On September 11, the 19th National Academic Conference of the Chinese Neuroscience Society opened in Fuzhou. Zhang Xu, President of Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and President of the Chinese Neuroscience Society, gave an exclusive interview during the conference, sharing his views on youth talent cultivation, the development of neuroscience, and the prospects for brain-inspired intelligence.

Zhang Xu, President of Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and President of the Chinese Neuroscience Society, gives an exclusive interview during the conference.

"Young people must keep learning and learn how to learn. Getting into university is a process; after you pass it, you still need to maintain the ability to learn for life in order to develop for life." Speaking of youth talent cultivation, Zhang Xu said, "Times have changed. What comes after university is actually a lifelong process of learning. You must learn how to learn and learn the ways of thinking of excellent teachers."

The Foundational Role of Neuroscience Is Becoming Increasingly Prominent

Zhang Xu pointed out that the country has listed neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science, and mathematics as the foundation for breakthroughs in basic theories and interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence, which is also an important support for building China's artificial intelligence system. "This is the first time this has happened globally. Of course, this also places a lot of expectations on us, and we must do a good job," Zhang Xu said. China's neuroscience is playing a foundational role in the development of the country in the intelligent era.

From the industrial perspective, the number of neuroscience-related enterprises continues to grow. According to Zhang Xu, about 123 enterprises were officially registered this year, including many start-ups founded by young people and focused on fields such as brain-computer interfaces, brain intervention, brain-inspired computing, and new experimental technologies. Zhang Xu emphasized that neuroscience is transforming from a basic research discipline mainly focused on discovering how the brain works in nature into a field that combines creativity and innovation. "We are not only committed to publishing high-quality papers and applying for patents, but are also translating these achievements into real productivity. On this point, I believe our country is undoubtedly leading globally."

Brain-Inspired Intelligence: A Chinese Hallmark of Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence

Speaking of the future direction of artificial intelligence, Zhang Xu said that the direction for further progress at present is actually brain-inspired intelligence—Brain-Inspired intelligence and technology, or BI for short. "This is also the hallmark of our next-generation artificial intelligence, the hallmark of Chinese-style artificial intelligence."

Zhang Xu pointed out that brain-computer interfaces come in two types, invasive and non-invasive, both of which will be applied at different levels in the future, with non-invasive ones likely to develop faster. These technologies can both improve brain health and play a role in the future in maintaining the health of elderly people and treating diseases. "The technology platform is being established, and the industry is also being established, so the translation of basic research achievements will become more convenient."

"Technology must penetrate into the daily lives of ordinary people. We cannot just write papers, issue certificates, and file patents without technologies that are genuinely loved and practically useful to the public," Zhang Xu said.

Looking back on the scene when he returned to China in 1994, Zhang Xu was filled with emotion: "In those days, there was no money for scientific research, and it was simply unimaginable to have such a large-scale neuroscience conference, let alone so many enterprises. It was completely unimaginable that so many young people would devote themselves to this cause. This is a tremendous change, a tremendous change in China."

"There are so many young people across China, and we have so many enterprises, many of them start-ups. We are proud of all of them. You can see the hope of our country. Why do we have such determination? Because we want to become a strong country in science and technology," Zhang Xu said.

Source: Guangming Online.

Editor: Editorial Department of the Fujian Channel of Guangming Online.

Reviewers: Cui Nan, Wang Lilin.