GIFT Hosts Strategic Symposium on Future Health

Global Institute of Future Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (abbreviated as GIFT) hosted the Strategic Symposium on Future Health on January 3 at Lecture Hall 200. The symposium brought together nearly thirty renowned scholars, university leaders, industry executives, and alumni representatives to exchange ideas and provide strategic support for future health development.

Attendees included Dr. Robin Zeng (Founder, Chairman and General Manager of CATL and Honorary Dean of GIFT), Chauncey Shey (Founder, President and CEO of Softbank China Venture Capital), Ye Tang (Co-founder and Chairman of Shanghai BOCHU Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.), Lin Lu (BOCHU's Co-founder and General Manager of Precision Micro-Fabrication Division), Chuanchun Sun (Executive Director of Foresight Fund), Zhenbin Yang (Chairman of SJTU Council), Kuiling Ding (President of SJTU and CAS Member), Zhongqin Lin (Former President of SJTU and CAE Member), Xianqun Fan (Vice President of SJTU, Dean of the School of Medicine, and CAE Member), Guang Ning (President of Ruijin Hospital, CAE Member, and Honorary Dean of GIFT), Zhaoguo Zhang (Vice President of SJTU), Weiwei Hu, (Deputy Chairperson of SJTU Council), Yufang Bi (Vice Dean of the School of Medicine), Shan Mou (Chairperson of the Renji Hospital Council), Yongfeng Zhou (Dean of the Division of Research Management), Yushen Wang (Director of the Development Liaison Office), Kang Chen (Dean of the School Hospital), Li Shao (Director of the Academic Affairs Office of the School of Medicine), Huifang Zhou (Chairperson of Shanghai Children's Medical Center Council), and Jun Ni (Dean of GIFT). Tianshu Ge, Chairperson of GIFT Council, presided over the symposium.

The event began with a retrospective video about GIFT's history, reviewing its pioneering journey and highlighting its mission to cultivate talents and serve the nation with science and technology.

In the keynote presentation, Jun Ni reviewed GIFT's core philosophy, faculty development, educational outcomes, and research innovation, systematically presenting the college's fruitful achievements and clear development path.

Xianqun Fan emphasized that launching the "MD+PhD" Dual Doctoral Degree Program is a key strategic initiative to cultivate leading physician-scientists and foster med-tech innovation. By leveraging the strengths of GIFT and the School of Medicine, the program creates a cohesive system built on three pillars: integrated medicine-engineering training, clinical and teaching practice, and industry-academia collaboration.

Guang Ning presented the blueprint for the Ruijin Hospital Minhang Campus. He noted that the new campus, designed under the ‘Health Park’ concept, aimed to build a high-end research hospital. Characterized by intelligence, openness, and a low-carbon footprint, it will achieve full-lifecycle health management through multiple approaches and promote the integration of healthcare, research, education, and application. The campus will also deepen cooperation with GIFT in interdisciplinary research, cutting-edge technology translation, and talent cultivation, he added.

Liping Wang, the newly appointed Chair Professor with the Brain Cognition and Health Research Center, delivered a presentation titled "What is consciousness, and can it be uploaded to a chip?" He explored cutting-edge topics, including consciousness analysis, brain-computer interfaces, and the prospect of brain science, presenting research on the neural mechanisms of cognition and its clinical translation. 

During the discussion, Kuiling Ding emphasized that GIFT's development has always aligned with national development and the direction of higher education reform. He expressed hope that the college would focus on interdisciplinary integration and original innovation, strive for key breakthroughs, and become a new benchmark in talent cultivation and scientific research.

Zhongqin Lin suggested that GIFT summarize the patterns of outstanding talent growth and focus on cultivating leading talents with a deep sense of national responsibility and lofty aspirations.

Dr. Robin Zeng expressed his hope that the college keep national priorities in mind and actively promote interdisciplinary integration and innovation. He will firmly support GIFT's talent cultivation and research.

Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on talent cultivation, interdisciplinary innovation, international collaboration, and faculty development in the field of future health. The discussions yielded many forward-looking insights and practical suggestions.

In his closing address, Zhenbin Yang framed his expectations for GIFT around three key concepts: "Master," "Mansion," and "Mentorship." First, attract and unite the world's brightest minds to cultivate the next generation of talent. Second, build world-class infrastructure and platforms to facilitate top-tier education and research. Third, commit to the student-centered educational philosophy that supports the overall development of every student.

The symposium showcased the college's advancements in future health and marked the beginning of a new chapter. As a pioneer in higher education reform, GIFT has achieved remarkable outcomes in cutting-edge research and talent development. Moving forward, it will continue to break new ground in interdisciplinary fields, further driving high-quality progress in science, technology and education on future health.