On June 30, a landmark moment in the development of Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics (ZUFE)—the unveiling ceremony of the Key Laboratory of Sci-Tech Finance—was held at the Cultural Center of the Xiasha Campus. Concurrently, the Seminar on Sci-Tech Finance Development Strategy took place. Wei Jiang, President of ZUFE, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. Distinguished guests included Professor Zhang Wei from the College of Management and Economics at Tianjin University, who serves as Chair of the Academic Committee of the Key Laboratory of Sci-Tech Finance; Professor Li Xindan, Dean of the Institute of New Finance at Nanjing University and member of the Academic Committee; Professor Zhang Yuli, Dean of the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Nankai University and Academic Committee member; Professor Xu Nianxing from the Department of Accounting and Finance at Renmin University of China’s Business School and Academic Committee member; Jin Cong, Director of the Division of Achievements Transformation at the Department of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province; and Chen Zan’an, Deputy Director of the Higher Education Division at the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province. The event also gathered numerous scholars, experts, and industry representatives from universities, financial institutions, and sci-tech enterprises, all witnessing this significant milestone together. The unveiling ceremony was presided over by Vice President Li Zhanrong of ZUFE.
In his address, President Wei Jiang extended warm congratulations on the establishment of the Key Laboratory of Sci-Tech Finance and expressed heartfelt gratitude to all leaders, guests, and friends who have long supported the university’s development. He pointed out that the founding of the Key Laboratory is a critical initiative taken by ZUFE to serve the national innovation-driven development strategy and to promote the deep integration of technology and finance. It also represents a major milestone in the university’s discipline development, scientific research innovation, and talent cultivation.
President Wei emphasized that the Laboratory must fully leverage ZUFE’s disciplinary and talent advantages in the field of finance and economics, closely align with national strategic needs in sci-tech finance, and carry out frontier and innovative research to contribute wisdom and strength to the advancement of China’s sci-tech finance sector. He stated that the university would provide support in terms of top-level design, resource allocation, and team building, and called on all stakeholders to: First, act as an “integrator” for interdisciplinary collaboration. Barriers between schools and disciplines must be broken down so that the Laboratory becomes a “special zone” where scholars from different disciplines—such as the School of Information and Artificial Intelligence, the School of Finance, and the School of Management—can exchange ideas and collaborate innovatively, truly harnessing the synergistic and multiplicative effects of interdisciplinary research. Second, serve as an “incubator” for high-end achievements. The Laboratory should benchmark itself against national-level major scientific research platforms and projects, conduct in-depth research, and strive to publish a series of high-quality papers in top-tier domestic and international journals, while producing a body of substantial research outcomes that serve the major strategies of the nation and Zhejiang Province. Third, function as a “reservoir” for leading talents. The Laboratory should foster an excellent academic ecosystem and adopt both recruitment and cultivation approaches to achieve breakthroughs in nurturing national- and provincial-level outstanding talents, thereby providing strong support for ZUFE’s high-caliber talent team.
Vice President Li Zhanrong announced the official list of the Academic Committee and the list of corporate council members of the Key Laboratory of Sci-Tech Finance. President Wei Jiang presented appointment certificates to the attending Academic Committee members and corporate council representatives.
Professor Zhang Wei of Tianjin University delivered a congratulatory speech, praising the establishment of the Key Laboratory of Sci-Tech Finance and stressing that it must keep pace with academic frontiers to drive high-level scholarly development. He noted that standardized construction is particularly crucial for the Laboratory, especially in ensuring efficient and rational resource allocation to stimulate researchers’ creativity. He also emphasized that the Laboratory should maintain openness, actively coordinate various forces, promote cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional collaboration, step beyond comfort zones, embrace challenges, and explore new pathways in sci-tech finance.
Amid warm applause, President Wei Jiang, together with Professor Zhang Wei, Director Jin Cong, Deputy Director Chen Zan’an, and other distinguished guests, jointly unveiled the plaque for the “Key Laboratory of Sci-Tech Finance, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics,” marking the official launch of this strategically important platform.
