To accelerate the achievement of high-level self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology and lead the development of new-quality productive forces, the 1st Annual Academic Conference on Innovation Ecosystems and Platforms was grandly held at Beijing Normal University (BNU) from April 24 to 25, 2026. Under the guidance of the Chinese Association of Science of Science and Science & Technology Policy (CASSSP), the conference was jointly organized by the Special Committee on Innovation Ecosystems and Platforms of CASSSP and BNU Business School (BNUBS). It received support from leading domestic and international academic journals, including Studies in Science of Science, Science Research Management, Science of Science and Management of S.& T., Journal of Science and Technology Management, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, and Chinese Management Studies. Over 200 participants from more than 40 universities (e.g., Tsinghua University, Peking University, Renmin University of China, BNU, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, South China University of Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Sichuan University), six research institutes (e.g., Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences; China Academy of Science and Technology Development Strategy), and multiple enterprises attended the event.

Focused on innovation ecosystem building during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the conference invited papers on topics including innovation ecosystem theory, new-quality productive forces, key core technology breakthroughs, sci-tech ethics, digital and intelligent technologies, platform enterprises, national strategic sci-tech forces, regional innovation, future industries, sci-tech entrepreneurship, sci-tech finance, and international innovation cooperation. A total of 98 papers were submitted, of which 67 were selected for presentation at sub-forums after rigorous review.

The opening ceremony and keynote speeches took place on the morning of April 25, presided over by Professor Liu Xielin from UCAS.

Opening Ceremony Presided over by Professor Liu Xielin (UCAS)

Professor Qi Yudong, Dean of BNUBS; Professor Fang Xin (UCAS); and Researcher Hu Zhijian (China Academy of Science and Technology Development Strategy) delivered opening remarks. On behalf of BNUBS, Dean Qi extended a warm welcome to all attendees. He noted that the 15th Five-Year Plan period is critical for China to accelerate high-level sci-tech self-reliance and cultivate new-quality productive forces. The conference is of great significance for advancing high-quality research on innovation ecosystems and platforms and supporting the development of the national innovation system. It aims to build consensus and promote academic research and practical application in this field.

Opening Remarks by Professor Qi Yudong, Dean of BNUBS

The first half of the keynote session followed, chaired by Professor Jiao Hao, Distinguished Professor of BNU and Director of the Department of Digital Economy and Management.

First-Half Keynote Session Chaired by Professor Jiao Hao

Professor Fang Xin, drawing on innovation practices in Shenzhen and Zhejiang, emphasized the pivotal role of enterprises as the main players, the core function of talent, and the importance of a sound political and technological environment in building innovation ecosystems. He also highlighted the critical value of learning capacity for individual and organizational growth in an era of rapid knowledge iteration. Researcher Hu Zhijian discussed innovation ecosystem construction, noting that the boundary between science and technology in sci-tech development is increasingly blurred, with the two intertwining to drive scientific, technological, and social progress. He stressed the practical implications of understanding this relationship for innovation management at regional and enterprise levels. Professor Liu Xielin explored the importance of innovation ecosystems for future industrial development, arguing that mastering key technologies and digital intelligent technologies is crucial for maintaining industrial leadership, and emphasizing the need to build a healthy domestic ecosystem.

Professor Fang Xin

The second half of the keynote session was chaired by Professor Zhou Jianghua, Associate Dean of BNUBS.

Second-Half Keynote Session Chaired by Professor Zhou Jianghua

Professor Li Yuan (Shanghai Jiao Tong University) pointed out that innovation faces technological, institutional, and policy uncertainties under the dual influence of the market and government, requiring attention to their combined impact on enterprise innovation ecosystems. Professor Chen Yantai (President of Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics) analyzed three practical dilemmas of platform ecosystems (technology, governance, and application) and raised research questions such as "How can Web4 drive enterprise innovation through technology transfer?" and "Does digital innovation capacity play an asymmetric mediating role?". Professor Rong Ke (Tsinghua University) proposed a 4C analytical framework for artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystems from the perspective of X-ecosystem theory, systematically examining the development and governance logic of AI ecosystems across four dimensions: institutional environment, capability building, organizational configuration, and dynamic evolution. Mr. Lin Congyu, Director and Senior Vice President of Perfect World Group, shared practical applications and value creation of AI in online education and platform ecosystems, providing industrial insights for building AI-driven innovation ecosystems.

On the afternoon of April 25, two Young Scholar Forums were held on "Platforms and Ecosystems" and "Regional Innovation". Scholars engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as innovation ecosystems empowering enterprise growth, innovation ecosystem and platform construction, cross-border sci-tech cooperation, data element governance, and enterprise green innovation.

Concurrent with the main sessions, five paper sub-forums were organized:Innovation Ecosystems and Governance Systems, Enterprise Innovation and Industrial Chain Upgrading, Digital and Intelligent Technologies & AI Innovation Development, Digital Transformation and Platform Ecosystems, New-Quality Productive Forces and Industrial Development. Paper authors presented their research, with invited scholars providing professional comments. The lively interactions fostered academic exchange and innovation in related fields.

The successful holding of the 1st conference marks the accelerated formation of an academic community in the field of innovation ecosystems and platforms. Future efforts will be made to continue to promote the deep integration of theoretical innovation and practical exploration in China.

Edited by He Jiali

Reviewed by Zhou Jianghua, Qi Yudong