Zhejiang University contributes to global dialogue at the World Economic Forum

From June 23 to 25, the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum, often referred to as the Summer Davos, was held in Dalian. Under the theme “Innovating at Scale,” this year’s forum brought together more than 1,700 leaders from over 90 countries and regions. Participants attended keynote addresses by Chinese Premier LI Qiang and other global leaders, and explored how innovation can be scaled and transformed into new drivers of growth amid geopolitical shifts and the rapid advancement of emerging technologies.

Zhejiang University was among the three Chinese universities with the largest delegation at this year’s forum. The University’s representatives included Professor YAN Jianhua, Vice Chair of the Zhejiang University Development Committee; Professor GU Zhen, Associate Vice President; Professor YANG Yi from the School of Artificial Intelligence; and Professor ZHU Qiuguo from the College of Control Science and Engineering and founder of DEEP Robotics.

YAN Jianhua participated in panel discussions on topics including AI and Future Growth, where he exchanged views with leaders from business, government, and academia on clean energy policies, technological pathways, and future development. He also met with Roberto Bocca, Head of the Centre for Energy and Materials, as well as executives from leading enterprises, to explore opportunities for collaboration in clean energy.

GU Zhen took part in in a series of events, including the panel session Who Will Win the Race for Research Talent?. Drawing on Zhejiang University’s vibrant innovation ecosystem, he noted that universities and enterprises each possess unique strengths, and that both sides can achieve mutual benefit by establishing more integrated mechanisms for talent cultivation and the commercialization of research outcomes.

YANG Yi joined the session AI That Delivers: From Innovation to Global Impact, exchanging views with leading experts and businessmen on cutting-edge AI technologies, industrial applications, and future trends. ZHU Qiuguo participated in the session The Future of the Robotics Industry, where he shared DEEP Robotics’ experience in deploying quadruped robots in demanding environments such as substation inspection. He also discussed the technical challenges posed by dynamic household environments and outlined the company's latest technological solutions.

The forum provided Zhejiang University with an important platform to engage with global leaders from academia, industry, and government. Through active participation in high-level dialogues on AI clean energy, talent development, and robotics, Zhejiang University showcased its strengths in innovation and interdisciplinary research while contributing Chinese perspectives to conversations shaping the future of science, technology, and sustainable development.

Adapted and translated from the article written by YANG Ying, TONG Jun
Translator: FANG Fumin
Editor: DING Chenwei