The Forum on Empowering Persons with Disabilities through Science and Technology of the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference was held in Beijing on March 27.
Zhou Changkui, chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), noted that the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council have incorporated empowering persons with disabilities through science and technology into the country's efforts in building itself into a scientific and technological powerhouse. Efforts have been made to advance innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and robotics, while accelerating the development and application of relevant scenarios.
He said that empowering persons with disabilities through technology has become not only a "testing ground" for cutting-edge technologies but also an "incubator" for emerging industries and a convergence point for innovation factors including technology, talent, policy and application scenarios, demonstrating robust vitality.
Zhou emphasized that the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) is a critical stage for achieving high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology and building China into a scientific and technological powerhouse, as well as a key period for advancing the empowerment of persons with disabilities through science and technology.
The CDPF will work with all parties to incorporate technologies into the research and development plans of central and local governments, encouraging universities, research institutions and enterprises to carry out foundational research and make breakthroughs in key and core technologies targeting the pressing needs of persons with disabilities, so as to consolidate the foundation for technology-enabled disability assistance.
Efforts will also be made to enhance the development of application scenarios by, conduct in-depth surveys on the needs of persons with disabilities, strengthening coordination with innovation entities and service providers, and promoting the large-scale application of new technologies and products for disability assistance.
Zhou added that the CDPF will promote industrial development by improving the policy framework, encouraging more technology enterprises to engage in the disability assistance sector, and advancing the integrated development of technology, industrial, and service chains to foster new quality productive forces in this field.
The CDPF will also promote international cooperation by making full use of platforms such as the ZGC Forum and strengthening exchanges and cooperation between domestic and overseas scientific research institutions and innovative enterprises, so that innovation outcomes can benefit persons with disabilities worldwide and contribute to building an equal and inclusive society.
This is the second time that the forum has been included in the ZGC Forum Annual Conference. With the theme "Harnessing Technology for a More Inclusive World", the forum focused on promoting the research, application and scenario development of assistive technologies for persons with disabilities.
More than 500 participants attended the event, including diplomatic envoys to China, representatives of UN agencies and international organizations, officials from relevant ministries, as well as representatives from universities, research institutes, investment institutions, and disability federations across the country.