The 2026 International Conference on AI for Scientific Discovery and Innovation (AI4Science 2026) was successfully held in Shenzhen, China, from 23 to 25 October 2026. Jointly organised by City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Loop Area Institute, and Nanchang University, the conference brought together researchers and experts from universities, research institutions and organisations across China, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and other countries.

Focusing on emerging topics such as AI-driven scientific discovery, autonomous research agents and large language model (LLM) innovation, the conference provided an international platform for interdisciplinary academic exchange and collaboration.

Three IEEE Fellows Deliver Keynote Speeches

The conference officially opened on the morning of 24 October, with Professor Shiqi Wang of City University of Hong Kong presiding over the opening ceremony.

Three IEEE Fellows delivered keynote speeches, sharing their perspectives on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in scientific research.

• Professor Yonghong Tian, an IEEE Fellow and Boya Distinguished Professor at Peking University, discussed embodied intelligence for scientific research. He explored the development of AI from computational assistance towards self-evolving systems capable of autonomous scientific discovery.
• Professor Dapeng Oliver Wu, an IEEE Fellow and Yeung Kin Man Chair Professor of Network Science in the Department of Computer Science at City University of Hong Kong, presented the concept of  "AI Psychology". His talk proposed a new interdisciplinary perspective on understanding and developing artificial minds.
• Professor Haizhou Li, an IEEE Fellow, Dean of the School of Artificial Intelligence and X. Q. Deng Presidential Chair Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, discussed China's approaches and practical progress in large language model innovation.

Together, the three keynote speeches addressed autonomous scientific discovery, the understanding of artificial minds and advances in large language models. Combining theoretical insights with forward-looking perspectives, the presentations prompted active audience participation and lively academic discussion.

International Scholars Join the Conference

AI4Science 2026 also welcomed prominent scholars from the international AI research community, including Professor Frédéric Dufaux, an IEEE Fellow at Université Paris-Saclay, and Professor Yanli Ji of Sun Yat-sen University.

Their participation added to the conference's international scope and provided further opportunities for academic exchange across institutions and research communities.

Oral Presentations Highlight Emerging Research

An oral presentation session chaired by Dr Zhengjie Yang of City University of Hong Kong gave researchers the opportunity to share their latest findings and discuss emerging developments in AI for science.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Sheffield, EDDA Stock Finance Research Laboratory, Panasonic and other organisations presented work covering AI-assisted scientific discovery, multimodal learning and applications of large language models.

The presentations were followed by discussions among participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. The exchange of ideas highlighted the innovative potential of AI-enabled scientific research and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Outstanding Research and Presentations Recognised

Following evaluation by the conference's academic committee, three papers were selected for Outstanding Paper Awards, three presentations received Best Oral Presentation Awards, and two entries were recognised for Best Poster Presentation.

These awards recognised research achievements and presentation quality, while encouraging early-career researchers to contribute to the growing field of AI-driven scientific discovery.

Advancing AI for Scientific Discovery

The successful conclusion of AI4Science 2026 marked another opportunity for researchers in artificial intelligence and scientific discovery to share findings, exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations. By bringing together perspectives from different disciplines and countries, the conference supported continued dialogue on how AI technologies can advance scientific research and innovation.

AI4Science looks forward to welcoming researchers and experts again next year to continue exploring the opportunities and challenges of AI for science.