Forum opened at the Optics Valley Convention & Exhibition Center in Wuhan under the theme "Building an Innovation Hub and Strengthening a Strategic Fulcrum".

The 2026 Donghu Forum opens at the Optics Valley Convention & Exhibition Center in Wuhan | Photo: Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology

During the main forum's "Donghu Release" session, four authoritative reports were officially unveiled. The Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development released the "Wuhan Science and Technology Innovation Index Report 2026"; the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China issued the "Global Digital Economy Development Index Report 2026"; the National Science Library (Wuhan) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences published the "China Basic Research Competitiveness Report 2026"; and Wuhan University presented the "Global Enterprise Innovation Index Report 2026".

Four authoritative reports released | Photo: Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology

During the "Donghu Witness" segment, the grand prizes for the 8th National Science Experiment Showcase and the Donghu Special Prize for the 2026 National Youth "Create & Innovate" Practice Activities were presented.

During the keynote session, thought-provoking insights were delivered by Chen Liquan, recipient of the 2025 State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, researcher at the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE); Benjamin List, 2021 Nobel laureate in chemistry, foreign member of CAS, and professor at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung in Germany; Liu Jianjun, professor at Hunan University; Li Anmin, vice president of the China Telecom Research Institute; and Zhao Yu, deputy director of the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, CAS.

CAE academician Chen Liquan delivers a keynote speech | Photo: Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology

This year's Donghu Forum features one main forum and 10 parallel events. During the forum, themed light shows along both banks of the Yangtze and Han rivers, as well as public service advertisements across the metro system and on buses and taxis, will also be rolled out to champion innovation, pioneering spirit, and excellence, mobilizing efforts across society to promote innovation.

2021 Nobel laureate in chemistry Benjamin List delivers a keynote speech | Photo: Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology

Guests from China and abroad attend the main forum | Photo: Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology