Opening Ceremony for the 18th Symposium on Scientific Research

Innovate research model to build a world-class university innovation system

On March 13th, the opening ceremony for the 18th Symposium on Scientific Research was held at Tsinghua University. The theme of this year’s symposium is “Innovate research model to build a world-class university innovation system”. The Secretary of the Party Committee and Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang delivered a special report. The President of Tsinghua University Qiu Yong delivered a keynote report, and Vice President of Tsinghua University You Zheng gave a working report. Chen Xu, Chairperson of Tsinghua University Council presided over the opening ceremony. Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Science and Technology He Defang, Director of the Department of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education Lei Chaozi, Tsinghua University leaders Wang Xiqin, Xue Qikun, Zheng Li, and Peng Gang, Vice Chairperson of Tsinghua University Council Xie Weihe, former Vice President of Tsinghua University Kang Kejun, Director and Vice Director of Tsinghua Academic Committee academician Nie Jianguo and Li Yadong, as well as other representatives and experts from relevant fields attended the opening ceremony.

Minister Wang Zhigang delivered a special report entitled "Giving full play to the important role of world-class universities and accelerate the construction of a world power in science and technology". Wang stressed that since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee under the leadership of Xi Jinping has attached great importance to scientific and technological innovation and placed it at the core of China's overall development. Xi has pointed out that innovation is the primary driving force for development. In the current critical period of epidemic prevention and control, Xi visited the Academy of Military Medical Sciences and the School of Medicine at Tsinghua University to inspect the scientific research on novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as well as the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Xi emphasized that science and technology are the most powerful weapons in humanity's battle against diseases, and mankind cannot defeat a major disaster or epidemic without scientific development and technological innovation, which highlighted the important strategic significance of scientific and technological innovation.

Wang illustrated the significance of the construction of a science and technology world power from “four logics”: the "historical logic" of national power, the "reality logic" of economic and social development, the "inevitable logic" of the internal and external environment in the new era, and the “evolution logic” of scientific and technological development. He noted that we should have a profound understanding of the significance and path in building a world scientific and technological power against the background of the unprecedented changes of our century. The new scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation are the distinctive features of the unprecedented changes in this century, which will become the main forces spearheading the changes in the world and the rise and fall of major powers.

Wang summarized the important experience of China's remarkable achievements in scientific and technological innovation, including strong institutional advantages, perfect institutional capabilities, tremendous market space and strong capabilities of overall coordination. He also pointed out that in the new era, China also faces new challenges in such aspects as the ability of independent research and development of key core technologies, the ability to independently predict the cutting-edge direction of scientific and technological development, the ability to guide and mobilize the whole of society's innovative resources, and the ability to lead the formulation of standards and rules for the development of new technologies and new industries.

Wang elaborated on the strategic orientation of China's scientific and technological innovation in the new era, and stressed that building a world power in science and technology requires building a number of world-class universities, a number of world-class research platforms and bases, and the continuous emergence of a number of major original scientific achievements. He pointed out that the first-class universities are the “fountainhead” for the implementation of innovation-driven development strategies. As a frontrunner of China’s higher education, Tsinghua University should firmly grasp the new demands and new tasks for the construction of a world power in science and technology and a national innovation system, and continue to lead in the cultivation of high-end talents, the construction of strategic scientific and technological strength, and the exploration of fundamental and frontier research, to support the implementation of the national strategy as well as the economic and social development.

Wang hoped that Tsinghua University will adhere to the combination of scientific research and higher education, and give full play to the advantages of cultivating high-level talents; adhere to the combination of goal-oriented and free exploration; adhere to the generation of the general theory and major scientific problems from economic and social practices to solve the key problems restricting the development of industry; and continue to serve the country in making scientific and technological decisions. Wang stressed that Tsinghua should fully play an important role as a world-class university under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, steadfastly implement the strategy of innovation-driven development, speed up the construction of an innovative country and the world science and technology power, and strive for the realization of the "two one hundred year" goal, as well as the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

President Qiu Yong delivered a keynote report entitled “Leading the future through self-reliance and innovation; contributing Tsinghua strength to building a world power in science and technology”. “Self-reliance is the spiritual foundation of Tsinghua people, and self-reliant Tsinghua people always pursue innovation,” said President Qiu at the beginning of the report. Citing the poetic lines “When I go out to see Mount Nanshan, I marvel at the splendid landscape ever inspiring,” Qiu Yong stressed that Tsinghua’s research work should not only strive for self-reliance and innovation, but also pursue excellence and lead the future.

Qiu Yong noted that on March 2nd Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the University to inspect the research work on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus epidemic, stressing that the COVID-19 research must be taken as a major and pressing task. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, Tsinghua has always insisted that the prevention and control of the epidemic should not be slackened, teaching and research should not be suspended, and reform and development should not be relaxed. Qiu Yong reviewed the history and tradition of scientific research in Tsinghua and stressed that every critical period in the developmental history of the People’s Republic of China has witnessed Tsinghua people’s constant struggle for self-reliance and innovation. Tsinghua should also engage in the current research on containing the epidemic and give full play to the role of science and technology to come up with a satisfactory solution.

Qiu Yong summarized the achievements made in the research reform since the 17th symposium on scientific research. Qiu Yong noted that over the past five years Tsinghua has made remarkable improvements in the development of its discipline, academic level and innovation capabilities, which are reflected in the constant improvement in the quality of academic papers published, the many national awards in science and technology, the construction of leading national key laboratories, the remarkable application of research results to production, and the new developments in liberal arts. The new think tank system provides intellectual support to address national and global problems. A comprehensive discipline layout covering 11 disciplines has been completed, leading research in China.

