Nearly 800 distinguished guests, including Nobel laureates, recipients of the national highest science and technology awards, as well as academicians, experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs from around the world, are attending the 2026 Donghu Forum held from Oct 15 to 16 in the Optics Valley of China (OVC) to expand innovative networks and promote the cross-border flow of innovation resources.

Benjamin List delivers a speech at the 2026 Donghu Forum. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

"Photosynthesis is the foundation of life on Earth, yet humanity has not fully harnessed the potential of solar energy," Benjamin List, a 2021 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, commented at the forum. "I greatly admire the enthusiasm of Wuhan's academic community in photochemistry research.”

The forum showcases major scientific and technological awards, the latest developments from Hubei laboratories, cutting-edge projects, and advances at the intersection of medicine and engineering.

The main session of the 2026 Donghu Forum. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

The Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development also released the "Wuhan Science and Technology Innovation Index Report 2026", which scored 244.4 points, an 8.1 percent increase from the previous year, marking a breakthrough in Wuhan's innovation capabilities.

The forum has organized 10 parallel sessions covering four main areas: innovation, talent, finance, and science popularization. The innovation sessions, closely aligned with Hubei's industrial needs, provide precise solutions for industrial upgrades.

Throughout the forum, Wuhan has promoted its innovation culture and city image through public service advertisements and light shows, further strengthening its reputation and influence as a regional center for technological innovation.