On April 25, the inaugural event of the International Academician Lecture Series themed Quantum Entanglement and Modern Science and Technology was successfully held in the Grand Building of Beijing Friendship Hotel. Professor Chang Jui‑Jui, former Acting President of National Taiwan University, quantum‑physics expert and Academician of the Russian International Academy of Engineering, delivered a keynote report and engaged in interactive exchanges. More than 200 representatives from government departments, universities and research institutes, scientific research institutions and high‑tech enterprises attended the event.

Guided by the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and Zhongguancun Administrative Committee, this session was hosted by the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association, co‑hosted by the Zhongguancun Federation of Social Organizations, and organized by Global Talent Network and Juyingchuang Group. Supporting co‑organizers included the Zhongguancun Equity Investment Association and the Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences. With the theme “Academicians for Science & Innovation, Zero‑distance Services”, the lecture constituted a key component of the “Enterprise‑Service Month” campaign organized by Zhongguancun social‑sector organizations.

Ding Zhifeng, Executive President and Secretary‑General of the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association as well as Chairman and President of Juyingchuang Group, delivered an opening address outlining the vision for launching the International Academician Lecture Series. Building upon the successful delivery of 47 sessions of the International Distinguished Lectures and High‑end Expert Lectures, this distinctive public‑welfare initiative leverages the Special Consultative Status of the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association with the UN Economic and Social Council together with strengths of Juyingchuang Group. It aims to broadly share intellectual resources of international academicians including Nobel laureates, foster intellectual exchanges, scientific‑technological innovation, research‑result commercialization and project collaboration. It supports the development of Beijing as an international centre for science, technology and innovation, accelerates the building of a globally‑important talent hub and innovation highland in China, and reinforces talent‑driven support for modernization drive.

A total of 16 distinguished academicians are planned to give lectures throughout the year, most of whom have achieved outstanding accomplishments in scientific research and research‑result transformation. The three academicians from previous lectures will also interpret the Nobel Prize laureates in natural sciences of last year. Through the International Academician Lecture Series, the organizers intend to advance the development of multiple international science‑technology innovation cooperation platforms, and accelerate the gathering of top‑tier international talents as well as the landing of global innovation‑driven projects.

Liang Boshu, expert in international talent research, former Editor‑in‑Chief of the Foreign Talent Research Center under the Ministry of Science and Technology, former Chief Representative of the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel UK Office, and senior expert of the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association, gave a speech. He recalled the joint planning 12 years ago for launching the International Distinguished Lectures to make good use of global high‑level expert resources. He fully affirmed the necessity and significance of launching the International Academician Lecture Series under current circumstances, and advised to continuously tap resources, foster an innovation ecosystem and build a renowned brand in each lecture session.

In his keynote lecture, Academician Chang Jui‑Jui briefly analysed the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to quantum scientists. He elaborated on the significance of the second quantum‑technology revolution, introducing emerging technologies such as quantum computers, quantum communication and quantum sensors, alongside the prospective Quantum Internet of Things industry spawned by these breakthroughs. He also explained fundamental quantum literacy modern citizens should acquire to cope with transformative changes of the era. In addition, he briefly shared insights from his newly‑released best‑selling book Megatrends of Quantum Science, published earlier this year.

During the interactive Q&A session, participating guests including Yuan Wei, Marketing Director of Beijing BosonQian Co., Ltd., and Li Pan, Assistant to the President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, raised questions, to which Academician Chang gave detailed replies, creating a lively atmosphere on site.

The inaugural session drew wide attention from all sectors of society. Attendees included Hu Xinyu, former Director‑General of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs; Liang Jie, Director of the Science‑Service Industry Division of Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and Zhongguancun Administrative Committee; Fu Xiongjun, Vice‑Dean of the School of Integrated Circuits and Electronics, Beijing Institute of Technology; Yan Jiang, Dean of the Advanced Innovation Research Institute, North China University of Technology, together with industry specialists at national and municipal levels, and representatives from universities, research institutes and high‑tech enterprises. Many participants offered valuable feedback and suggestions to the organizers after the event. The event was covered by China News Service, China.org.cn, Science‑Net China and China Education Online, among other media outlets.