Knowledge, technology, and society as well as natural systems are increasingly coherent and complex, and new systems are continuously formed at their interfaces. Convergence is a problem-solving strategy to holistically understand, create, and transform a system for reaching a common goal, such as advancing an emerging technology in society. The systems may be either in natural, scientific, technological, economic, or societal settings. Convergence offers a unifying strategy applicable to all systems that can be modeled as evolving neural-like networks. The paper presents an overview of the convergence science including underlying theories, principles, and methods and illustrates its implementation in key areas of application. The convergence approach begins with deep integration of previously separated fields, communities, and modes of thinking, to form and improve a new system, from where solutions divergence to previously unattainable applications and outcomes. The worldwide science and technology (S&T) landscape is changing at the beginning of the twenty-first century because of convergence. First, there is the affirmation of three transdisciplinary general-purpose technologies—nanotechnology, digital technology, and artificial intelligence (AI). A second main characteristics is the deep integration of five foundational science and technology fields (NBICA: nanoscale, modern biology, information, cognition, and artificial intelligence) from their basic elements—atoms, genes, bits, neurons, and logic steps and their collective action—to address global challenges and opportunities. The affirmation of nanotechnology at the confluence of disciplines toward systematic control of matter at the nanoscale has been an enabling inspiration and foundation for other S&T fields, emerging industries, and convergence solutions in society. Several future opportunities for implementation of convergence principles are the global S&T system, realizing sustainable society, advancing human capabilities, and conflict resolution.

知识、技术、社会以及自然系统日益连贯、复杂，在它们的界面上不断形成新的系统。融合是一种解决问题的策略，旨在全面理解、创建和改造系统以实现共同目标，例如在社会中推进新兴技术。这些系统可能处于自然、科学、技术、经济或社会环境中。融合提供了一种适用于所有可以建模为不断演化的类神经网络的系统的统一策略。本文概述了融合科学，包括基础理论、原理和方法，并说明了其在关键应用领域的实现。融合方法首先将先前分离的领域、社区和思维方式进行深度整合，形成和完善一个新的系统，从解决方案的分歧到以前无法实现的应用和结果。二十世纪初，全球科技 (S&T) 格局因融合而发生变化。首先，对纳米技术、数字技术、人工智能这三种跨学科通用技术的肯定。第二个主要特征是五个基础科学技术领域（NBICA：纳米、现代生物学、信息、认知和人工智能）从原子、基因、比特、神经元和逻辑步骤及其集体的基本元素的深度融合。行动——应对全球挑战和机遇。 对纳米技术在纳米尺度物质系统控制方面的学科融合的肯定，为其他科技领域、新兴产业和社会融合解决方案提供了有利的灵感和基础。未来实施融合原则的几个机会是全球科技体系、实现可持续社会、提高人类能力和解决冲突。