Sun Haisheng noted that in recent years, Weifang has placed innovation at the core, accelerated the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, developed new quality productive forces in line with local conditions, and achieved remarkable progress. Facing new situations and requirements, the city must focus on expanding the supply of high-quality science and technology, give full play to the role of enterprises as the main force for innovation, vigorously promote the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements, accelerate the development of a first-class innovation ecosystem, and comprehensively enhance the city's capacity and level of innovation. The Provincial Department of Science and Technology will, as always, support Weifang's innovation-driven development, strengthen coordination between the province and the city, maintain close communication, and work together to make new contributions to building a strong province in science and technology.
Liu Yun emphasized the importance of thoroughly implementing the major strategic deployments of the CPC Central Committee and firmly establishing the concept that innovation is the primary driving force for development. He stressed the need to blaze new paths through innovation, break bottlenecks with innovation, and foster new advantages for high-quality development. He called for advancing the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent, focusing on building a modernized city strong in education, a high-level city strong in science and technology, and a high-quality city strong in talent. This would promote a virtuous cycle among education, science and technology, and talent, thereby empowering the city's high-quality development. He also underscored the importance of using scientific and technological innovation to drive industrial innovation, strengthening innovation actors, advancing industrial development, enhancing project platforms, optimizing policy support, and fully stimulating momentum and vitality for high-quality development. Liu Yun further stressed the need to strengthen the Party's overall leadership over innovation-driven development, continue to free minds, enhance overall coordination, reinforce planning guidance, foster a positive atmosphere, and pool broad synergy for building a high-level innovative city. He expressed the hope that education and science workers, experts and talents, as well as entrepreneurs across the city, would pursue excellence, seek truth and innovation, dare to be pioneers, and make new contributions to Weifang's high-quality development.
At the meeting, awards were presented to winners of the 2024 Provincial Science and Technology Awards, the first batch of Weifang Outstanding Young Talents, representatives of the 2024 "Talent Weifang Bole" award, individuals recognized for outstanding contributions to talent cultivation in Weifang, and organizations recognized for outstanding performance in school-enterprise collaborative education. Representatives from universities, enterprises, and counties and districts also delivered speeches.