The 13-day 2026 International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS 2026) concluded successfully in Beijing on August 21. The congress brought together five Fields Medalists and Turing Award laureates, nine ICBS Medal laureates, more than 40 academicians from China and abroad, and over 800 researchers, scientists, and young scholars from more than 30 countries and regions. During the congress, more than 500 academic lectures and thematic sessions were held both online and offline. The nine ICBS Medal laureates delivered keynote lectures in basic science, covering four major areas — mathematical foundations, physical sciences, engineering applications, and life sciences — presenting a vivid picture of the increasingly interdisciplinary and interconnected development of contemporary basic science. The congress provided researchers and students with a valuable opportunity to expand their academic perspectives and engage with frontier scientific ideas.

Professor Shing-Tung Yau, Fields Medalist and President of ICBS 2026, attended the closing ceremony and delivered remarks.

Professor Yau noted that the congress has established an open and collaborative platform for leading scholars from China and around the world to exchange ideas on frontier research. By focusing on the latest developments in global basic science and exploring new approaches to cross-regional and interdisciplinary collaboration, the congress demonstrated the vitality of scientific innovation worldwide and reflected the increasingly dynamic environment for fundamental research in China.

Professor Yau emphasized that scientists from different countries had engaged in in-depth discussions on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on basic science and reached a common understanding: AI will greatly enhance scientific research, but the essence of scientific discovery will always depend on human creativity, imagination, and independent thinking.

At the closing ceremony, Professor Yau, together with ICBS Medal laureate Professor Xiao-Gang Wen and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Sciences Vladimir Markovic, presented certificates to 10 groups of young Chinese and international scholars selected as recipients of the ICBS Innovation Fellowship. The ceremony also announced the outstanding works of the University Students' Academic Achievement Poster Exhibition and the Secondary School Students' Academic Achievement Poster Exhibition.

The 10 groups of ICBS Innovation Fellowship recipients, representing institutions including Tsinghua University, the Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications (BIMSA), Harbin Institute of Technology, and the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, were introduced at the closing ceremony. Their research covers a wide range of fundamental and interdisciplinary fields, including geometry, algebraic geometry, number theory, computational mathematics, quantum field theory, quantum gravity, experimental neutrino physics, medical applications of geometric imaging, optimization problems, and artificial intelligence-assisted formal proof.

The ICBS Innovation Fellowship program aims to identify outstanding young and mid-career researchers conducting frontier research in mathematics, physics, engineering, and related disciplines in China. The program focuses on supporting researchers with exceptional innovation potential, promoting original achievements in basic research, establishing a sustainable mechanism for nurturing young scientific talent, and strengthening the foundation of China's future scientific innovation capacity.

To inspire young students' interest in scientific research, the closing ceremony also announced the outstanding authors of the University Students' Poster Exhibition and the Secondary School Students' Poster Exhibition.

This year's university student poster exhibition attracted a record number of participants, with students from 27 universities across seven countries and regions taking part. Students from China exchanged ideas and competed alongside peers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Singapore, seeking new breakthroughs through intellectual exchange and demonstrating the creativity and vitality of the next generation of researchers.

The Secondary School Students' Academic Achievement Poster Exhibition received more than 100 submissions from 43 outstanding secondary schools, with 13 posters selected for recognition.

Artificial intelligence (AI) emerged as one of the major themes of ICBS 2026, with leading scientists engaging in in-depth discussions on the evolving relationship between AI and basic science. Fields Medalist Martin Hairer noted that AI will not bring an end to mathematics, but will transform the way mathematical research is conducted. While AI may significantly accelerate certain aspects of research, some specialized areas could potentially decline as a result of technological advancement. Fields Medalist Caucher Birkar pointed out that AI is highly capable in computation, searching for examples, and completing proofs of mathematical lemmas, but it remains difficult for AI to generate truly original ideas. Turing Award laureate Robert Endre Tarjan encouraged young researchers to cultivate curiosity, intrinsic motivation, independent research directions, and long-term commitment to scientific exploration. He noted that researchers can train AI into a powerful tool for scientific discovery, but must also develop their own ability to identify meaningful questions and establish independent judgment. ICBS Medal laureate Professor Shou-Wu Zhang encouraged young scientists to actively utilize AI to improve research efficiency while maintaining independent thinking and avoiding excessive reliance on technological tools that may weaken their own capabilities.

