Dear Academic and Industry Colleagues,
Since its inaugural session in 2006, the International Conference on Genomics (ICG) has journeyed through two decades of discovery. Guided by the founding vision of “Omics for All,” ICG has consistently served as an interdisciplinary, cross-border platform for academic exchange, advancing genomics from the laboratory into everyday life. Today, ICG stands as one of the most influential annual gatherings in global life sciences, having witnessed and contributed to every major breakthrough — from the first draft of the human genome to precision medicine and synthetic biology.

In 2026, the convergence of artificial intelligence and healthcare has entered a new phase of “full-process transformation.” According to NVIDIA’s 2026 State of AI in Healthcare and Life Sciences report, 70% of healthcare organizations and life science companies are actively using AI. ARK Invest’s Big Ideas 2026 predicts that whole-genome sequencing costs will drop another tenfold within five years, while AI-driven diagnostic tools will grow fivefold — marking a historic inflection point driven jointly by AI and multi-omics.

The 21st annual meeting of the ICG (ICG‑21) will be held on September 7–8, 2026, at the BGI Center in Yantian, Shenzhen, China. On the morning of September 7, the “ICG‑21 Science Popularization Carnival” will take place. Dr. Yin Ye, CEO of BGI Group, will join a lineup of renowned science communicators to bring the public an inspiring feast of science communication, blending science with the humanities. On September 8, centered on the theme “Bio-Generative Intelligence for Health,” the conference will feature keynote presentations, thematic seminars, and cross-sector dialogues organized around five core directions: Health, Beauty, Longevity, Wisdom, and Well-being. We will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the frontiers of life science and how the benefits of genomic technology can truly reach every individual.

The main venue, BGI Center, is nestled in Yantian, Shenzhen—where mountains meet the sea. In the golden days of September, we sincerely invite you to join us as we embark on the next two decades of genomics.