With the rapid development of life science and information science, biomedical imaging technology is playing an increasingly important role in promoting the development of biomedicine, life science research as well as clinical applications. The Sino-France 2^nd Joint Meeting on BioImaging held on April 8-10, 2024 at Peking University has strengthened international academic exchanges and collaboration, and promoted the innovation and development of biomedical imaging technology.

Site of the Forum

This forum was jointly organized by Peking University, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Subcellular Structure and Function Branch of Chinese Society of Biophysics, and Modern Biophysical Technology and Methods Committee of Chinese Society of Biophysics, with strong support from France-BioImaging, to join hands to promote international exchanges and collaboration in the field of biomedical imaging.

Zhang Jin, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of Peking University, Vice President of Peking University and Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Liu Li, Director of Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Arnaud Philippe, Director of China Representative Office of French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Zhang Yulei, Member of the Party Group of Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology and Deputy Director of Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park Administration, Zhao Chuang, Director of the European Division of the International Cooperation Bureau of NSFC, and Deputy Director of BICC. Mrs. Li Hong, Deputy Director of Beijing International Science and Technology Exchange Center, Academician Shi Songhai, Dean of School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Antje Keppler, Coordinator of Global Bioimaging Consortium, Director of European Bioimaging Center, Yves Mély, Deputy Director of French Bioimaging Consortium, Professor of University of Strasbourg, etc., as well as Chinese and foreign scientists, young researchers and other more than 120 people participated in the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony of the forum was presided over by Cheng Heping, Chief Scientist of Peking University National Biomedical Imaging Center and Multimode Trans-Scale Biomedical Imaging Facility, and Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Cheng Heping presided over the opening ceremony

In Zhang Jin’s speech, he firstly expressed his warm welcome to the French experts and all the participants, and emphasized the important role of biomedical imaging technology in promoting the development of life sciences and medical fields. He said that Peking University will continue to support the research and development in the field of biomedical imaging, and looks forward to more in-depth exchanges and cooperation with experts and scholars from France and other countries in the world based on the deep cooperative relationship with France in the past.

Speech by Zhang Jin

In his speech, Liu Li reviewed the history of friendly collaboration between China and France in the field of biomedical imaging, and looked forward to this forum to further promote technological innovation and development, and jointly create a new era in which imaging will change cognition. He said that the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences will continue to maintain close collaboration with domestic and foreign partners to jointly promote the innovation and application of biomedical imaging technology.

Speech by Liu Li

Zhang Yulei introduced the obvious results achieved by Beijing in the construction of the international science and technology innovation center, pointing out that the medical and health industry, as an important field for the development of new quality productivity, has unique advantages in Beijing. She emphasized the role of imaging technology as a core driving force in advancing biomedical development, and looked forward to building a more open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial platform for academic exchanges through this forum, and to promoting the cooperation and development of biomedical imaging between China and France.

Speech by Zhang Yulei

Zhao Chuang emphasized the importance of biomedical imaging technology and the potential of cooperation between China and France in this field, and introduced the efforts and achievements of the National Natural Science Foundation of China in promoting international scientific and technological cooperation and exchanges, and highly praised the contribution of Peking University in the field of biomedical imaging. He put forward suggestions to strengthen basic research, cultivate internationalized talents and improve the cooperation mechanism to promote the continuous deepening of Sino-France collaboration.

Speech by Zhao Chuang

At the opening ceremony, a promotional video of National Biomedical Imaging Center (NBIC) was shown, focusing on the construction process of the imaging facility, its technical characteristics and future application prospects, which aroused great attention and interest among the participants.

The forum lasted for three days, and 30 experts and scholars from China and France presented their research, and carried out in-depth exchanges and discussions on the latest progress, cutting-edge applications and future development trends of biomedical imaging technology.

Report of the Forum

The participants went to Huairou Science City to visit NBIC, a national major scientific and technological infrastructure project, to learn more about the construction and research capability of the facility.

Examining Facilities

On the occasion of the opening of the Forum, a seminar on the development of the China Biomedical Imaging Alliance and the French and Global Bioimaging Alliance was organized. Participating experts carried out in-depth exchanges and discussions on how to integrate China's strengths in the field of biomedical imaging to further encourage international exchanges and collaboration, as well as to promote the establishment of collaborative relations between China and the French Imaging Alliance and aim for joining the Global Bioimaging Alliance one day.

Site of the seminar

This forum promoted in-depth exchanges and collaboration between China and France in the field of biomedical imaging. The joint efforts of researchers from the two countries should lead to the opening of a new chapter of technological advances and international collaborations in the field of biomedical imaging.

Image from: Yan Linlin, Li Xianghua