2022 Youth Innovation Talk launched in Beijing

Hosted by the Beijing Overseas Talents Center (BOTC) and organized by the Providence Academy, the first session of the 2022 Youth Innovation Talk was held in Beijing on September 30, with the theme "High-Quality Development Driven by Global Innovation Cooperation". 

Scholars, entrepreneurs and investors from China and the US attended the event in-person and online, starting the dialogue with the topic "Technology Innovation of Education in China and the US". 

Hu Yixiong, head of the BOTC, George Smoot, winner of the Nobel prize in physics in 2006, Erik Luijten, professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the Northwestern University, and domestic and overseas young entrepreneurs and investors attended the activity. 

Hu Yixiong, head of the Beijing Overseas Talents Center delivers opening remarks at the 2022 Youth Innovation Talk, held in Beijing on Sept 30, 2022. 

Hu extended a warm welcome to the global participants and encouraged the young to step up innovation and boost social development. He shared his belief that young people of different countries can strengthen mutual understanding, share knowledge and experiences and inspire innovation through dialogue and communication to achieve high-quality development. Beijing, a center of international exchanges, will better establish a platform for global dialogue and international communication for young people. 

George Smoot (left), a Nobel prize winner in physics, and Erik Luijten, professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the Northwestern University, attend the 2022 Youth Innovation Talk and deliver keynote speeches on Sept 30, 2022. 

In his keynote speech, Smoot applauded China's STEM education system, and shared his teaching and research experience of advanced technology and science. He asserted the necessity to continue to foster cross-border initiatives for academic exchanges and collaborations, in order to further explore the potential of technological innovation. Luijten introduced the innovation research methodology of the university, which closely combines academic endeavors and industry experience for students. He said that there will be more opportunities to collaborate with young Chinese scholars and entrepreneurs in the future in the material sciences sector.

The round table dialogue

 Four young people joined in the panel discussion, namely, EasyTransfer Co-Founder Gao Yutong, Will Seaton, a member of the Schwarzman Scholars program of Tsinghua University, Yu Tianyi, a founding partner of Taihill Venture, and OriLab Co-Founder Cheng Aobei. The panelists shared their experiences in cross-border entrepreneurship and investment, discussing collaboration opportunities between China and the US, and trending industries suitable for younger generations to focus on. The panel discussion concluded with a Q&A from the audience, both in-person and online.

Talk with guests online 

Following the first session, the 2022 Youth Innovation Talk is scheduled to hold future sessions covering themes such as innovation in Israel and North Europe. More scholars, entrepreneurs and investors around the world are expected to join future discussions.