65 young scientists attended the 2009 Annual Meeting of the New Champions which has attracted world wide attention. They came from different countries and all made prominent contributions in their own fields. In order to welcome the team of the young scientists and to set up a platform for the communication between the entrepreneurs and researchers in Dalian and the scientists, the Bureau of Science and Technology of Dalian, the Administration Committee of the High-tech Park, Dalian Science and Technology Association and the young scientists organization committee together held a welcoming reception in the New World Hotel on September 9th. Some high-tech enterprises, superintendents and scientific researchers of research institutes, experts and scholars as well as the leaders from relevant departments, attended the reception. Those who participated in and addressed the reception included Qu Xiaofei, vice mayor of Dalian, Andre Schneider, the World Economic Forum’s executive director and Chief Operating Officer, Howard Alber, chairman of Canadian Science Technology and Innovation Council and co-chairman of the inter-academic organizations, Jin Xiaoming, director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Dalian for the second time. It shows that Dalian is a new leading city with development potential and competitiveness, and it is also an innovative city with powerful strength in science and technology. Scientific and technological innovation has become the engine and the booster for the rapid development of Dalian. In recent years, Dalian, as a significant international shipping center and modern industrial base in Northeast Asia, continually innovates developmental modes in science and technology and industrial layout. It focuses on creating strategic high-tech industrial clusters in respect of equipment manufacturing, software service outsourcing, new energy and high-end service, which plays a significantly supporting and leading role in promoting the transformation of economic development modes and the adjustment of industrial structures in Dalian.
Not long before, the development plan for Liaoning Coastal Economic Zone was incorporated into national strategies. Therefore, Dalian, as the leading and core city of Liaoning Coastal Economic Zone is facing an unprecedented opportunity of development. The plan has also set up a broad stage for the young scientists both at home and abroad to give free play to their intelligence and to realize their ambitions. Reportedly, during the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, the young scientists from all over the world had a deep understanding of the economic development process and intellectual development environment through inspection and communication. They also introduced and publicized Dalian actively, and implemented further S&T cooperation and academic exchange with the enterprises, universities and research institutes in Dalian, thus laying a solid foundation for achieving win-win.
In the modern world, only the technological innovation and industrial reformation can truly lead the world economy out of the current crisis. Talents are the foundation of technological innovation. The one who possesses the talents possesses the most important resource of development. Qu Xiaofei hopes that by organizing the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, the S&T elites all over the world, with their wits and enthusiasm, will be attracted to Dalian. Qu also hopes that the industry reformation will be led by technological innovation, and that the industrial development will be promoted by the Annual Meeting, thus making contribution to achieving the economic revitalization.