The Chinese Association for Science and Technology, USA (CAST-USA), hosted its 2025 United Annual Conference and Global Innovation Summit on October 11, 2025, at the Hilton Fairfax in the Greater Washington D.C. area.

Organized by the CAST-USA United Annual Conference Organizing Committee and CAST-DC, the event was co-hosted by 13 regional chapters—including CAST-GNY (New York), CAST-LA (Los Angeles), and CAST-P (Pittsburgh)—along with CAST’s offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The U.S.-China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance (USIA) served as a special co-organizer.

The summit brought together over 230 scientists, scholars, entrepreneurs, and young tech professionals from the United States and abroad, with more than 5,000 global viewers tuning in online via YouTube, WeChat, and other platforms.

Themed “Technological Frontiers and Global Innovation,” the conference focused on key sectors including Artificial Intelligence, Biomedicine, the Digital Economy, and International Cooperation—fostering collaboration across scientific and industrial communities.

Opening Ceremony and Leadership Messages

The conference opened with a welcome address by Dr. Xingyu Wang, President of CAST-USA and Chair of the Organizing Committee, whose remarks were delivered via an AI Digital Human. Dr. Wang highlighted CAST-USA’s role in connecting Chinese-American professionals and fostering global innovation.

He expressed hope that the summit would “strengthen unity among chapters, facilitate the collision of cutting-edge ideas, and promote the broader application of technological achievements for human development.”

Virginia officials Gary Pan, Director of the Department of Labor and Industry, and Harold Pan, Senior Advisor to the State Attorney General, also delivered remarks, commending CAST-USA’s contributions to technology and talent exchange. They emphasized that scientific collaboration remains vital to stable international development.

Keynote Highlights: Pioneers in Global Science and Technology

Moderated by Conference Co-Chair Zhiquan Bo, the keynote session featured globally acclaimed scientists and innovators:

Dr. Joachim Frank, Nobel Laureate and Professor at Columbia University, presented “Capturing the Instant of Life Reactions with Time-Resolved Cryo-Electron Microscopy.” He discussed advances in Cryo-EM that capture biomolecular motion at millisecond speeds, revealing what he called “the dynamic code of life.”

Dr. Avi Wigderson, Turing Award laureate and Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study, spoke on “The Theoretical Origins of the Technological Revolution.” He noted that “all technological progress, from AI to quantum computing, is inseparable from the limits of computation,” underscoring theory’s role as the “steering wheel for future innovation.”

Dr. Haifan Lin of Yale University explored “The Mysteries of Stem Cells—Regeneration and Continuation of Life,” examining the critical role of stem cells in development, tissue repair, and disease treatment.

Dr. Yiran Chen, Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors and Professor at Duke University, presented “Edge AI: Everything Everywhere All at Once,” highlighting breakthroughs in real-time AI inference on low-power chips and the growing ubiquity of edge intelligence.

Sarah Long, CEO of Advance Technology Group, shared insights on “The Journey from Engineer to Entrepreneur,” discussing how technical professionals can translate innovation into market-driven impact.

Parallel Forums: AI, Digital Economy, Life Science, and Global Cooperation

The afternoon featured four concurrent sub-forums focusing on frontier technologies and collaboration:

Artificial Intelligence Frontier: Applications, Breakthroughs, and Future — Co-chaired by Dr. Wei Wang and Zhiquan Bo, exploring real-world AI applications, algorithmic innovation, and ethical challenges.

Digital Economy and Emerging Finance — Led by Dr. Yingxia Yang, analyzing the evolution of digital currencies, blockchain technologies, and their economic implications.

Life Science and Technology: Innovation in Health, Biology, and Beyond — Co-chaired by Dr. Jun Zhao and Jiawei Tang, sponsored by MAXIA and Beijing Arui Oncology Hospital, focusing on biomedical innovations and cross-border R&D opportunities.

International Innovation and Cooperation Forum — Hosted by Xiaohui Yu of USIA, discussing U.S.-China tech collaboration, investment climate, and entrepreneurship, featuring prominent voices from political, business, and legal sectors.

Startup Competition and Closing Ceremony

The “Rising Star” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, co-hosted by Zhiquan Bo and Dr. Dongmei Zhang, showcased cutting-edge projects from U.S. startups and research teams in AI, biotechnology, and digital economy sectors.

During the closing ceremony and banquet, hosted by Dr. Gang Xu, Vice President of CAST-USA, Guolin Zhou, Science and Technology Counselor at the Chinese Embassy, congratulated the organizers and urged Chinese tech professionals in the U.S. to “strive for excellence, uphold ethics, and enhance legal awareness.”

The evening concluded with award presentations to sponsors and competition winners, followed by the handover ceremony to incoming CAST-USA President Rong Zheng, who will lead the 2026 United Annual Conference.

Global Collaboration for Shared Progress

The 2025 CAST-USA Global Innovation Summit successfully bridged academic research, commercialization, and international cooperation, reinforcing CAST-USA’s mission to connect global talent and accelerate scientific progress.

By integrating innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship, the summit underscored how U.S.-China scientific engagement can advance technological development and foster shared global prosperity.

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