Gao Yu

The Sub-forum "The Dialogue on Technological Civilization and Co-Building Happiness" of the 2025 Greater Bay Area Science Forum was held in Macao on the afternoon of November 4. Authoritative experts and leading figures from the industry, academia, and research sectors conducted in-depth dialogues around the theme of "Digital-Intelligent Bay Area·Co-Building Happiness". They jointly explored how technology can empower urban happiness and how civilization can guide technological development, and put forward forward-looking and practical Chinese paths and global cooperation plans. 

At the themed forum titled "Dialogue on Technological Civilization and Co-Building Happiness", Gao Yu—Postdoctoral Fellow in Global Energy Governance at the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University—discussed the topic "From Energy Governance to Urban Micro-Scenarios: Making Technology 'Perceivable, Trustworthy, and Sustainable'".

From Energy Governance to Urban Micro-Scenarios: Making Technology "Perceivable, Trustworthy, and Sustainable"

Gao Yu

Postdoctoral Fellow in Global Energy Governance at the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University

With his professional background in energy governance and digital finance, Gao Yu, a postdoctoral fellow at Tsinghua University, elaborated at the forum on how technology can move from "grand narratives" to "everyday life scenarios". He proposed that the goodwill of technology should be reflected in three dimensions—"perceivable, trustworthy, and sustainable"—so that citizens can directly benefit from it in daily scenarios such as public transportation, medical care, and government services.

In terms of energy cooperation, Gao Yu emphasized the shift from "competing for resources" to "competing with rules + competing with computing power", promoting the implementation of mechanisms such as AI-based carbon footprint accounting, smart contracts, and green finance in bulk trade. He believes that "trustworthiness" will become the new hard currency for future energy cooperation.

At the urban governance level, he advocates starting with "micro-scenarios"—such as public transport priority, primary-level healthcare, and "one-stop service" for government affairs. Through five core indicators—"accessibility, convenience, sense of security, greenness, and satisfaction"—happiness can be quantified and replicated.

Gao Yu mentioned that the "Joint Laboratory" initiative proposed by this forum, as a physical platform for international cooperation, is a model for promoting in-depth collaboration based on "common goals, shared models, and mutual benefits". It is also a key venue for integrating the wisdom of young people into national strategies and transforming academic achievements into governance practices.

Gao Yu’s speech demonstrated the profound insights and actionable capabilities of young scholars on the topic of "Technological Civilization and Joint Construction of Happiness". The forum provides a platform for a new generation of researchers like him to voice their opinions and build connections, ensuring that Chinese solutions continue to thrive through inheritance and innovation.