On November 9, the second edition of the World Science and Technology Forum took place in Beijing on the theme of scientific cooperation and open innovation. The event was supported by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), and coordinated by the International Technology Transfer Network (ITTN) and on the European side by SPICI.

Over 200 guest speakers from the institutional, academic and business world took part in the Forum.

Prof. Sergio Cavalieri, Vice Chancellor for Technology Transfer, Innovation and Research Enhancement at the University of Bergamo, talked about the successful cases of Sino-Italian cooperation with the experience of the China International Technology Transfer Center (CITTC) and of the China-Italy Joint Laboratory on Advanced Manufacturing (CI-LAM).

Prof. Carlo Sansone, Professor of Computer Sciences at the University of Naples Federico II participated in a round table on academic and industrial exchanges with Chinese and international representatives.

The following speakers were also present:

  • Song Jun, Member of the Standing Committee and Executive Secretary of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST);
  • Tony Raven, CEO of Cambridge Enterprise, University of Cambridge;
  • Nathan Pike, CEO of Training Department, Oxentia, University of Oxford;
  • Carl A. Rust, Vice President for International Cooperation and Senior Director of the Industrial Cooperation Office at the Georgia Institute of Technology;
  • Yao Wei-hao, Head of Science and Technology Development Department, Peking University;
  • Wang Yan, Head of the Office of Technology Transfer, Tsinghua University;
  • Chen Baiqiang, Deputy Director of Technology Transfer Center, Beijing Institute of Technology.

During the program, some experts were appointed members of the international committee of the Network for International Cooperation on Technology Commercialization (NICTC), namely Vincenzo Lipardi, President of SPICI, Prof. Plinio Innocenzi, former Scientific Attaché at the Italian Embassy in China and Prof. Luigi Nicolais, former Minister for Reforms and Innovations in the Public Administration, President of Campania Digital Innovation Hub, and CEO of Materias.