The Tenth Triennial International Congress of Chinese Mathematicians (ICCM 2025) opened at the Shanghai International Convention Center on January 3, 2026. Launched in 1998, this edition marks its 10th year. Themed "New Frontiers: Mathematics for Transforming Science and Humanity", the five-day congress includes over 300 top-tier academic talks and exchanges. Topics span fundamental and applied mathematics, as well as interdisciplinary areas like AI and biomedicine, highlighting the latest in math research.

This congress drew thousands of mathematicians, researchers, and university faculty members and students from around the world. Supported by the Science & Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality and the Yangpu District People's Government, it is hosted by the Shanghai Institute for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences (SIMIS).

At the opening ceremony, prestigious awards like the ICCM Gold Medal of Mathematics ("Chinese Fields Medal"), ICCM Silver Medal of Mathematics, ICCM Chern Prize, and ICCM International Cooperation Award were presented to mathematicians excelling in fundamental mathematics, applied mathematics, and interdisciplinary work. New awards including the ICCM Hua Prize, ICCM Lin Prize, and ICCM Yang Prize were introduced to inspire more talent. The "ICCM Best Paper Award" honored papers with innovative insights and significant impact in math research.

On that day, renowned mathematicians made insightful presentations. Fields Medalist Andrei Okounkov, a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), shared recent advancements in representation theory and Lie theory. Wang Hong, a professor at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University and a permanent professor at the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques, presented her team's proof of the long-standing Kakeya Conjecture in 3D, a result that has garnered significant international attention. Prof. Deng Yu from University of Chicago focused on cutting-edge issues in nonlinear equations, fluid dynamics, and statistical physics, sharing his team's progress on Hilbert's sixth problem and charting a new course for the study of partial differential equations.

The three reports highlighted the dynamic and in-depth advancements in key areas of international math research. This congress invited top scholars like Caucher Birkar, Fields Medalist and a foreign member of CAS; Michael I. Jordan, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and Ngô Bảo Châu, Fields Medalist, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a foreign member of the French Academy of Sciences, to attend academic lectures, public events, and interdisciplinary forums. Throughout the congress, distinguished lectures, one-hour lectures, and specialized forums will be held. Activities like the Future Summit for High School Students and Student Poster Exhibition will also take place, fostering cross-disciplinary interaction between mathematics, industry, education, and science communication.

Established in 1998 by Shing-Tung Yau, a world-renowned mathematician, Fields Medalist, and President of the ICCM, the ICCM has become a key platform for showcasing top achievements in Chinese mathematics. It aims to unite global Chinese mathematicians, foster cutting-edge research exchanges, and drive the joint development of Chinese and international mathematics. Its sustained success and expanding global impact showcase new milestones in Chinese mathematics and highlight China's rising reputation in fundamental sciences. This congress will run until January 7, delivering a range of in-depth, open, and diverse academic outcomes to the global Chinese math community.

Hosted in Shanghai at the onset of the "15th Five-Year" period, this congress highlights Shanghai's commitment to basic research and fostering original innovation. As Shanghai progresses in building an international technology innovation center, it has seen a steady stream of high-level achievements. In 2024, 49 local-led or co-completed projects won national science and technology awards, making up 18.7% of the country's total. In 2025, Shanghai's scientists published over 180 papers in top journals like Cell, Nature, and Science - around 30% of the country's total. Shanghai has achieved original breakthroughs in fields like allogeneic universal CAR-T therapy, cellular senescence mechanism, neutral atom quantum computing, and abyssal science research.

Shanghai is rapidly building a pilot zone for basic research, promoting high-risk, high-value studies and fostering an ecosystem that tolerates failure and encourages innovation. It also aims to create an appealing talent environment. By establishing the Shanghai Academy of Natural Sciences and partnering with top research institutions like SIMIS, the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, CAS, and the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, it supports leading scientists in conducting cutting-edge and disruptive research. This effort draws young talents willing to tackle long-term challenges and explore new frontiers. In 2025, 130 Shanghai-based scientists made it to Clarivate's "Highly Cited Researchers" list.

Shanghai also emphasizes "practical" research by boosting enterprises' role in innovation through initiatives like the "Explorer Program". Targeting sectors such as integrated circuits, biomedicine, AI, and high-end manufacturing, companies are encouraged to identify industry needs and define scientific questions, bridging industrial demands with basic research. The "Explorer Program" has grown from two participating companies in 2021 to 22 in 2025, with more companies actively investing in basic research and engaging broader social support for its development.

Established in January 2024, SIMIS is located in Yangpu's GKIC Innovation and Development Demonstration Zone. It leverages the region's robust innovation ecosystem and superior industrial cluster to continuously fuel innovation vitality. With over 100 researchers from nearly 20 countries and regions - nearly 50% recruited from abroad, SIMIS focuses on mathematics and its applications. It has launched key research projects in AI, life health, and brain science, developing unique interdisciplinary research directions and achieving notable progress in academic publications and intellectual property.