On the morning of April 25, “Flying to Deep Space” International Forum on Science and Innovation Cooperation and Development, as one session of the 2023 China Space Conference Forum Series, was held in Hefei, Anhui Province. Sponsored by Chinese Society of Astronautics (CSA), China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) and International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and co-organized by Beihang University and Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU), this forum focused on scientific research innovation and talent cultivation of famous universities at home and abroad in the field of aerospace, attracting nearly 200 college students as well as experts and scholars from domestic and overseas top universities.
Yu Miao, director of International Cooperation Center of China Aerospace (ICCCA), presided over the opening ceremony. Attendees include Wang Xiaojun, President of CALT and Vice President of IAF, Gao Feng, Deputy Director of Science and Technology Committee of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), Tao Zhi, Vice President of Beihang University, Zhang Kaifu, Assistant to President of NWPU, and Olivier CONTANT, Executive Director and academician of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), President of the International Innovation Research Institute (IIRI).
Tao Zhi pointed out in his speech that science and technology as well as talents are the two driving forces that pull the aerospace industry forward. Looking into the future, Beihang will continue to deepen the reform of science and technology innovation and talent training mode, and continuously deepen the integration of science and education, and the integration of industry and education. Standing at the new historical starting point, all Beihang people are ready to work with other universities and research institutions at home and abroad to strengthen in-depth cooperation and exchange in the fields of popularization of airspace knowledge, scientific research and talent cultivation, and make contributions to promoting the space industry for the benefit of all human beings and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The forum was rich in content with many highlights. The launching ceremony of the 2nd International Space Science and Payload Competition was held during the forum. Prof. Xu Ming, Vice Dean of Beihang National Superior College for Engineers, interpreted the Space Universities CubeSat Challenge (SUCC) 2.0 to the conference. The Challenge is a high-level event with wide influence at home and abroad, hosted by Beihang University and China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).
CSA, Beihang, NWPU, and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have reached an agreement to deepen their cooperation and strengthen their collaboration in science education, international exchange, and talent training to promote aerospace science education and exchange in all aspects. At the same time, Beihang University, together with Dalian University of Technology, NWPU and other universities jointly launched the Space Universities Micro-nano Satellite Innovation Mission and Education Research Center. The center will carry out technical support for SUCC 2.0 under the guidance of CSA, and carry out international cooperation projects on micro-nano satellites with IAF Space Universities Administrative Committee Consortium. Beihang Professor Wang Weizong, Dean of the School of Astronautics, participated in the initiative as a guest.
In the keynote report session of the forum, Prof. Yang Lijun, Assistant to the President and Dean of the Institute of Science and Technology, Beihang University, Prof. Quentin Parker, Director of Laboratory for Space Research under the Faculty of Science, HKU, Prof. Qin Fei, Vice Dean of School of Astronautics, NWPU, Prof. Henry Curran, National University of Galway, Ireland, and Mr. Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu, the first Romanian astronaut and former Director of Romanian Space Agency, each made a presentation on specific topics. The keynote report session was chaired by Prof. Yue Xiaokui, Executive Dean of the School of Aerospace, NWPU.
The high-level dialogue session of the forum invited experts and scholars in the field of aerospace both domestic and overseas to discuss in depth the value and role of international exchange and cooperation in the field of aerospace and its impact on technological innovation, talent cultivation, international industry-university-research-application, and scientific and technological exchanges, and to actively explore ways to break the ice in view of the main obstacles that currently exist. Liu Rui, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Astronautics of Beihang University, participated in the dialogue as a guest.
As an important international forum of the 2023 China Space Conference, “Flying to Deep Space” International Forum on Science and Innovation Cooperation and Development has received close attention from people of all walks of life at home and abroad, showing the world the fruitful achievements of China's space science and technology innovation. The wonderful sharing of the guests played a positive role in promoting the combination of international industry, academia, research, and application in the field of aerospace.
Reported by Sun Xiucong
Reviewed by Wang Weizong
Edited by Jia Aiping
Translated by Lu Meili