Qiu Yong highlighted the important measures and achievements of the university in scientific and technological innovation. Over the past five years, Tsinghua University has taken the initiative to serve the national strategy and set up a substantial institute for aero engines; accelerated breakthroughs in cutting-edge science and technology, scoring a series of major key technological achievements; strengthened free and exploratory fundamental research, striving to achieve major breakthroughs in leading original achievements; promoted interdisciplinary research, setting up seven interdisciplinary research institutions to carry out pioneering, subversive and forward-looking research; actively explored the university-enterprise and university-region cooperative innovation modes, promoting cooperative innovation in production, teaching and research; implemented its global strategy, training innovative talents and expanding the space for international exchanges and cooperation; vigorously promoted innovation and entrepreneurship education and built a complete system of innovation and entrepreneurship education; created an academic ecology that encourages innovation, improved its academic evaluation system, revised its academic degree evaluation standards, and strengthened the improvement of its learning style.

Qiu Yong pointed out that despite the remarkable results achieved in the reform of research over the past five years, current research work is still facing a series of problems and challenges given the new situation and new requirements. First, perseverance is required for the development of research culture and academic ecology. Second, the discipline layout should further adapt to the requirements of the new era. Interdisciplinary research and development need clearer and smoother organizational and institutional guarantees. Third, organized research should be conducted for major needs and critical research tasks. Fourth, in the layout of research work, we should not only address bottleneck technical problems, but also produce significant original achievements for the progress of human civilization, and stay committed to developing strategic scientific and technological power.

Qiu Yong stressed that as a long-lived institution the university pursues academic and scientific research as its lifeblood. The integration of science and education is the essential characteristic and unique advantage of the university. An inclusive academic atmosphere, a wide range of disciplines and cross-regional and cross-cultural talent groups determine the irreplaceable core position of the university in the national innovation system. Qiu pointed out that innovation requires courage and confidence, there is no boundary between foundation and application, and interdisciplinary study should become the norm. The next step is to further promote the integration of social science and natural science, art and science, promote the integrated development of science, technology, economy and society, and speed up the establishment of an efficient innovation system. The purpose of this symposium on research is to find effective solutions, to provide strong support for academic research from partial leading to extensive leading by 2030, and to make significant contributions to the construction of a world power in scientific and technological innovation.

Vice President of Tsinghua University You Zheng gave a working report on the arrangements and requirements for this 18th symposium on scientific research. He introduced the eight topics to be discussed at the symposium: the development of academic ecology and academic community, the discipline development plan and discipline adjustment mechanism, the layout of fundamental frontiers and key core technologies, the construction of major innovation platforms and research teams, new industry-university-research cooperation and mechanisms for the application of research results to production, global open innovation cooperation, integration of science and education and cultivation of innovative talents, and the construction of a first-class university innovation system. You Zheng noted that the Symposium will continue from March until August 2020, including three stages: the discussion of problems, the exchange of reports and the conclusion stage. In terms of organizational support, the university has set up a leading group, a working group and an advisory expert group for this 18th symposium on scientific research, and has set up eight special groups for the symposium to carry out panel discussions. Each working group is responsible for guiding the organization of discussions within the university, while the schools and departments carry out discussions under the guidance of the working groups and experts. You also proposed a number of expected results to be produced during this symposium.

The Chairperson of Tsinghua University Council Chen Xu noted as Chair of the symposium that it is a glorious tradition of Tsinghua University to hold regular symposiums on research work. Since it was first held in 1956, the symposium has been successfully held 17 times, playing an important role in promoting the reform and development of research in the university. During the critical period of the fight against the epidemic, the university has made great efforts to overcome the difficulties and held the symposium as scheduled. The theme of the symposium was decided as “Innovate Research Model to Build a World-class University Innovation System”, and the opening ceremony of the symposium was held both online and offline. This symposium is of special significance for the implementation of Chinese President Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the important remarks of President Xi during his inspection of the research work on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus epidemic in Beijing, as well as the deployment of the arrangements for the 18th symposium on scientific research.

Chen Xu pointed out that the opening ceremony for the 18th symposium on scientific research was an important call to start the discussions. It is hoped that all units and teachers and students will thoroughly study and implement President Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on scientific and technological innovation and the spirit of his important remarks when inspecting the research work on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus epidemic in Beijing, earnestly implement the series of national strategic plans on scientific and technological work in the new era, fully understand the significance of this symposium on scientific research, improve their political stance, implement the guideline that the Party and the government share the same responsibilities, actively mobilize the initiative and creativity of teachers and students of the university, and overcome the difficulties and challenges imposed by the epidemic outbreak, so as to create a rigorous and pragmatic atmosphere for discussion.

Chen Xu stressed that in the process of discussion, a problem-oriented, practice-oriented and goal-oriented method should be adopted to systematically review the experience and practices, existing problems and improvement measures of research work in the university. We should pool our efforts and wisdom, bring forth new ideas, and forge consensus in order to form high-quality research results and lay a solid foundation for the innovation of research modes, the construction of a world-class university innovation system, and the improvement of research capabilities and level. In this process, it is hoped that the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education, the Natural Science Foundation Committee and other relevant departments will give guidance and put forward valuable opinions. It is hoped that all teachers and students will study the contents of the report carefully. They are specially encouraged to think thoroughly and make breakthrough proposals on the eight topics, so as that solid results can be achieved at the 18th symposium on scientific research. Tsinghua University will leverage its advantages in disciplines, talents, innovation and other aspects, unswervingly innovate its research modes, accelerate the development of a world-class university innovation system, and make new and greater contributions to building a world power in science and technology.

Following the opening ceremony, the panel discussion focusing on “Scientific and technological innovation and the construction of world-class universities” was held.

The symposium was attended by more than 900 people.

Reporter: Guo Lili