The inaugural ceremony of the Jiangxi Provincial Science and Technology Ethics Association, together with an academic symposium, was held in Nanchang on December 28, 2024. The event brought together representatives from government agencies, universities, and research institutes across Jiangxi Province.

Distinguished attendees included Yeguang Chen, President of Nanchang University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Weimin Sun, First-Level Inspector of the Jiangxi Association for Science and Technology; and Tiejun Luo, Director of the Social Organization Administration Bureau of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Civil Affairs.

The conference opened with the national anthem. In his remarks, President Chen congratulated the newly established association and highlighted the role of science and technology ethics in supporting responsible innovation. He noted that ethical principles provide essential guidance for research activities and help ensure that scientific outcomes remain credible and socially acceptable.

In his address, Inspector Sun expressed support for the association and encourged it to strengthen organizational leadership, build broad consensus, focus on priority issues, and expand its membership. He underscored the association's potential to advance ethics research and practice and to contribute to high-quality scientific and technological development in Jiangxi.

Director Luo also offered congratulations and described the association's founding as an important step for both ethics governance and the development of social organizations in the province. He emphasized compliance with relevant laws and regulations, as well as the importance of sound internal governance.

Wei Gao, Dean of the School of Public Health at Nanchang University and head of the preparatory group, introduced the background and rationale for establishing the association. The meeting reviewed and adopted the association's charter and elected its first council and Party branch secretary. Wei Gao was elected as the first Council Chairperson. Jianming Li and five others were elected Vice Chairpersons. Dalei Zhang was elected Secretary-General and Party Branch Secretary. Jingwei Xiong and 18 others were elected Council members, and Xiaojun Zhou was elected Supervisor.

The academic symposium featured presentations by Xiufeng Zhang, Director of the Supervision, Evaluation, and Science & Technology Security Division of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology, who discussed key issues in science and technology ethics governance. Prof. Cheng Zhou from the Department of Philosophy at Peking University examined methodological and ethical challenges in brain-computer interface research. Prof. Jian Li, Director of the Clinical Trial Center at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University and a newly elected Vice Chairperson of the association, shared perspectives on protecting the rights and interests of participants in clinical research. The presentations prompted active discussion among attendees.

The event was hosted by the Preparatory Committee of the Jiangxi Provincial Science and Technology Ethics Association, organized by Nanchang University, and co-organized by the School of Public Health. The establishment of the association provides a province-wide platform for exchange, collaboration, and capacity building, supporting the integration of technological innovation with ethical governance and advancing science and technology ethics research and practice in Jiangxi.