New productive forces gain traction at the 2025 ZGC Forum

The 2025 ZGC Forum Annual Conference, a Chinese platform for global hi-tech innovation exchange and cooperation, was held in Beijing from March 27 to 31 at IASP member Z-Park's Innovation Center, bringing together over 1000 participants from more than 100 countries and from multiple regions. IASP President Lena Miranda and IASP CEO Ebba Lund were present the event to join the discussions about innovation in the region. 

Initiated in 2007 with the permanent theme of "Innovation and Development", the goal of the forum continues to be to encourage the sharing of global innovative ideas and development concepts, discuss cutting-edge technologies and the development trends of future industries, explore innovation rules and governance, and jointly promote science and technologies to better benefit people around the world.  

This year, the forum, highlighted the role of industrial advancements with its theme “New Productive Forces and Global Science and Technology Cooperation”, and focused on exploring cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, and 6G.  

As the forum kicked off last Thursday, conducted by the Mayor of Beijing Ying Yong, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing addressed the attendees of the opening ceremony, held at the ZGC Innovation Centre, and commented on how China has implemented an innovation-driven development strategy.   

During the ceremony, Ebba addressed the forum with her opening remarks, commenting on how the forum provides “an invaluable opportunity to enable innovation and collaboration with Chinese peers, as well as working as a wonderful way build up expectations for IASP’s World Conference in September”. She also took part in the parallel ZGC Forum “World’s Leading Science and Technology Park Development” co-hosted by IASP and Beijing Municipal Government, where she delivered opening remarks, highlighting the more than 30 IASP members in China.   

Lena Miranda, President of IASP and CEO of Linköping Science Park (Sweden) was one of the keynote speakers at the parallel forum and shared an insightful look into what’s ahead for STPs, in her "Shaping the Future - The Role of Science Parks and Areas of lnnovation" speech, which provided a valuable understanding of how our industry is poised to develop and contribute to innovation in the coming years. 

Aside from the many thought-provoking speeches and sessions that were a major draw of the event, there were also plenty of opportunities for delegates and attendees to connect and plan future collaborations.  

Adding to their many excellent talks, Ebba and Lena met with local peers, including immediate past president Herbert Chen of TusPark, and with the organisers of our upcoming World Conference to discuss ongoing preparations for IASP 2025 Beijing, going through the details of what’s in store for our delegates for what promises to be an unforgettable event in September.  

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