Three Nobel laureates presented some of their groundbreaking academic insights from the fields of medicine, astronomy, and biophysiology at the 2025 Hong Kong International Technology and Innovation Talented Youth Development Summit on Monday.
The event also focused on areas such as artificial intelligence, robots, big data models and new materials.
Harvey Alter, the 2020 Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine, presented some insights into his pioneering research on hepatitis, while 2019 Physics laureate Didier Queloz took attendees on a journey of cosmic exploration. Winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Michael Levitt, analyzed the interplays between biological, human, and machine intelligence that are driving scientific innovation.
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Other experts in attendance discussed the transformative potential of AI in research and industry, while cautioning against the unchecked adoption of AI, stressing the need for robust verification mechanisms, ethical frameworks, and strategic talent development to balance technological advancement with societal responsibilities.
The summit was a core component of the four-day Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and 2025 Xiangjiang Nobel Forum, which started on Sunday, bringing together seven Nobel laureates, over 90 global academicians, distinguished young scientists, and hundreds of leading entrepreneurs.
The gathering aims to accelerate international collaboration and fuel high-quality development through innovation.
Delivering a speech via video at Sunday's opening ceremony, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu discussed the city's innovation ecosystem, and highlighted the work of officials — including Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong — in developing Hong Kong into a global technology hub.
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Liu Guangyuan, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said that the gathering of global innovators and young talent in Hong Kong will help to shape the future of technology, and noted that China's innovation-driven approach is making a substantial contribution to global technological advancement while fostering international cooperation under a shared vision for the future.
Highlighting Hong Kong's unique position under “one country, two systems”, Liu underscored its growing potential as a technology hub with strong national backing and stressed the pivotal role young people play as innovation drivers.
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Organized by the Hong Kong Alumni Association of Beijing Universities, the four-day program features specialized forums, academic exchanges, and youth engagement initiatives, reflecting Hong Kong's commitment to spearheading global scientific progress under the "one country, two systems" principle.
