On the morning of August 30, the inaugural session of the Distinguished Entrepreneurs Forum was held in the Lecture Hall on the second floor of the Social Sciences Building at Hainan University. Dr. Yin Ye, CEO, Executive Director, and a Ph.D. in Biology from BGI Group, presented a keynote address titled “The Approaching Singularity, The Arrival of the Future: Silicon-Based Emergent Intelligence and Carbon-Based Near-Immortality”. The event was attended by Luo Qingming, President of Hainan University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with university leaders including Chen Jun and Han Shumei. President Luo presided over the forum.

The forum in session (Photo by Chen Sitian)

Dr. Yin Ye commenced his presentation by contextualizing Hainan’s developmental opportunities, introducing cutting-edge transformations in artificial intelligence and life sciences. He systematically elucidated the core principles underpinning breakthroughs in "silicon-based intelligence" and "carbon-based life", and analyzed the inherent logic, practical pathways, and challenges associated with the convergence of these two technological trends, drawing on innovative practices within the tech sector.

Dr. Yin Ye delivers the keynote address (Photo by Chen Sitian）

Dr. Yin highlighted life sciences as a critical domain in China’s scientific and technological advancement, with artificial intelligence serving as a key enabler for breakthroughs in this field. He underscored that achieving high-level development in biotechnology necessitates deeper integration between academic research and industrial practice, independent R&D to build technological leadership, and clear ethical boundaries and responsibilities of tech applications. This, he noted, is essential to ensuring that technology advances toward progress, ethical integrity, and health.

Faculty and student representatives pose questions (Photo by Chen Sitian)

The forum attracted a full audience, with faculty and students intently engaging with the presentation. Participants actively discussed and exchanged views on issues such as technological pathways for breakthroughs in life sciences. Dr. Yin responded to their questions with deep expertise and patience.

The Distinguished Entrepreneurs Forum is co-organized by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Hainan Province and Hainan University. It represents the university’s third major forum series, following the Distinguished Scientist Lecture Series and the Luminaries Lecture Series in Humanities & Social Sciences. Grounded in the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the forum leverages regional advantages to support youth development and national strategic priorities. By establishing an efficient industry-academia-research dialogue mechanism, it aims to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in the new era. Furthermore, it seeks to facilitate precise alignment between the university’s research resources and industrial demands, thereby accelerating the translation and commercialization of scientific achievements. These efforts are designed to collectively support Hainan in seizing strategic opportunities presented by the new technological revolution and industrial transformation, and to advance the integrated development of education, technology, and talent.

The forum saw participation from representatives of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Hainan Province, enterprises based in the Hainan University Science Park, alumni, and innovation and entrepreneurship teams. Additionally, over 400 faculty and student representatives from various Hainan University campuses, including Haidian, Danzhou, Mission Hills (including the Chengxi Teaching Site), and Yazhou, joined both online and on site.

Translated by Shu Wenzhuo

Proofread by Feng Jun