Young scientists seek cross-border ties as AI reshapes research

As artificial intelligence reshapes scientific research, bringing young scientists together across disciplines and borders is becoming increasingly important. At the World Young Scientist Summit (WYSS) 2026 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, researchers and entrepreneurs explored how international cooperation, fundamental research and new technologies can help address shared challenges and shape a sustainable future.

The plenary session of the 2026 World Young Scientist Summit is held in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, Oct. 24. [Photo courtesy of 2026 WYSS Organizing Committee]

Held from Oct. 23 to 25 under the theme "Converging the World's Talents, Creating a Better Future," the summit was hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology, the Zhejiang Provincial People's Government and the World Association of Young Scientists (WAYS).

Nearly 800 representatives, including scientists, educators and entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries and regions, attended the summit. With the annual agenda "Global Youth Action in the AI Era: Building a Sustainable Future," the event aimed to deepen international cooperation in science and technology.

Young talent was at the heart of the gathering, with participants under 45 accounting for 88% of attendees. The summit also released the Report on the Distribution and Mobility of Young Scientists in Embodied Intelligence and launched the WYSS Journal Partnership Program and the Global Young Scientists Innovation and Entrepreneurship Growth Support Program (2026).

It also published the Global Young Scientist Pioneers Under 35 (WAYS-2035) List and announced the 2026 Young Scientist Sustainable Development Goals Award, presented to four scientists from China and abroad.

Efim Zelmanov, a Fields medalist and foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, speaks to the media during the plenary session of the 2026 World Young Scientist Summit in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, Oct. 24. [Photo by Mi Xingang/China.org.cn]

For Efim Zelmanov, a Fields medalist and foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, opportunities for young researchers to meet and exchange experiences are particularly valuable.

"It's very important for young scientists to come together to see other young scientists and share their experiences," he said in an interview during the plenary session of the summit. Such exchanges broaden their perspectives, he added.

As AI becomes a powerful new research tool, however, he cautioned young mathematicians against relying on it without developing their own understanding. AI is a valuable instrument that young researchers need to master, he said, but mathematics is fundamentally about understanding, which cannot be achieved simply by asking AI questions.

Yuan Yang, assistant dean of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences at Tsinghua University, speaks to the media during the plenary session of the 2026 World Young Scientist Summit in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, Oct. 24. [Photo by Mi Xingang/China.org.cn]

The summit also offered a platform for researchers working across disciplines to explore new possibilities. Yuan Yang, assistant dean of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences at Tsinghua University, said in an interview that the event allowed young researchers to learn what experts in other fields were working on and identify potential opportunities for collaboration.

In the AI era, he said, researchers need to look beyond problems their existing tools can solve, understand the key challenges facing other fields and identify where their expertise can make a meaningful contribution. A broader perspective, he added, can help young researchers find promising directions for their work.

Chen Tianrun, founder of Hangzhou Moxin Technology Co., Ltd., speaks to the media during the plenary session of the 2026 World Young Scientist Summit in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, Oct. 24. [Photo by Mi Xingang/China.org.cn]

For Chen Tianrun, founder of Hangzhou Moxin Technology Co., Ltd., the summit offered a valuable opportunity for scientific exchange, particularly for researchers immersed in their own work. Bringing scientists together from around the world, he said in an interview, creates opportunities for new ideas and perspectives to emerge through discussion.

His company is exploring AI world models that go beyond generating images to understand three-dimensional environments and simulate the physical laws and properties within them. The technology is being applied in areas ranging from game development and robotic simulation to autonomous driving and navigation, he said.

With 12 parallel forums covering fields from quantum information and embodied intelligence to environmental science, life sciences and health, the summit brought together young talent from different disciplines and regions. Its discussions underscored that scientific progress depends on new technologies as well as open exchange, strong research foundations and opportunities for the next generation to work together across borders.