The World Top-Performing Incubator Conference 2024 (WTIF 2024), a key event within the Pujiang Innovation Forum series, convened in Shanghai’s Lin-gang Special Area from September 26th to 28th, 2024. Themed “Boundless Innovation, Collaborative Synergy,” WTIF 2024 served as a platform for fostering global technology advancement and forging strategic partnerships.
The opening ceremony was graced by dignitaries including Zhao Chaofan, Director General of the Department of Science and Technology at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Wang Dehua, Director of Incubation System Construction Division at the Torch High Technology Industry Development Center (Ministry of Science and Technology), Zhai Jinguo, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, and Peng Shiquan, Deputy Director of the Lin-gang Special Area Management Committee. Li Youping, Deputy Director of the Torch Technology Industry Development Center (MIIT), Chen Xin, Vice President of Shanghai Association for Science and Technology, Sun Meng, Vice President of Shanghai Lingang Economic Development, and Huang Lihong, Director of Shanghai Technology Innovation Center, collectively launched WTIF 2024.
A significant development during the conference was the establishment of the “International Innovation Synergy and Incubation Alliance.” Leading incubators such as DMZ, The Drivery GmbH, London & Partners, UtrechtInc Startup Incubator, ITU Çekirdek Incubation Center, Startups House, 22 On Sloane, Caohejing Humanoid Robots Innovation Incubator, G60 Satellite Internet Incubator, Lingang Pujiang Entrepreneurship and Innovation Park, Lingang Medical Device Innovation Center, and HCH Ventures formally joined the alliance, signifying a united commitment to accelerating global innovation.
Furthermore, several top-tier incubators signed joint incubation contracts. These include Startups House and Step Innovation, Peking University International S&T Innovation Center at Lingang and Lingang Science and Technology Investment, ITU Çekirdek Incubation Center and Shanghai Lingang United Development, 22 on Sloane and Lingang Pujiang Entrepreneurship and Innovation Park, and USP Innovation Agency and Shanghai Pudong Software Park Incubator. These collaborations aim to leverage complementary strengths and resources to cultivate a robust ecosystem for nurturing promising startups.
To further drive the advancement of innovative technologies, several letters of intent for project implementation were also signed. These agreements cover Nine Dimension Turing Technology and Caohejing Hi-Tech Park, Beijing Haibaichuan Technology and Shanghai Lingang United Development, and Paragraf Ltd and Shanghai Lingang Economic Development Group Technology Investment. These partnerships showcase a commitment to fostering collaborative research, development, and commercialization efforts, ultimately translating technological breakthroughs into tangible societal benefits.
The conference featured insightful keynote speeches delivered by Dr. Frederico Lourenco, Vice President of Portfolio Strategy and Operations at Flagship Pioneering, and Prof. Kwang-Geun (James) Lee, Chairman of the Asian Association of Business Incubation (AABI). Mi Lei, Founding Partner of CASSTAR, engaged in a thought-provoking dialogue with Tian Mochen, Founder and CEO of Kiwimoore, exploring the evolving landscape of innovation. Dr Tony Raven, Former Chief Executive of Cambridge Enterprise, and Dr Simon Thomas FREng, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, CEO and Co-Founder of Paragraf Ltd, also participated in stimulating discussions, sharing their expertise and perspectives on the future of technological advancement.
A roundtable discussion, focusing on “Innovation Models and Cooperation Opportunities for Global Incubation,” was conducted with participation from UBI Global, DMZ, Startups House, Lingang SYNLINX Life Science Professional Incubator, The Drivery GmbH, and Xnode. These industry leaders explored innovative models for global technology incubation, sharing best practices and identifying opportunities for collaborative growth.
The World Top-Performing Incubator Conference 2024 was guided by the Torch High Technology Industry Development Center (Ministry of Science and Technology), Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality and Technology Committee, Lin-gang Special Area Administration of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and Shanghai Association for Science and Technology. It was organized by Shanghai Lingang Economic Development and Shanghai Technology Innovation Center, and co-organized by Shanghai Lingang Economic Development Group Technology Investment, Shanghai Technology Business Incubator Association, and Step Innovation. The conference successfully brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, fostering collaborative relationships and a shared commitment to driving technological innovation for a brighter future.
