The launch ceremony for the permanent venue of World Laureates Association, or WLA Forum (Lin-gang Center) and the launch of International R&D Community were held on Nov 4 in the Lin-gang Special Area – located in East China's Shanghai city.

"With today's opening of the permanent venue of the WLA Forum, a scientific community gathering the world's top scientific resources is moving from being a blueprint to a reality," said Wu Xiangdong, executive director of the WLA and chairman of the WLA Prize Management Committee.

"Another core element of the scientific community, an international joint laboratory with a total floor space of 100,000 square meters, is also under construction," Wu added.

In a video message, Michael Levitt, vice-chairman of the WLA and 2013 Nobel laureate in chemistry, offered his congratulations on the opening of the permanent venue on behalf of WLA scientists.

He said that the new environment would provide a platform for young scientists to develop. He was full of hope for the laboratory, for Lin-gang, Shanghai and for China's research development.

The permanent venue of the WLA Forum consists of two tower buildings in the east and west. As the first "Science Community" urban unit in China and a major project of Shanghai, it integrates conference halls, digital libraries, hotels and other support facilities.

It is expected to transform Shanghai into a scientific and technological innovation center with global influence.

An exterior view of the permanent venue of the WLA Forum (Lin-gang Center). [Photo/WeChat ID: shlgguanweihui]