On the morning of August 7, the Seminar on Scientific and Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Arab States, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China (MOFCOM) and organized by the MOFCOM Training Base for International Business Officials (Shanghai) of Shanghai Business School, officially opened at the Caobao Road Campus. The opening ceremony was held in a friendly and warm atmosphere, bringing together 31 government officials and heads of universities and research institutions from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine. Chen Wei, Secretary of the Direct Party Branch of the College of International Education of Shanghai Business School, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech.
This seminar is an important project in implementing the "three global initiatives." It aims to promote exchanges and cooperation between China and Arab states in the fields of scientific and technological innovation and entrepreneurship, serving the overarching goal of building a China-Arab community with a shared future. Focusing on global issues of current concern such as technological transformation and the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the seminar combines thematic lectures with field visits to foster in-depth interaction among government bodies, research institutions, and innovation platforms on both sides.
(The scene of the opening ceremony)
In his speech, Chen Wei emphasized that China attaches great importance to the central role of scientific and technological innovation in national development. Through the implementation of the strategies of strengthening the nation through talent, science and technology, and innovation-driven development, China has made remarkable progress in fields such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, quantum communication, new materials, and renewable energy. Its ranking in the Global Innovation Index has risen from 34th in 2012 to 11th in 2024. Scientific and technological innovation has become a strong driving force for China-Arab cooperation. At the Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum held in 2024, China proposed a series of initiatives, including the establishment of joint laboratories, a space debris observation center, and a BeiDou application center, to further elevate bilateral cooperation in scientific and technological innovation to new heights.
(Chen Wei is giving a speech)
Participant representative, Ms. Sally Abdulwanees Amin Mohamed Elawdan, Manager of the Capital Business Incubator at Egypt's National Research Centre, stated that the seminar represented a highly valuable "golden opportunity." She expressed her hope to achieve three main goals through this seminar: first, to learn from China's experience in building science and technology as well as entrepreneurship policy systems and platforms; second, to share achievements and exchange ideas with experts and representatives from China and other Arab states; and third, to explore institutional cooperation mechanisms to promote the establishment of regular exchanges in joint project development, scientific research collaboration, and talent cultivation in the future. She also hoped to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Shanghai's technological strength and cultural heritage, so as to bring the insights and experience gained from this seminar back to her country to advance the development of its knowledge economy.
(The participant representative is giving a speech)
This 14-day seminar is designed around the latest developments in science, technology, and entrepreneurship practices. For the classroom teaching, experts and scholars from institutions such as the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, the Shanghai Lingang Innovation Management Institute, and the Administrative Committee of Suzhou National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone have been invited to deliver lectures on topics including China's scientific and technological innovation policies, entrepreneurship incubation mechanisms, and pathways for industrial transformation. For the field visits, participants will be organized to visit the Shanghai Technology Innovation Center, the Yangtze River Delta G60 Science & Technology Innovation Valley, as well as national high-tech zones, youth entrepreneurship parks, and innovative technology enterprises in Changchun, Jilin Province, to gain an in-depth understanding of the entire process of China's scientific and technological innovation—from policy formulation to practical implementation.
Written by: Chen Xiaoye
Photo by: Chen Xiaoye
Reviewed by: Chen Wei