During the congress, a series of thematic activities featuring diverse formats and topics were organized, including Mathematics Night, Physics Night, and Engineering Night. Each evening focused on a specific scientific discipline and featured keynote lectures, award-winning scientists' sharing sessions, and dialogues between leading scientists and young researchers. The events brought together world-renowned scholars, including Fields Medalists and Turing Award laureates, to explore frontier developments and future trends across disciplines.

The congress also featured special events including the Women Scientists Forum, the Tsinghua Day — Frontier Forum on Mathematics and Physics and Science Outreach Tour, and the Artificial Intelligence Forum, as well as the Meet the Scientists interactive sessions designed for undergraduate and secondary school students.

These activities provided opportunities for university students, secondary school students, and young researchers from China and abroad to communicate directly with internationally renowned scientists. Through close engagement with leading scholars, participants gained insights into scientific ideas, research experiences, and approaches to discovery, inspiring greater enthusiasm for exploring basic science and providing valuable guidance for future academic development and career choices.

In addition, an academic exchange meeting was organized for emerging research institutions in Beijing. The meeting focused on innovative approaches to integrating basic research with frontier technologies, promoting resource sharing, collaboration, and coordinated development among research institutions.

During the congress, the "Discover Huairou" experience program provided scientists from China and abroad with an immersive opportunity to explore the scientific, cultural, and natural landscape of Huairou.

Having been held for four consecutive years, the program introduced several new destinations this year, covering themes including scientific outreach, cultural tourism, and rural creative industries. From historic mountain passes and world-class large-scale scientific facilities, to the tranquil landscapes surrounding the Yanqi Lake International Convention Center and the vibrant rural creativity of Animation Valley, the program presented scientists with a cultural journey that could be experienced through direct observation, conversation, and interaction.

Since its establishment in 2023, the International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS) has been successfully held for four consecutive years. The congress represents an important initiative by Beijing to advance basic research and foster international scientific collaboration. The 2026 International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS 2026) was successfully hosted by the Beijing Huairou National Comprehensive Science Center, one of the major platforms supporting the development of the Beijing (Beijing‑Tianjin‑Hebei) International Center for Science and Technology Innovation.

Beijing is accelerating efforts to build itself into a globally influential international science and technology innovation center, supported by a leading concentration of major scientific infrastructure and one of the world's largest communities of researchers. The city's capabilities in basic research continue to strengthen, providing important foundations for original scientific discoveries and technological innovation.

In recent years, Beijing has implemented a series of initiatives to strengthen its leadership in basic research. The city has established and advanced 37 major scientific and technological infrastructure projects, including the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), and has achieved a series of significant original breakthroughs in fields such as mathematics, quantum information, information and intelligent sciences, space science, and life sciences.

Basic research expenditure accounts for approximately 16 percent of Beijing's total R&D investment, placing the city among the world's leading innovative cities. In 2025, Beijing ranked first among global cities in the number of highly cited researchers. It has also remained at the top of the Nature Index — Science Cities rankings published by Springer Nature for nine consecutive years.

Today, Beijing is not only a leading center for scientific research in China, but is also becoming an important global hub for innovation in basic science.

As one of the major organizers of ICBS, the Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications (BIMSA) has established a high-level international research community. The institute currently has more than 200 full-time researchers, including over 80 international scholars from approximately 25 countries and regions, accounting for about 40 percent of its research staff. Through hosting and supporting the International Congress of Basic Science, BIMSA is committed to building an international platform for academic exchange, promoting frontier interdisciplinary research, and providing fundamental scientific support for future technological development. (INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF BASIC SCIENCE)