For Ph.D. student Li Xuanxuan, her first encounter with Shenzhen’s futuristic side came through a drone delivering her food order to the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (SMART).
Watching the drone land precisely outside her dormitory, the 24-year-old researcher said she immediately thought: “This is Shenzhen.”
Li, who has lived in China for three years, said the city’s sense of innovation comes not from publicity but from everyday experiences, including smart technologies, a vibrant research environment and people from around the world pursuing shared goals.
Located in Guangming Science City, SMART was founded by renowned scientist Nieng Yan and sits alongside major research facilities in synthetic biology, brain science, materials research and advanced light sources.
After completing her undergraduate studies at Tianjin University, Li chose to continue her research in Shenzhen, where she found a highly connected biomedical ecosystem integrating basic science, technology platforms, clinical needs and industrial applications.
“Every floor in SMART represents a different research field,” Li said, citing areas including structural biology, immunology, neuroscience and translational medicine. She said the interdisciplinary environment has helped her better understand how scientific breakthroughs emerge through collaboration.
Her experience reflects Guangming Science City’s efforts to attract global talent through advanced research infrastructure, an open innovation environment and international cooperation platforms.
With Shenzhen preparing to host APEC events, Li said cross-border scientific exchanges have become increasingly important. “Different countries have different research cultures and perspectives, but science has no borders,” she said.
To expand international cooperation, Guangming Science City has strengthened ties with overseas business groups and research communities, including hosting international investment exchanges, supporting overseas enterprise services and working with overseas Chinese organizations to build cooperation networks.