On the afternoon of January 12th, the leading group for the construction of the Shanghai Science Surrounding, a science and technology park close to Shanghai University, held its first meeting in 2024. The meeting summarized the significant achievements in the construction of the Shanghai Science Surrounding and aimed to further promote its high-quality development. Li Chenhao, Secretary of Baoshan District Party Committee, Cheng Danhong, Chairperson of the Council of Shanghai University, and Liu Changsheng, President of Shanghai University, Vice-Chairperson of the Council of Shanghai University, and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Other attendees included Ouyang Hua, Vice-Chairperson of the Council of Shanghai University, Wang Congchun, member of the CPC Standing Committee of Shanghai University and Vice-President of Shanghai University, Shen Yi, member of the CPC Standing Committee of Shanghai University, Deputy Head of the Organization and Personnel Department, and Director of the Organization Division, Zheng Yichuan, member of the Standing Committee of CPC Baoshan District Committee and Deputy Governor of Baoshan District, and Wang Nai, member of the Standing Committee of CPC Baoshan District Committee and Deputy Governor of Baoshan District.

Li Chenhao pointed out that this year, Baoshan will launch a new three-year action plan for the construction of science and technology centers, of which the university science park would be an important part. Li stressed that more focus should be put on the application of sci-tech achievements and forming a cluster area for innovation. The development of the Shanghai Science Surrounding is important for the overall construction of these centers, and also plays an essential supporting role in the development of the urban area and the model area of the district. Therefore, it is necessary to, taking consideration into the overall development of the district and the city, learn from the pioneering experiences and practices of outstanding international and domestic university science parks, further facilitate the application of sci-tech advancement, and build the park with higher standards. Li also noted that efforts should be strengthened to promote the comprehensive development of science and innovation. University innovations should be better utilized and high-level and professional operation and management teams should be established as a bridge to promote the integration of innovation and the industrial chain. Professional service capabilities should be improved and science and innovation element resources should be assembled to build professional incubators. Industrial spaces should be bettered employed and connected. The layout of the Shanghai Science Surrounding should be more systematically arranged to provide support for the whole chain from scientific and technological innovation of colleges and universities to commercialization of sci-tech achievements. In addition, Li emphasized that more efforts should be channeled to build a community of the district and universities. He said that Baoshan is currently fully implementing the strategic deployment of the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government, concentrating on development and striving to promote the “northern transformation”. The district government hopes that it can develop closer cooperation with Shanghai University during this process. The district will work on providing more high-quality resources for the innovation and entrepreneurship of the university’s teachers and students, and join hands to build the development model of “on-campus R&D + application at Shanghai Science Surrounding + Baoshan growth”. The district also expects Shanghai University to cultivate more innovative and entrepreneurial talents with pioneering spirits, and produce more high-quality results.

Cheng Danhong said that Shanghai University, a university located in Baoshan, has been playing an active role in the regional development. The university served in Shanghai’s efforts to build itself into a science and technology innovation center with global influence, and Baoshan’s “Northern and Southern Transformation” strategy, including carrying out extensive and close exchanges and cooperation with the district in scientific and technological innovation, social governance, talent training, and industry-universal-research cooperation. In the future, Shanghai University will continue to support the construction of the Shanghai Science Surrounding, and provide all-round support in the sharing of high-quality resources, the gathering of outstanding projects, and the exchange of innovative talents. In addition, the university will further give play to the effect of talent gathering, create an innovation system integrating production, university and research, and promote the deep integration of innovation and industrial chain, so as to form a distinctive “Shanghai Science Surrounding model” and contribute to the realization of the blueprint of science and innovation for win-win development.

Liu Changsheng said that university science parks are an important part of the national innovation system. They are an important platform for universities to serve society and are of great significance to accelerate the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy and achieve high-level scientific and technological self-reliance. More focus should be attached to the construction of the Shanghai Science Surrounding, and measures should be taken to promote the implementation of relevant plans. The system and mechanism should be further improved to deal with obstacles in the process. Efforts should be taken to further create a good ecology for scientific innovation, improve the overall planning of the park and promote the construction of a global innovation and entrepreneurship cluster and a regional innovation block. As such, the exploration of the construction of a multi-level, open and international university science and technology park ecosystem could better serve the high-quality development of the university and the region.

At the meeting, Wang Nai and Wang Congchun made deployment for work to be done at the next stage for the district and the university respectively. Liu Jinyuan, Director of the Innovation Service Division of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, elaborated on the Action Plan for the Reform and Development of University Science Parks in Shanghai. The person from the company in charge of the construction of the park and personnel from Dachang town briefed their work respectively.