Forum held to mark SZ Talent Day

Video by Lin Songtao

Themed “Insight, Progress, Opportunity,” the 2024 Shenzhen Global Innovation Forum of Talents, a key event of the 8th Shenzhen Talent Day, drew a stellar lineup of guests at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center on Nov. 1.

Shenzhen designated Nov. 1 as Shenzhen Talent Day in 2017, a move that signaled the city’s dedication to innovation and talent development. 

The Nov. 1 main forum featured prominent keynote speakers, an engaging round-table discussion, an insightful interview, and captivating choral performances.

Fan Jianping speaks at the forum.

Fan Jianping, president of Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology and founding dean of the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lin Jian, chair professor at Southern University of Science and Technology, Steven Hoffman, founder of Founders Space in Silicon Valley, Sun Yongkui, chairman of Ionova, and Zhou Guoping, curator of Shenzhen Pingshan Library, were among the key speakers.

Fan emphasized the need for Shenzhen, at the vanguard of reform and opening up, to reassess and swiftly adjust its talent strategy. He advocated for a shift from a past focus on “attracting talents” to an era where “attracting and nurturing talents” are of equal importance.

Fan highlighted that Shenzhen has been bolstering its innovation capabilities by aggressively promoting the establishment of high-level research institutions and top-tier universities. This has not only created an environment conducive to attracting global talent but also led to a significant leap in the cultivation of local talent, particularly among the youth. 

“Shenzhen’s practical experience has proven that a talent strategy focusing on both attraction and education is pivotal to becoming a talent cultivation powerhouse,” Fan said.

Lin Jian, chair professor at Southern University of Science and Technology, speaks at the forum.

Lin, who is leading the establishment of Shenzhen Ocean University, stated, “Shenzhen has numerous advantages in technology, industry, talent, and innovation. Our clear goal is to establish a world-class university with distinctive marine features.”

He stressed the urgency of fostering marine talent, outlining the current efforts to build Shenzhen Ocean University, a deep-sea research center, and an ocean museum.

Steven Hoffman, founder of Founders Space in Silicon Valley, speak at the forum.

Hoffman shared his insights on AI investment and the technological trends in Silicon Valley, suggesting that AI is poised to become the next major operating system after iOS and Android, potentially revolutionizing business models, labor markets, and technological paradigms. He encouraged Chinese AI companies to identify key paths and move forward with confidence.

The round-table discussion at the forum.

The round-table discussion, titled “Believe it, Achieve it,” featured Jason Ho, president of the Macao Technology General Association and co-founder of BEYOND Expo, Maxwell Zhou, CEO of DEEPROUTE.Ai, and Ling Heping, deputy dean of BYD Auto Engineering Research Institute.

Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi at the forum.

Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, Shenzhen’s twin sisters and gold medalists in artistic swimming at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, also shared their inspiring success stories at the forum.

The event was further enlivened by the Shenzhen University International Choir, which delivered soulful and moving choral performances that captivated the audience.

Shenzhen has seen significant growth in its talent pool in recent years. Statistics show that the city so far has over 6.98 million professionals in various fields, including 26,000 high-level professionals. The number of individuals returning from overseas studies has also surpassed 220,000.