The SAIFS Innovation Center at ECNU has been awarded the title of “A High-quality Innovation Center” in the second batch of district-level innovation centers in Xuhui District. On December 10, 2024, Xuhui District held its High-Quality Innovation Center Construction and Promotion Conference at the Chengkai International Building. The attendees included Mr. Luo Dajin, Director of the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission; Mr. Cao Liqiang, Chair of the Xuhui District Council; Mr. Wang Hua, Deputy Chair and District Mayor of Xuhui District; Mr. Shen Quan, Deputy Chair of Xuhui District; Mr. Yu Linwei, Member of the Standing Committee and Deputy District Mayor of Xuhui District; Mr. Yan Yan, Chair of Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd.; Mr. Cao Youyi, Deputy Chair of the University Council at East China Normal University (ECNU); Mr. Zhou Jian, President of Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University; Mr. Yin Shankai, President of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, and Mr. Wang Sijia, Deputy Director of the Institute of Nutrition, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Prof. Shao Yilei, Dean of Shanghai AI-Finance School (SAIFS) at ECNU, was invited to attend the conference.
Mr. Cao Youyi, Deputy Chair of the University Council at ECNU attended the launching ceremony of the "Acceleration Program" for high-quality innovation centers in Xuhui District.
At the event, Mr. Luo Dajin, Director of the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission; Mr. Cao Liqiang, Chair of the Xuhui District Council; Mr. Cao Youyi, Deputy Chair of the University Council at ECNU, and the other four leaders from research institutes jointly launched the "Acceleration Program" for high-quality innovation centers in Xuhui District.
Themed "Accelerating Incubation," the conference further focused on incubation services and the integration of resources, highlighting the achievements and progress of high-quality innovation in Xuhui. Mr. Yu Linwei, Member of the Standing Committee and Deputy District Mayor of Xuhui District, presented plaques to 8 innovation centers, including the SAIFS Innovation Center at ECNU, which were designated as the second batch of district-level high-quality innovation centers. Prof. Shao Yilei, Dean of the SAIFS at ECNU, represented the SAIFS Innovation Center at ECNU to receive the plaque on stage.
Prof. Shao Yilei, Dean of SAIFS, went on stage to receive the plaque.
Mr. Yu Linwei, Member of the Standing Committee and Deputy District Mayor of Xuhui District, presented the plaque.
Currently, Xuhui District hosts 19 high-quality innovation centers, with a total planned construction area of 120,000 square meters. These innovation centers aim to attract top international talents, accelerate the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements, and foster the growth of hard-tech enterprises. They have established or collaborated on a range of technical platforms. Meanwhile, Xuhui actively constructs regional innovation platforms for technology transfer, promoting effective connections between technology, projects, startups, innovation centers, social capital, and industrial resources. They foster the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, effectively smoothing the path from “Transfer-Incubation- Industrialization”.
Prof. Shao Yilei, Dean of SAIFS at ECNU, expressed that the establishment of the innovation center is not only an essential step in promoting the application and dissemination of AI and financial technologies but also a strategic move to accelerate the development of a financial technology innovation ecosystem. The innovation center aims to build an integrated platform for cutting-edge technology research, industry-collaborative innovation, and talent development, creating an efficient chain for technology transfer and value creation. By deeply integrating the latest advancements in AI and financial technology, the innovation center will accelerate the iterative upgrade of innovation-driven financial service models, providing new impetus for the transformation of Shanghai's international financial center from resource-based to intelligence-based. Additionally, through cross-sector collaboration and an expanded international perspective, the innovation center will actively explore sustainable development paths for the integration of financial technology, contributing “Chinese wisdom” and “Shanghai solutions” to the global fintech ecosystem.
Sources: SAIFS Innovation Center at ECNU
