The fifth ‘China-UK Innovation and Development Forum" was successfully held on Tuesday, 20th of October 2020. This year’s Forum was co-organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Technology for Development (CASTED) of the Ministry of Science and Technology; the Oxford Technology and Management Centre for Development (TMCD); the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institutes of Science and Development (CASISD) and the China Britain Business Council (CBBC).

The theme of this year’s Forum was ‘China-UK Innovation Cooperation in the Post-pandemic Era’. The discussions highlighted the role of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in overcoming common challenges in the post-pandemic era, as well as several areas and modes of implementing STI cooperation. It was opened with welcome speeches by Prof. Zhijian Hu of CASTED; Prof. Diego Sanchez-Ancochea of the University of Oxford and Mr Mark Logan, Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary China Group and member of the Science and Technology Selection Committee.

The Forum also featured 16 well-known experts and scholars including Prof. John Loughhead of the British Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS); Prof. Sun Fuquan of the CASTED; Prof. Xiaolan Fu of the University of Oxford; Prof Jiaofeng Pan, Prof Rongping Mu, Prof. Wang Yi of CASISD; Prof. Jonathan Liebenau of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE); Prof. Maria Savona of the University of Sussex; Prof. Chen Jin of Tsinghua University; Prof. Wu Xiaobo of Zhejiang University; Mr. Thomas Clayburn of the China-Britain Business Council; Prof. Rasmus Lema of Aalborg University; Mr. Hua Xiansheng of Alibaba Group, and Mr. Gregory Sutch of Intralink, Oxford. Other participants include scholars, business experts, and government officials from both the UK and China.

The annual forum has been an important platform for policy makers, leading academics, and business leaders to exchange ideas on science, technology and innovation policy and corporate innovation practices. It has also provided an opportunity for these stakeholders to deepen understanding, enhance mutual trust, and contribute to China-UK science and technology cooperation.

(TMCD, University of Oxford)