CHONGQING, China, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from iChongqing.
The 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum opened in Chongqing on October 21, bringing together around 800 participants, including experts and scholars, to explore how automotive technology, robotics and other advances could shape future industries.
Wang Guangqian, President of the China Association for Science and Technology, called for technological breakthroughs, closer integration of technological and industrial innovation, greener development and stronger technology governance. He emphasized that future industries connect science and technology with the economy.
Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, described engineering as a bridge between scientific discovery and industrial practice. He stressed that achieving the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals requires stronger international scientific cooperation and participation by all countries and communities.
Zhu Huarong, Chairman of China Changan Automobile Group, said cars were evolving from transportation tools into "self-evolving intelligent car robots." The automotive industry is increasingly integrating AI, chips, communications and big data, with applications extending into energy and urban governance. In Chongqing, vehicle-road-cloud data integration supports traffic management, while vehicle-to-grid interaction and integrated energy systems could turn vehicles into mobile nodes in green energy networks.
David Lopez Perez, Professor at Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Spain, outlined applications ranging from urban drones and industrial inspection robots to humanoid assistants for older adults. Robots must reason, plan and coordinate, supported by digital twins, intelligent systems and future 6G networks. Interoperability and standardization remain essential.
Nils Stenseth, Member of Academia Europaea and Professor at the University of Oslo, described using air travel data to build a digital twin model exploring how to prevent local epidemics from becoming global pandemics. He highlighted multisource data, digital technologies and a strong global surveillance network as tools for addressing emerging pathogens.
Together, these examples underscored the importance of interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral and international cooperation in translating advanced technologies into practical solutions.
The opening ceremony also released the Top 10 Science and Technology Foresights of 2026, covering areas including AI, brain-computer interfaces and space resource development, alongside an intelligent sensing industry map and other outcomes.
Held in Chongqing for the first time since its launch in 2019, the forum ran through October 23, featuring 12 parallel forums on intelligent sensing, AI-powered simulation, embodied intelligence, smart manufacturing, green energy and new-energy vehicles, among other fields.
For more information about the 2026 WSTDF, click here.
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Smarter Cars, Robots and Disease Prevention: WSTDF Examines How Future Industries Take Shape
The AI wealth platform for independent advisors in Asia marks the opening with advisors, clients and partners, with a second Hong Kong office in Central to follow in early 2027
HONG KONG, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Growhill Wealth, one of the first AI-native wealth platforms in Asia, today officially unveiled its new Hong Kong office on the 15th floor of One Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Driven by rapid growth as a premier global wealth hub and the rise of artificial intelligence in financial services, Hong Kong's wealth sector is well-positioned to lead the region through this technological shift.
"Hong Kong is where Asia's families come to plan their wealth, and opening here—with Central to follow—is a clear statement of our commitment to grow alongside this city. We strive to help pioneer the AI-driven evolution of Asia's wealth management industry," said Alan Lau, Executive Chairman of Growhill Wealth.
Over 100 advisors, clients and partners attended the opening events, held under the theme, "Reach Higher, See Further".
The new office brings Growhill's investment, product, technology, and advisory support teams together under one roof, providing platform advisors with a professional venue to meet clients in Hong Kong. Currently supporting around 200 advisors managing over US$800 million in client assets, the firm is also scheduled to open another Hong Kong office in Central in early 2027.
Growhill provides independent advisors with capabilities traditionally reserved for large institutions, including an open-architecture, rigorously curated multi-asset product shelf, comprehensive regulatory support, and an AI workforce that handles routine work and real time analysis. This allows advisors to dedicate more time to their clients, anchored in Growhill's principle that AI should elevate the standard of advice while licensed professionals remain fully accountable.
"In-person engagement remains irreplaceable in the advisory relationship. Backed by institutional-grade facilities and robust risk management, our platform gives advisors the foundational support for them to deeply attend to their clients' overall financial needs," Lau said.
As part of its ongoing expansion in Hong Kong, Growhill plans to introduce a dedicated family services ecosystem soon, forging strategic partnerships across education, residency advisory, health, and lifelong learning, empowering advisors to deliver holistic, family-centric wealth solutions.
About Growhill Wealth
Growhill Wealth, formerly GROW Digital Wealth, is an AI-native wealth management platform built for independent financial advisors (IFAs) across Asia. The company previously received investments from Julius Baer-backed GROW Investment Group and Animoca Brands. Operating an open-architecture model, the platform pairs an institutional-grade, multi-asset product shelf with secure agentic AI capabilities, enabling advisors to deliver private-bank-caliber service with full human oversight. Growhill Wealth supports a network of 200 advisors managing US$800 million in assets under management and advice. Regulated financial services across the platform are delivered by Growhill Wealth and its group affiliates under Hong Kong SFC Type 1, 4, and 9 licenses, alongside an ADGM Category 3C license. The platform and its affiliates were recognized as Best Wealth Manager, Digital Innovation at the Asian Private Banker China Wealth Awards 2025.
Website: www.growhillwealth.com
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Growhill Wealth Opens Hong Kong Office at One Peking Road
Growhill Wealth Opens Hong Kong Office at One Peking Road
