What kind of Chengdu did you encounter when the 81st World Science Fiction Congress kicked off today?

Reporter: Xie Tao Editor: Tang YuanOn October 18th, the 81st World Science Fiction Congress, the world's most eye-catching, oldest, largest, and influential science fiction cultural theme event, opened in Chengdu. Next, science fiction fans from all over the world will witness the grand unveiling of the international highest award in the field of science fiction literature, the "Hugo Award"

Reporter: Xie Tao Editor: Tang Yuan

On October 18th, the 81st World Science Fiction Congress, the world's most eye-catching, oldest, largest, and influential science fiction cultural theme event, opened in Chengdu. Next, science fiction fans from all over the world will witness the grand unveiling of the international highest award in the field of science fiction literature, the "Hugo Award".

This is the first time in its more than 80 year development history that the World Science Fiction Congress has "joined hands" with China, and Chengdu has become the second city in Asia and the first city in China to host the world's highest standard science fiction event.

Some people say this is a 'gathering of the most imaginative people in the world', while others say it is a 'shining moment to reveal future information to today'. When a science fiction event with the strongest surface meets a world-renowned cultural city with a unique sense of future, what sparks will it collide with?

Image source of Chengdu Science Fiction Museum: official account of 2023 Chengdu World Science Fiction Conference

Encountering the "most sci-fi" culture

The core essence of science fiction culture lies in exploring the unknown and the possibility of transcending reality, which is already deeply embedded in the genes of ancient Shu civilization. From Jinsha Sun Bird to Dujiangyan Irrigation Project Water Conservancy Project; From the myth of Silkworm Cong Yu Fu to the bronze mask of Sanxingdui... This world-renowned cultural city with a civilization history of over 4500 years has never lacked imagination and creativity.

China's science fiction culture starts from here and also takes root and sprouts here. In 1991, the World Science Fiction Professional Association's annual conference came to Chengdu, where global science fiction writers, publishers, and others gathered to hold the "most successful annual conference" since its establishment. That time was also the first time China had held an international science fiction exchange event.

When the development of science fiction literature in China was at its lowest point, the magazine "Science Fiction World" took root in Chengdu, guarding the flames of Chinese science fiction. After more than 40 years of perseverance, it became the "Chinese science fiction stronghold", attracting more and more writers to bring the "seeds" of imagination to Chengdu. When it comes to the sci-fi cultural atmosphere of this city, Wu Xiankui, the winner of the first Science Fiction Galaxy Award, bluntly stated, "Chengdu is a depression in Chinese geography, but it is a highland in Chinese science fiction

In the opinion of Dave McCarty, the bidding chairman of the 2022 Chicago World Science Fiction Conference, a city with the potential for "fantasy" needs to have a fan base. Moreover, it is best to have an atmosphere in this city that allows science fiction fans from all over the world to feel that everyone has the same expectations. Obviously, Chengdu has such a cultural atmosphere and temperament.

In the view of renowned science fiction writer He Xi, although some cities in China also use science fiction as a city card, Chengdu itself has thousands of years of historical and cultural heritage, and has unique urban charm. The cultural heritage of the city plays a crucial role in the development of science fiction literature. With the success of Chengdu's application for science fiction, the business card of the 'City of Science Fiction' has also gained ultimate ownership

Counting the journey of science fiction exploration over the past 40 years, Chengdu has given birth to the three most authoritative awards in China's science fiction industry: the Galaxy Award, the Chinese Science Fiction Nebula Award, and the Future Science Fiction Master Award.

As early as 2019, Chengdu was rated as the "Most Science Fiction City in China" of that year. The 2019 China Urban Science Fiction Index Report shows that Chengdu has absolute advantages in indicators such as the proportion of science fiction writers in the total population, institutional activity, potential for science fiction exhibitions and theme parks. In addition, Chengdu also leads other cities in receiving various types of government support.

Chengdu Image Source: Photographed by journalist Zhang Jian

Encountering the soil of "the most scientific and technological innovation"

This sci-fi conference has attracted multiple sci-fi technology companies both domestically and internationally, including Vita Studios, the production company of the sci-fi IP film "The Lord of the Rings", as well as well-known foreign companies such as SpaceX, a space technology explorer, as well as outstanding domestic companies such as Huawei, Tencent, and Shangtang.

