The 19th National Congress of the CPC put forward the strategy of rejuvenating the nation through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the nation throughhuman resources development and the strategy of innovation-driven growth. In 2018, after the Central Government proposed the “renowned universities, colleges and institutes” construction project with emphasis on Zhejiang Province, based on a long-term friendly partnership, Zhejiang Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) decided to build Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, in Hangzhou, a historical and cultural city rich in innovation and vitality.

As a secondary institute that functions directly under the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study is a new-type public institution in Hangzhou integrating science, education, innovation and industrialization. As a branch of the CAS system around the West Lake, this institute inherits and develops the distinctive scientific research system, talent-training system as well as innovation and entrepreneurship system of the CAS and UCAS. It employs the model of in-depth integrated development of science and education, as relevant scientific institutes within the CAS system take charge of the corresponding colleges within the Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study. The institute, oriented to the world’s cutting-edge scientific and technological development, focuses on the significant national needs as well as the regional economic and social needs. With the mission of achieving technological breakthroughs in pillar technologies of “thefourth Industrial Revolution”, the Institute seeks to train new-type talents of science and technology, ascend the scientific heights and promote industrial development.

The Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study employs the development pattern of “one core and two wings” in order to build a new institute that embodies the motto“high starting point, small but excellent”. The purpose is to build an open, shared training hub for top talents by recruiting and cultivating high-level personnel who are “globalized, innovative, entrepreneurial and versatile”. The two wings are intended to construct scientific innovation bases for cutting-edge scientific and technological research in the three fields of “physical information”, “life health” and “intelligent technology” to support “the fourth industrial revolution” while constructing incubators for new industries to support the innovation and entrepreneurship activities of researchers at different levels from all affiliated organizations of the CAS in Hangzhou.

Thanks to the participation and support of many top scientific research institutions at home and elsewhere, particularly the relevant institutes of the CAS, the preparatory work for the establishment of the Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study has made certain progress. We have started the construction of eight interdisciplinary secondary colleges and one center for innovation, entrepreneurship and industry incubation. Meanwhile, the Taiji Laboratory for Gravitational Wave Universe(Hangzhou)and the CAS Key Laboratory of Systems Biology have been included on the list of key laboratories for cultivation and construction in Zhejiang Province. Many top international scientists, who are experts in the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry, life, medicine, pharmacy, environment, microelectronics and others have joined the effort.

It is challenging to build such an institute integrating science, education, innovation and industrialization, which is a new type different from the traditionally recognition. My colleagues and I will work together with the local government, upholding the “adventurous and courageous” spirit of Zhejiang, develop an innovative system of talent selection, science and technology appraisal as well as for transformation of scientific research achievements so as to enhance the ecology for scientific and technological innovation. However, we are fully aware that it’s crucially important to attract a group of outstanding scientists and excellent students dedicated to science so that the Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study can become the cradle for training top innovative talents, the leader of global cutting-edge science and technology, the developer of independent core technology and the facilitator of new industrial development.

CAS, as the nation’s highest academic institution on natural science, serves as the locomotive of national science and technology development. The Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, with the support of various institutes of the CAS, is a grand palace for learning, a sacred site for science, a fertile land for freedom, a warm homeland for all, a caring cradle for scientists and a platform for those with dreams of scientific pursuit. As its first president, I earnestly request your participation.