IASP Chinese Member Salon unites innovation leaders in Hangzhou

From May 28th to 29th, the IASP Chinese Member Salon with the theme "Gathering Strength · Joint Creation" was held at the Hangzhou Technology Transfer Center. More than 40 guests, including Chinese IASP members, leading university science parks and hi-tech companies in China, gathered in Yuhang District, Hangzhou, to explore global science park development. This event was co-hosted by IASP China Office, Hangzhou Yuhang Sci-tech Innovation Park Association and Hangzhou Normal University National Science Park, and co-organized by Hangzhou Technology Transfer Center. IASP Consulting Director and Past President Herbert Chen, and Executive Officer of IASP China Office Ming Yang attended the event.

Herbert Chen shared the development trends of global science parks based on IASP General Survey in his keynote speech. He pointed out that science parks have gradually become a mature industry. "More than 90% of the surveyed science parks have been operating for more than 10 years, but they still play a huge role in promoting the transformation of sci-tech achievements, cultivating innovative talents, and helping the growth of startups. It is a vibrant sunrise industry." He also shared some innovation cases selected in the past "IASP Inspiring Solution Program", and emphasized that Chinese science parks need to maintain an open mindset and accelerate reform. "Facing the rapid development of technology, innovation in concepts, models, and operation of science parks is critical."

Jun Li, the Vice Chairman of Beihang University Science Park, pointed out in his speech that the core mission of science parks is to turn laboratory achievements into feasible products. The transformation of achievements is not simplely from 0 to 1, but from -1 to 1. The Beihang University Science Park is building a closed-loop chain of "achievement transformation - enterprise incubation - industry acceleration" and implementing a "reverse incubation" model: "connecting with industry leaders, matching industrial needs with research teams and projects, to achieve precise transformation."

Xuewu Chang, General Manager of HUST National University Science Park, shared the "demand-oriented" industry-university-research innovation model. "We have built a closed-loop system of 'defining problems at the demand side - making targeted breakthroughs at the supply side - quickly verifying at the application side', and created future industrial application scenarios by building R&D centers with large enterprises."

In the round-table session hosted by Hao Tang, Head of Jiangsu Workstation of IASP China Office, Ming Yang had an in-depth discussion on hot issues such as industry-university-research collaborative innovation, optimizing park operation mechanisms and international cooperation models with representatives from Hangzhou Normal University Science Park, National Technology Transfer (Eastern) Center and Shanghai Development Park Association.

Ming Yang specifically introduced IASP’s services such as Strategigram, an strategic analysis tool for IASP members, and encourage innovation space managers to make full use of such resources, where the China Office will provide necessary services and support.

Tao Fang, Member and Deputy Director of the Sci-tech Bureau of Yuhang District, said that as an important sci-tech innovation carrier, Yuhang District has developed an efficient and professional industrial incubation ecosystem in recent years. In 2024, the number of newly-built provincial and municipal incubators ranked first in both Hangzhou and Zhejiang province. With the surge of global sci-tech revolution and industrial reform, Yuhang District is making every effort to attract high-quality global innovation resources with the best policy environment and supportive services.

During the 2-day event, the participants also explored local innovation community by visiting Alibaba, Dream Town, Hangzhou Future Technology City, and Hangzhou Normal University National University Science Park to feel the innovative vitality of the city.