While presiding over the ceremony, Vice President Li Zhanrong, on behalf of ZUFE, expressed warm welcome and sincere thanks to all leaders and guests. He stated that the establishment of the Key Laboratory of Sci-Tech Finance is a significant move by ZUFE to proactively respond to the requirements of the new development stage and serve national strategic needs. As an innovative platform promoting the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent, the laboratory will become a vital base for generating landmark achievements and cultivating strategic scientists.
Immediately following the unveiling ceremony, the “Seminar on Sci-Tech Finance Development Strategy of Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics” was held. Professor Zhang Wei chaired the seminar and highlighted that ZUFE’s sci-tech finance development strategy serves the national innovation-driven development strategy. Discussions focused on key topics including industry support, working frameworks, the significance of the Laboratory’s establishment, and its organizational charters. Numerous eminent scholars and outstanding enterprise representatives engaged in in-depth discussions centered on the core agenda of “Construction Planning for the Key Laboratory of Sci-Tech Finance.”
Jin Cong, Director of the Division of Achievement Transformation at the Department of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province, proposed practical recommendations based on real-world cases, suggesting that the laboratory prioritize expanding the scale of sci-tech innovation funding, enhancing banks’ service capabilities, elevating the role of sci-tech finance insurance, and deepening policy research to comprehensively advance its research agenda. Deputy Director Chen Zan’an of the Department of Education of Zhejiang Provincial focused on talent cultivation, proposing the creation of a national-level highland for talent development and sci-tech innovation through deep integration with enterprises and industries. Professor Wu Xin, Executive Deputy Director of the Key Laboratory of Sci-Tech Finance, presented the Laboratory’s construction plan, elaborating on its strategic positioning, foundational infrastructure, and development goals to illustrate its current environment and future direction. Professor Li Xindan, grounding his analysis in Zhejiang Province’s strategic development and leveraging ZUFE’s disciplinary and resource strengths, offered key recommendations to fully unlock the university’s potential and promote the comprehensive development of the Key Laboratory of Sci-Tech Finance. Professors Zhang Yuli and Xu Nianxing shared cutting-edge insights on the bidirectional relationship between technology and finance and the Laboratory’s distinctive positioning, respectively. Enterprise representatives, including Mr. Cai Xiaofei, Managing Partner of Paradise Silicon Valley Capital, and Zhang Xiaowei, Director of Institutional Business at Tonghuashun, together with other enterprise representatives, illustrated through their own experiences to highlight the significance of the Key Laboratory of Sci-Tech Finance platform for enterprises and the market environment, and expressed their hope for deeper exchanges and mutual empowerment with the laboratory.
In his concluding remarks, President Wei Jiang expressed heartfelt thanks to all members of the Academic Committee, noting that the event had not only brought valuable insights and inspiration for the university’s development but also served as an important milestone of ZUFE embarking on a new journey. He stressed that establishing the Key Laboratory of Sci-Tech Finance is a strategic layout by the university to deeply understand national strategic needs under the new circumstances and fully leverage its disciplinary strengths. He emphasized that during the construction process, the university will firmly promote deep collaboration between enterprises and higher education institutions, explore efficient approaches to organize talent teams and scientifically allocate resources, establish close cooperation mechanisms with enterprises, while capturing strategic high ground and seizing development opportunities to further enhance ZUFE’s capacity to serve national and Zhejiang’s economic development. He concluded by affirming that ZUFE will continue to deepen collaboration with all parties, steadily advance discipline development and innovative research, and contribute more of its strength to achieving national rejuvenation and building a great country.
The successful hosting of this event marks ZUFE’s significant breakthrough in promoting the deep integration of finance and technology, serving the national innovation-driven development strategy, and building a high-level university with distinctive characteristics in finance and economics. Rooted in Zhejiang—a vibrant land of innovation—the Laboratory is destined to accumulate strength, flourish, and stride toward an even more brilliant future.
(Edited by Che Peng | Photographed by Yang Jing)
