The launching ceremony for the 2023 Hubei Sci-Tech Week was held on May 20, 2023, at the Ezhou International Exhibition and Convention Center. This year's theme is "Love Science, Advocate Science," and a series of thematic science popularization activities will be carried out during the week. The aim is to create a social atmosphere for scientific and technological innovation, encourage public participation, and prosper the province by relying on science and technology. Vice Governor Shao Xinyu attended the ceremony and announced the launch of the 2023 Hubei Sci-Tech Week.
Sun Bing, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, gave a speech at the ceremony. Feng Yanfei, Secretary of the Party Group and Director of the Provincial Science and Technology Department, announced the winners of the excellent science popularization works and micro videos. Huang Xuelong, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the Provincial Party Committee, and Zhu Zhibin, a member of the Party Group and Vice Chairman of the Provincial Association for Science and Technology, presented the awards on stage. Representatives from member units of the provincial joint meeting on science popularization, universities, institutes, and enterprises also attended the ceremony.
On behalf of the provincial government, Shao Xinyu extended his heartfelt greetings to science and technology workers, educators, and students who have actively participated in science popularization activities. He expressed his gratitude to friends from all walks of life who have long been concerned about and supporting science and technology innovation and science popularization work in Hubei. Shao Xinyu emphasized the importance of the 2023 Hubei Sci-Tech Week and the National Science and Technology Workers Day held on May 30. He stressed the need for a collaborative approach and incorporating design to create a more extensive, engaging and dynamic event, thereby leading to highly favorable outcomes. He urged all departments to strengthen their leadership and carefully design the event that highlights creativity, interactivity and effectiveness, with a focus on serving grassroots communities. He also encouraged experts and workers in the field of science and technology to actively participate in sharing scientific knowledge, displaying scientific achievements, and promoting a culture of science across all levels of society. Furthermore, Shao Xinyu called upon the public to actively participate in the activities of the Sci-Tech Week, delve deeper into the meaning of innovation, and share inspiring innovation stories. He stressed on the importance of cultivating a culture of innovation, encouraging technological innovation, enhancing scientific quality, and building a vibrant innovation ecosystem. These endeavors will expedite the development of Hubei into a science and technology hub.
Sun Bing stated that Ezhou, being the home to major provincial strategies, is committed to practicing the new development concept. He further added that the "Sci-Tech Week" presents an opportunity to vigorously implement the innovation-driven development strategy and accelerate the development of Ezhou into a science and technology hub in accordance with the provincial party committee and government's deployment. Sun Bing emphasized the importance of innovation across the entire region, with a focus on the construction goals of building the national scientific and technological innovation hub, the national manufacturing hub, the national digital economy hub, the national modern agricultural base, and the national modern service base. He also stressed the need to accelerate the construction of the Ezhou function area of Optics Valley Sci-tech Innovation Corridor. Furthermore, Sun Bing highlighted the importance of promoting the deep integration of innovation chain with industry chain, capital chain, talent chain, and policy chain, and striving to create a national innovative city.
Feng Yanfei emphasized the need for a stronger sense of urgency and action to meet the new strategic needs. He further added that promoting science and technology innovation is of utmost importance. It is necessary to tap into the "rich mine" of science popularization and establish a comprehensive work pattern of government guidance, public participation, information support, and market operation. Feng Yanfei stressed the importance of social coordination, digital communication, standardized construction, and international cooperation in science popularization. He further emphasized the need to improve the level of science popularization in Hubei, making it a crucial factor in promoting technological prosperity and innovation as a vital driving force for the development of Hubei.
During the event, participants visited Hubei Sci-Tech Week's exhibition and display area and attended science lectures. The 30 books recommended by China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), such as "Exploring Mars", were awarded the 2023 Hubei Provincial Excellent Science Works, and the 30 micro videos recommended by Wuhan Science and Technology Bureau, such as "Hubei Has Treasures – Malachite and Azurite", were awarded the 2023 Hubei Provincial Excellent Science Micro Videos.
This year's Sci-Tech Week runs from May 20 to 31. Ezhou, as the event's starting point, will conduct widespread popularization activities for enterprises, communities, rural areas, schools, and organizations. The city has opened its science bases, science venues to the public and will strive for fruitful activities, providing a great start for the 2023 Hubei Sci-Tech Week.
Vice Mayor Peng Bo, Li Liangjun, a member of the Municipal Government's Party Group, and Fu Baoshan, Secretary-General of the Municipal Government, attended the event.