Who opened it
The World Young Scientist Summit 2026 opened on October 24 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology, the Zhejiang Provincial People's Government and the World Association of Young Scientists, according to the release. Nearly 800 scientists, educators and entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries and regions are attending.
The theme and the agenda
The summit's theme is "Gathering Talents Worldwide to Create a Better Future," with an annual agenda of "Global Youth Action in the AI Era: Building a Sustainable Future." Organisers said it is intended to draw on the views of young people worldwide, deepen international sci-tech cooperation and address questions about young people, science, the world and the future.
Speakers and participants
He Junke of CAST, Lian Yimin of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Marcelo Knobel of The World Academy of Sciences and Zhang Zhenfeng of the CPC Wenzhou Municipal Committee delivered remarks, with Yao Gaoyuan, Vice Governor of Zhejiang, presiding over the first segment of the plenary. Keynote speeches covered education reform in the AI era, AI and processor chips, young women scientists' participation in science, and quantum computing. Young talents under 45 made up 88 percent of participants.
What was released
The summit released the Report on the Distribution and Mobility of Young Scientists in the Field of Embodied Intelligence, launched a partner journal programme and the 2026 World Young Scientist Innovation and Entrepreneurship Growth Support Program, published the "Young Scientist Pioneers 2035" list and announced the 2026 Sustainable Development Young Scientist Award, presented to four Chinese and foreign scientists. It also held 12 parallel forums on fields including future manufacturing, quantum information, embodied intelligence, brain-computer intelligence, environmental science, deep-sea resources, and life and health.