The opening ceremony of the 2023 World Women Scientists Conference is held in Shaoxing on Oct 14. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

Shaoxing in East China's Zhejiang province played host to the 2023 World Women Scientists Conference from Oct 13 to 15.

The conference, which gathered around 600 distinguished scientists and academicians from home and abroad, highlighted discussions on cutting-edge scientific advancements in life and health sciences, digital economy, and artificial intelligence.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by congratulatory video messages from women scientists across the globe. They shed light on the survey results concerning female participation in technological innovation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Municipal authorities of Shaoxing expressed their determination to leverage this significant event, affirming their commitment to promote a transformation from market entities to innovation-driven entities, from scientific achievements to technological impetus, and from innovative elements to an innovative ecosystem.

Luo Hui, director of international affairs at the China Association for Science and Technology, speaks at the 2023 World Women Scientists Conference in Shaoxing. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

They welcomed female technology professionals and esteemed academicians from around the world to explore and embrace Shaoxing's burgeoning innovation landscape, with the shared vision of crafting a promising future.

Official statistics reveal a commendable representation of women in the scientific sphere within Zhejiang province.

Approximately 49.8 percent of the province's scientific workforce comprises women, with around 31.5 percent holding doctoral qualifications. Moreover, within Zhejiang's higher education institutions, the proportion of female master's students stands at 51.1 percent, while female doctoral candidates account for 42.5 percent of the student body.