The Shanghai Master Forum on Science has been initiated by the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Shanghai Committee, hosted by the Committee of Science, Technology and Education of the CPPCC Shanghai Committee, Fudan University, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai Association for Science and Technology, and the World Laureates Association. The forum, featured by gathering and disseminating scientific thoughts, aims to target the “Time-honored Brand” and serves as a platform for the world's leading scientists to showcase their scientific thoughts and as a base camp for mankind to climb the rugged mountain of science. Through converging more leading scientists' ideas in Shanghai, the forum will act as an important platform for the city to strengthen its function as a critical origin of innovation and promote the development of sci-tech innovation center.

The Shanghai Master Forum on Science is themed “Rooted in Shanghai, Focusing on the Frontier, Spreading Scientific Thoughts and Helping to Build a Scientific and Technological Innovation Center with Global Influence”. The organizer plans to hold four forums every year, with each event inviting the leading scientists to deliver speeches on the frontiers of academic research revolving around one scientific topic. The forum will generate "Four ONEs": (1) To publish ONE journal named "Frontiers of Science"; (2) To compile ONE series of books on the Frontiers of Science; (3) To publish ONE series of audio-visual media from Frontiers of Science; and (4) To form ONE science and technology think tank focusing on the Frontiers of Science.

To shape Shanghai into a scientific and technological innovation center with global reach, the Shanghai Master Forum on Science strives to become a long term and highly respected forum as it disseminates the thoughts of leading scientists from Shanghai to the globe, and presents the beauty, brightness and ingenuity of science to the world.