The 2018 World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions (the Summer Davos Forum) was held in Tianjin from September 18th to 20th. More than 2,000 leaders and high-level representatives from political, business, academic and art circles from more than 100 countries and regions attended the meeting. The theme of this year's annual conference is “Building an Innovative Society in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. More than 200 conference agendas had been set up, focusing on current hotspots such as artificial intelligence, internet of Things, and geopolitics.

Jianhua Yan, vice president of Zhejiang University, led the academician Shumin Duan, Professor Haizhen Hu and Professor Huan Ma from the Center for Neuroscience to participate in this forum. And they had a lively exchange discussion with the participants on the topic of “Exploring a New Path to Improve Mental Health” which fully show world-class research achievements in brain science of Zhejiang University.

In combination with the process of the special report session, artists simultaneously created colorful pictures depicting a series of  fascinating scientific imaginations. Dr. Joe Palca, the world famous science and technology columnist, presided over the special report meeting. Jianhua Yan introduced the active support from school for cutting-edge scientific research programs, as well as introduced three research teams present to the audience. Academician Shumin Duan , Professor Haijun Hu and Huan Ma shared their achievements and prospects in sleep regulation, new mechanisms of depression, new therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms of learning and memory, and interacted with representatives at home and abroad.

“In conjunction with the double first-rate construction, the Ministry of Education launched the Everest Plan last year to promote the adjustment of scientific research layout in the new era, and planed to construct collaborative innovation center and the frontier science center. Zhejiang University was honor to be the first batch to take part in constructing ‘Artificial intelligence collaborative innovation center’ and 'Fusion of neuronscience center'. What’s more, Zhejiang University launched “Brain Science and Artificial Intelligence Convergence Research Program” recently to provide a stable platform for the interactive development of brain science and artificial intelligence. Jianhua Yan, vice president of Zhejiang University, proudly described reform and innovation in major scientific research layout carried out by Zhejiang University.

“Brain science and artificial intelligence are very popular research contents in the past ten years. In the past, the intersection between these two fields has been very small.” Duan Shumin, director of the Department of Medicine of Zhejiang University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said In the two or three years of development, the integration and collaboration of these two fields is very necessary.
On the one hand, artificial intelligence introduces some functional principles of the brain, which greatly enhances its computational and decision-making capabilities. On the other hand, artificial intelligence can also promptly and reward the brain science by simulating the functions and modes of operation of some brains. Section Shumin said.

Brain science and artificial intelligence are very popular research contents recently. In the past, the intersection between these two fields has been very small. Shumin Duan, director of the Department of Medicine at Zhejiang University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that from the development of the last two or three years, the integration and collaboration of these two fields is very necessary.

On the one hand, applying some functional principles of the brain in artificial intelligence can greatly enhances its computational and decision-making capabilities. On the other hand, artificial intelligence can also reward the brain science by simulating the functions and modes of operation of brain.

Brain disease, one of the most difficult diseases to treat, even harder than cancer. Effective drugs for cancer are gradually discoved, but most brain diseases patients are hard to recovery. Therefore, the breakthrough in brain science research is a must.

Breakthrough requires a new path. Experts from artificial intelligence and brain science career are expected to have deep talk in the future. Exchange and learning from each other must bring greater inprovement in these two fields. During the speech, Academician Shumin Duan could not help but show his expectations.

Jianhua Yan happily recalled the scene of the research results of Zhejiang University's energy and environmental protection team at the Dalian Summer Davos Forum in 2017. He said that In the international forums of global concern such as Davos, sharing and sharing experiences fully reflects the historical responsibility of the world famous schools and the positive promotion of scientific and technological progress. This year, the brain science team led by academician Shumin Duan is again show the outstanding achievements of Zhejiang University were demonstrated on the international stage.