Hainan Sets Schedule for Deep Sea Innovation Conference in Sanya, 3 to 6 November 2026
The 4th Deep Sea Innovation Conference takes place in Sanya, China, from 3 to 6 November 2026, connecting research and marine tourism.
The Hainan Provincial Department of Science and Technology is preparing to host the 4th Hainan Free Trade Port International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Forum and Deep Sea Innovation Conference, officially titled The Fourth Hainan Free Trade Port International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Forum and Deep Sea Technology Innovation Conference, from 3 to 6 November 2026 at Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City in Sanya, Hainan Province, China. The event is organised to serve as a platform uniting efforts to drive global deep-sea innovation alongside applications in industry and marine tourism. The programme is divided into 1 main forum, 7 parallel sessions and 3 supporting activities, providing opportunities for international participants to exchange in-depth perspectives.
Key Discussion Topics and Marine Infrastructure Development
The conference agenda focuses on applying scientific knowledge to practical use across multiple economic sectors. Participants will exchange ideas on key topics covering both industry and tourism as follows:
- Frontier deep-sea science and advanced equipment manufacturing
- Marine biomedicine and industrial applications
- Open-sea cultural tourism integration and marine cultural heritage conservation
- Deep-sea oil and natural energy engineering
Hainan Province has continuously accelerated the upgrading of its deep-sea research capabilities in recent years. Currently, the deep-sea section of the National Comprehensive Marine Test Site is operational, whilst construction of a seafloor scientific observation network is being accelerated to support marine engineering and deep-sea energy resource development.
Venue Capabilities and International Cooperation
The event venue, Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, serves as Hainan Province's primary hub for driving deep-sea innovation. More than 1,400 marine industry enterprises currently operate there, spanning deep-sea exploration equipment, marine observation systems and deep-sea energy security. This readiness helps connect research institutions and the business sector to commercialise research outcomes effectively.
In addition, Hainan Province has expanded research cooperation with the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and Singapore to share resources and conduct joint research projects. Since its launch in 2023, the past 3 editions of the conference have seen participating countries increase from nearly 20 to 25, and participating institutions rise from 170 to more than 250. Past cooperation has produced key outcomes, including a China-Egypt strategic partnership in marine science, the release of the Hainan Free Trade Port Consensus and the Global Hadal Exploration Consensus, as well as the establishment of an underwater robotics industry alliance and a deep-sea innovation venture capital fund.
Event Information Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event Name | The Fourth Hainan Free Trade Port International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Forum and Deep Sea Technology Innovation Conference |
| Organiser | Hainan Provincial Department of Science and Technology |
| Date | 3 to 6 November 2026 |
| Venue | Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Sanya, China |
| Event Format | 1 main forum, 7 parallel sessions and 3 supporting activities |
This news is of interest to event planners and organizer teams looking to study the format of a large-scale international conference that attracts more than 250 leading institutions from 25 countries to a coastal city. Hotel professionals and tourism operators can also follow approaches to integrating open-sea cultural tourism and conserving marine heritage, which are main discussion topics on the agenda. Meanwhile, travellers and those interested in marine innovation can observe the development direction of Sanya as it links tourism with a global conference hub.