Behind the enormous attraction, it points to the constantly growing and increasingly abundant scientific and technological innovation soil of Chengdu.

Here are the National Supercomputing Chengdu Center, which achieves 1 billion times per second, the new generation artificial sun "China Circulation 3" that explores and solves the world energy crisis, and the Tianfu Cosmic Ray Research Center that decodes the mystery of the origin of the universe... According to the latest global top technology cluster released by the World Intellectual Property Organization in 2023, Chengdu ranks 24th and ranks among the top 25 for the first time.

Nowadays, in this city of unique potential and thriving new economy, science fiction is becoming a new form of industry. The constantly innovative genes and rapidly improving scientific and technological innovation capabilities have brought greater imagination space to the development of the science fiction industry.

In recent years, in addition to science fiction literature, Chengdu has continuously expanded the boundaries of science and technology innovation in sub fields such as science fiction culture and creation, science fiction film and television, science fiction games, and science fiction tourism. The main creative team of "Nezha's Demon Child", which won a box office of 5 billion yuan, is rooted here; In the movie "Wandering Earth", there are over 800 special effects shots produced in Chengdu, achieving science fiction visual effects "made in Chengdu"

It is reported that Chengdu will focus on the five major directions of "science fiction+literature", "science fiction+film and television", "science fiction+games", "science fiction+cultural tourism", and "science fiction+high-end equipment", forming over 40 industrial projects; Through the Science Fiction Industry Development Promotion Conference, it is planned to sign 12 major projects in the science fiction industry, with a total investment of 8 billion yuan, and sign 6 key strategic cooperation agreements such as the Science Fiction Industry Fund to accelerate the construction of a science fiction industry highland.

According to Jiang Zhenyu, an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Science Fiction at the School of Literature and Journalism at Sichuan University, "The 2023 Chengdu World Science Fiction Conference will set a stage for practitioners in the national science fiction industry and become a new breakthrough point for the diversified development of the science fiction industry in Chengdu and even in China

Image source of Chengdu Science Fiction Museum: official account of 2023 Chengdu World Science Fiction Conference

Meeting the 'most innovative' talent

This technology feast will feature over a hundred top science fiction writers and industry representatives from various fields such as science fiction literature, publishing, film and television, and gaming from around the world, as well as numerous academicians and experts from the technology field, to participate in this world-class science fiction event with fantasy fans in over 200 science fiction salons and unveil the "mysterious veil" of the 2023 Hugo Award.

These most imaginative "brains" gathered in Chengdu are undoubtedly an important microcosm of Chengdu's recruitment of innovative talents over the years.

Previously, Raz, the editor in chief of Science Fiction World magazine, shared that Chengdu, as the birthplace of China's original science fiction copyright, has accumulated over 40 years of the country's best science fiction IP and innovation talents. The fantasy fan community that has been cultivated and linked in the science fiction world for decades has gone to various positions, and they are the new force for the future development of the science fiction industry

As an innovative talent highland that gathers high-quality elements, Chengdu provides solid intellectual support for the development of science fiction and innovation industries.

In recent years, Chengdu has been striving to create a platform to attract and gather talents, and accelerating the construction of a national innovation talent highland. In terms of improving the talent policy system, Chengdu has introduced the "1.0", "2.0", and "3.0" versions of the new talent policy, promoting the iterative upgrade from "combining policies to provide discounts" to "building platforms to provide opportunities" and then to "optimizing platform operation ecology". We have taken the lead in launching the "settle down before employment" and "settle down before employment" programs nationwide, attracting nearly 700000 young talents who have settled down. As of now, the total number of talents in Chengdu has reached 6.2232 million, ranking fourth in the country. And this is precisely where Chengdu has the confidence to become the "science fiction capital".

With the introduction of a package of policies to support the introduction of young scientific and technological talents, Chengdu continues to introduce high-end scientific and technological innovation talents and young scientific and technological talents to the whole country and even the world, running an "acceleration" on the talent introduction "track. Like the previously released "Chengdu Talent Classification Catalogue", which clarifies the reference standards for talent treatment and support in Chengdu, and includes more masters, strategic scientists, first-class technology leaders and innovation teams, young technology talents, outstanding engineers, great country craftsmen, and highly skilled talents in the scope of support, fully unleashing the city's imagination and creativity.

Daily Economic News

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