From 5 to 6 October, Singapore welcomed Nobel Heroes & AI4SCI Summit 2026, a gathering of leading minds from around the world to explore the future of science.
The Summit was jointly organised by Laureates City Holdings Limited and Symbiosis Science, hosted by Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, and supported by Advaita Lab and HER SYMBIOSIS. Together, the partners brought the international scientific community, the artificial intelligence industry and long-term capital into conversation, encouraging interdisciplinary exchange and international collaboration.
Five Nobel laureates attended: Omar M. Yaghi, the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate; Fred Ramsdell, the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate; Benjamin List, the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate; Sir Konstantin Novoselov, the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics laureate; and Sir Christopher A. Pissarides, the 2010 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences laureate.
They were joined by Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of Singapore’s National Research Foundation; Nikolaus Turner, Executive Director of the Foundation Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings; H.E. Alex Tilman, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Singapore; H.E. Tadeusz Chomicki, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Singapore; Dr Choo Pei Ling, Member of Parliament of Singapore; Aurelia Frick, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture of Liechtenstein; Peter Badge, photographer of the Nobel Laureates portrait series; Professor Christian Wolfrum, Provost of Nanyang Technological University (NTU); and Professor Alan Chan, Provost of Singapore Management University (SMU). Leaders from leading universities, technology companies and investment organisations also took part, exploring new possibilities for scientific discovery in the age of AI.
Over the two days, Summit events took place at NTU, SMU, Conrad Singapore Orchard and Gardens by the Bay. The two-day Summit welcomed around 500 guests and featured seven Nobel Laureate roundtables and dialogues, where the five laureates exchanged ideas with guests from academia, industry and other fields on topics including AI and science. The Gala Dinner brought together more than 150 guests from government, business and academia. At Gardens by the Bay, the Nobel Laureates Portrait Exhibition opened free of charge to the public, taking science beyond the conference hall and into the city.
A Meeting of Minds Across Government, Academia and Business
On the evening of 5 October, the Nobel Heroes & AI4SCI Summit Singapore 2026 Gala Dinner was held at Conrad Singapore Orchard, creating an important opportunity for exchange during the Summit. All five Nobel laureates attended, alongside international guests including H.E. Alex Tilman, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Singapore; H.E. Tadeusz Chomicki, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Singapore; and Aurelia Frick, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture of Liechtenstein.
Among the guests were academic and technology leaders including Professor Patrick Tan, Dean of Duke-NUS Medical School; Steven Hoi, Vice President of Alibaba Group; and Professor Qiang Yang of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. They joined business and investment leaders including Arthur Hayes, Co-founder of BitMEX; Tan Yinglan, Founding Managing Partner of Insignia Ventures Partners; Akasha Zhu, Co-founder of Advaita Lab and Paramita Capital; and representatives from CapitaLand, OUE, J.P. Morgan Private Bank and several family offices. Their conversations brought science, artificial intelligence, industry and long-term capital together, creating space for new cross-sector connections.
The dinner opened with remarks from the organisers. Michael Ong, Chairman of Laureates City Holdings Limited, and Kamala Zhu, Founder of Symbiosis Science, welcomed guests. Nikolaus Turner, Executive Director and Board Member of the Foundation Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, then delivered the opening address.
Michael Ong shared the vision behind the Summit, emphasising the importance of international scientific exchange and cross-sector collaboration. He expressed his hope that the Singapore Summit would help connect outstanding scientists, academic institutions and innovators from around the world.
Kamala Zhu spoke about the thinking behind the Summit: “Great science needs time, trust and early support. Many major discoveries begin with a question few people believe in.” She said that lasting connections between science, artificial intelligence, industry and capital could open up new possibilities for the next generation of scientific discovery.
During the dinner, Nikolaus Turner presented commemorative gifts to Kamala Zhu and Akasha Zhu, marking their shared commitment to advancing international scientific exchange and collaboration.
In Dialogue: Nobel Laureates on AI and Science
From NTU to SMU, the five Nobel laureates took part in in-depth conversations on how AI is reshaping scientific discovery, health and longevity, sustainable cities and the future of work.
Omar M. Yaghi, the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate, shared how AI is accelerating materials research. “AI is not just a new tool; it is a new environment we are being immersed in,” he said. Benjamin List and Sir Konstantin Novoselov emphasised that genuine scientific breakthroughs still depend on human curiosity, original thinking and the ability to ask the right questions.
As AI develops rapidly, Fred Ramsdell urged people to approach AI-generated information with care. Sir Christopher A. Pissarides explored the practical value of AI and its potential long-term effects on employment and the economy. Together, the laureates’ perspectives reflected the range of opportunities and challenges AI presents across scientific disciplines.
Beyond the Nobel Laureate dialogues, the Summit also focused on the next generation of scientific talent and social innovation. On the afternoon of 5 October, Kamala Zhu, Founder of Symbiosis Science, delivered the opening remarks at the AI for Science forum. Advaita Lab shared its work on emerging areas of AI research, while HER SYMBIOSIS convened a roundtable on women’s leadership. The first cohort of the Rising Minds — AI4SCI Young Talent Program was also recognised, with three young researchers named among the inaugural “AI4SCI Rising Stars 100”.
On the afternoon of 6 October, the Summit moved to SMU. Professor Alan Chan, Provost of SMU, and Nikolaus Turner delivered remarks, followed by a keynote address from Dr Cheong Wei Yang, Vice Provost for Strategic Research Partnerships. Taking in the intersections of technology, the economy and society, his address explored the future of work, longevity and urban life. Three Nobel Laureate dialogues followed, connecting the frontiers of science with the long-term challenges facing society.
Bringing the Faces of Science to Gardens by the Bay
In 2000, German photographer Peter Badge set himself a goal: to photograph every living Nobel laureate. For more than two decades, he has worked with Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings to document people whose achievements have changed the world, bringing the human stories behind their scientific accomplishments into view.
On 6 October, Nobel Laureates Portrait Exhibition Singapore 2026 officially opened at Gardens by the Bay. Featuring portraits of 35 Nobel laureates, the exhibition combined outdoor displays with digital interactive experiences to connect science, art and the public. It ran until 11 October and was free to visit.
At the opening ceremony, Nikolaus Turner, Executive Director of the Foundation Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings; Kamala Zhu, Founder of Symbiosis Science; Dr Choo Pei Ling, Member of Parliament of Singapore; and photographer Peter Badge delivered remarks. Nobel laureates and other guests, including H.E. Alex Tilman, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Singapore, joined the ceremony to mark the exhibition’s opening.
The exhibition conveyed a simple but far-reaching idea: science should reach beyond laboratories and conference rooms and become part of public life. Through these portraits, more people—especially younger generations—could encounter the people behind great discoveries. A moment spent with one portrait, perhaps, could spark a dream of pursuing science.
Building Long-Term Scientific Collaboration
From Nobel Laureate dialogues at NTU and SMU, to a Gala Dinner bringing together international leaders in technology and capital, and a public exhibition at Gardens by the Bay, Nobel Heroes & AI4SCI Summit 2026 created an international platform for exchange across disciplines and sectors. It also built new connections to support scientific discovery, talent development and long-term collaboration.
Starting in Singapore, Laureates City and Symbiosis Science will continue working with international academic institutions, technology companies and partners to encourage ongoing exchange between science, artificial intelligence, industry and capital.
