Professor Shechtman delivers a keynote speech at the 2017 Zhongguancun Forum on Dec 7. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

It is okay to fail on the pathway of innovation and entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs should accept failure and always start again, according to Dan Shechtman, winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Themed on "innovation, intelligence and new economy", the 2017 Zhongguancun Forum opened on Dec 7 in Beijing. Shechtman shared his views on the development of advanced technology and global innovation and entrepreneurship.

He said he believes education in creativity and entrepreneurship should start early, from kindergarten, and everyone, including villagers, should be able to accept good basic education.

"We should start teaching science as early as possible," he added. "People have to think of and know entrepreneurship."

Shechtman, who has been teaching innovation and entrepreneurship for the last 30 years, said successful entrepreneurs, new startup entrepreneurs and their professional mentors are all good sources of inspiration for students.

He also suggested that people should start with learning from other people's mistakes on the road of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Fear of failure has been many people's problem. Shechtman encourages entrepreneurs to accept failure.

"Failure is okay, start again. It's okay to fail, learn from babies," he stressed.

Shechtman also mentioned that government bodies play significant roles in supporting incubators and partnering with venture capital funds.