As the world's leading economies race to dominate artificial intelligence, one prominent American researcher argues that the real breakthroughs will come not from competition but from collaboration specifically, by connecting Western innovation with Asia's unmatched manufacturing might.
Speaking at the ZGC Global High-Level Think Tank Forum for Science & Technology Innovation in Beijing, Allen Yang, executive director of the FHL VIVE Center for Enhanced Reality at UC Berkeley, said the greatest opportunity for AI companies lies in bridging global design innovation with the immense manufacturing power of Asia.
His remarks came during one of the most high-profile technology gatherings of the year, at a time when geopolitical tensions threaten to fracture the global AI ecosystem into rival blocs.
A Forum With Growing Global Reach
The 2026 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) Annual Conference opened on March 25 in Beijing under the theme "Full Integration Between Technological and Industrial Innovation," running through March 29. More than 1,000 guests from over 100 countries and regions are participating in this year's event, making it one of the largest international gatherings focused on technology cooperation.
The Think Tank Forum, a parallel event within the broader ZGC conference, brought together more than 400 participants from think tanks, research institutions, and industry sectors worldwide. A signing ceremony welcomed 13 new member institutions to the ZGC Global High-Level Think Tank Alliance, bringing its total membership to 102 think tanks across 19 countries and regions.
During the keynote sessions, experts from the United States, France, Italy, China, and other countries shared their insights on AI development, technology integration, and global innovation ecosystems.
AI Takes Center Stage
Artificial intelligence was the dominant theme throughout the multi-day conference. A dedicated "AI Theme Day" was launched on March 27, featuring forums on open-source AI achievements and key directions for industrial development. The event also saw the inauguration of the Beijing Artificial Intelligence Association and the Zhongguancun Artificial Intelligence Open Source Alliance.
Jin Wei, vice mayor of Beijing, highlighted that the promotion of extensive AI applications was a major highlight of this year's forum, noting that participants would witness firsthand how AI is empowering industries. In a practical demonstration of this, AI-powered interpreters expanded the forum's language services from two to eight languages, including French, Russian, and Spanish.
The forum brought together global companies and high-growth technology firms, including AstraZeneca, Kunlun Tech, Sugon, and Moonshot AI, through dedicated corporate sessions and networking events.
Why Global Cooperation Matters Now More Than Ever
Allen Yang's call for cross-border collaboration resonates at a time when the AI landscape is increasingly shaped by geopolitical rivalry. Export controls on advanced chips, competing regulatory frameworks, and nationalist technology policies have raised fears of a fragmented global AI ecosystem.
Yet experts at the forum argued that such fragmentation would ultimately hurt everyone. Benoît Dubuis, president of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences, emphasized in his opening address that technology's real impact comes from its translation into practical applications — a process that inherently requires international partnerships.
Salvatore Majorana, director of Italy's Kilometro Rosso science park, echoed this sentiment, calling the forum an important bridge for cooperation among international science parks.
China also used the occasion to release its "Action Plan for International Cooperation in Open Science," outlining mechanisms for the global sharing of 10 major scientific research infrastructures aimed at fostering cross-border collaborative innovation.
Beijing Positions Itself as a Global Innovation Hub
Beijing continues to promote itself as an international center for scientific and technological innovation. The city has prioritized support for national laboratories, established 145 national key laboratories, and built 10 world-class research and development institutions.
The ZGC Forum, founded in 2007, has evolved into a globally recognized platform for high-tech innovation by tracking cutting-edge technology trends, discussing innovation governance, and promoting the exchange of development ideas among countries.
As AI continues to reshape industries and economies worldwide, forums like ZGC serve as a reminder that the technology's most transformative potential may ultimately depend less on which country leads the race and more on whether the world can find ways to run it together.
