GBA Neuroscience Meeting opens at SUAT

The Second Greater Bay Area Neuroscience Meeting opened at the Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology (SUAT) on January 29.

Over the course of three days, more than 200 experts and scholars from 75 institutions across 18 countries met to discuss the latest advancements in neuroscience, with the goal of strengthening academic collaboration and raising the international profile of neuroscience in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The event is a significant step in realizing China's national strategy to build an international science and technology innovation center in the GBA. It also represents Shenzhen's commitment to fostering APEC cooperation through scientific innovation, offering a vital platform for cross-regional academic exchange and talent development.

Fan Jianping, president of SUAT, speaks during the meeting. Photos courtesy of the event organizers

Fan Jianping, president of SUAT, emphasized the rapid advancements in neuroscience and how breakthroughs that reshape our understanding of the brain are rooted in interdisciplinary collaboration, shared platforms, and international cooperation.

He explained that SUAT, a newly established research university, aims to break down academic barriers and cultivate strong connections between academia and society, aligning with the innovative spirit of the GBA.

Keynote speakers included renowned scientists such as Magdalena Götz from Ludwig Maximilian University, and Dolores Hambardzumyan from the University of Pennsylvania, who shared their latest research on neurogenesis, neural repair mechanisms, and neurodegenerative diseases. The conference provided an advanced, professional platform for scholarly exchange.

International students at the SUAT campus.

Additionally, 27 international graduate students from 15 countries, including Germany, Canada, and the U.S., visited Shenzhen as part of the conference, attending lectures and engaging with cutting-edge research facilities. Many noted the modern infrastructure and beautiful campus environment of the SUAT, as well as the warm reception from both faculty and students.

Shenzhen, set to host the 2026 APEC Leaders' Meeting, is solidifying its position as a hub for global innovation. This meeting is an important step in further integrating the GBA into the global innovation network and building a collaborative, open Asia-Pacific innovation ecosystem.