On March 28, 2026, the “Key & Core Technology Investment and Development” Forum was held successfully at the ZGC International Innovation Center during the 2026 ZGC Forum Annual Conference. Centered on the theme “New-Quality Capital: Trends and Pathways for Key & Core Technology Investment and Development,” the forum was co-hosted by several key organizations, including the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission, the Administrative Committee of Zhongguancun Science Park, the Beijing State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, ZGC Group, and ICBC Investment. The event was organized by ZGC Capital, ZGC International Holding, ICBC Capital, ZGC International Convention and Exhibition, The Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute, ZGC Angel Investment Alliance, among others. As a co-organizer, ZGC International played a pivotal role in bringing the forum to life and developing it into a premier international platform for the exchange and collaboration on investments in key & core technology.

The forum aimed to foster “new-quality capital” that aligns with the development of innovative productive forces, encouraging the deep integration of technological and industrial innovations and engaging high-level, original innovators, particularly from the scientific community. The forum attracted over 200 participants, including global investors, scientists, entrepreneurs, government officials, and experts. The participants gathered to explore the environment and trends surrounding the commercialization and industrialization of key & core technology achievements, as well as the vital role of key & core technology investment in nurturing new productive forces.

Speakers at the forum included Han Jiecai, President of Harbin Institute of Technology and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Zhang Weiwu, Vice President of ICBC; Ding Zhangchun, Deputy Secretary-General of the Beijing Municipal Government; and Li Yan, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of ZGC Group.

Li Yan, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of ZGC Group

Strategic Cooperation Established: Integrating Universities, Enterprises, Capital, and Industry

A significant ceremony was held during the forum where ZGC Group signed strategic cooperation agreements with Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and Beijing Stock Exchange (BSE), marking a key step byZGC Group in bridging leading research capabilities with capital markets. These collaborations aim to leverage ZGC Group’s integrated services for technological innovation, HIT’s strengths in original innovations in fields such as aerospace, robotics, and new materials, and the BSE’s support of innovative SMEs, creating a beneficial cycle that connects technology, industry, and finance.

Capital Pools for a New Chapter: ZGC Capital’s RMB 187 Million in Signed Investment Deals

In the project signing segment, ZGC Capital announced partnerships with seven key & core technology companies to establish operations in Beijing. These companies are Taichu Zhice (intelligent testing and measurement), Tongren Intelligent (embodied intelligence), Grit Biotechnology (cell therapy), Aoshuo New Energy (new energy materials), BiaoDu LiangZi (quantum computing), Xingyu Technology (commercial aerospace), and Direct Drive Tech (robotics). These collaborations arise from the commercialization of groundbreaking research conducted at various universities and research institutes, spanning cutting-edge areas like artificial intelligence, quantum information, biomedicine, and new energy. The combined value of these contracts is approximately RMB 187 million. This milestone marks another significant step for ZGC Group in promoting the commercialization and industrialization of original scientific and technological innovations by focusing on early-stage, small-scale, long-term, and key & core technology-focused investments, thereby advancing the development of the Beijing (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) International Science and Technology Innovation Center.

Prestigious Guests Gathered: Diverse Perspectives on Cutting-Edge Technologies

During the keynote session, three prominent scholars provided groundbreaking insights. Liang Gui, former Executive Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province and former Director of the Torch High-Tech Industry Development Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, delivered a speech titled “The Dynamics of AI and the Path of Clusters — The Mission of International Science and Technology Innovation Centers.” He analyzed how the AI technological revolution reshapes public policy systems, offering strategic insights for China’s innovation clusters to thrive in global competition.

He Xiaodong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Professor at Harbin Institute of Technology, presented on “The Development and Opportunities of Composite Materials.” He highlighted recent breakthroughs and industrialization prospects in strategic areas such as aerospace and deep-sea exploration.

Yao Yugui, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dean of the School of Physics at Beijing Institute of Technology, gave a presentation on “The Integration of Physics and AI in Bulk Material Testing: General Technologies for Intelligent Detection Through Multi-Modal Spectroscopy.” He illustrated the disruptive applications resulting from the intersection of AI and fundamental sciences in industrial quality control.

Frontline Experience Sharing: Deep Integration of Vertical Connectivity, Patient Capital, and Global Vision

In the innovation practice sharing segment, Wang Gang, General Manager of ICBC Investment, discussed “Fulfilling the AIC Mission with Patient Capital to Empower High-Quality Development of Key & Core Technology.” He shared experiences and responsibilities in focusing on debt-to-equity swaps and equity investments to support science and technology innovation, showcasing the significant role of state-owned financial asset investment firms in promoting innovation.

Mi Lei, Founding Partner of CASSTAR, elaborated on “Expanding Patient Capital to Facilitate Key & Core Technology Commercialization,” detailing the evolution of investment philosophies and venture practices in the key & core technology sector.

Wu Yiming, Chairman of Tongren Intelligence, offered insights from an entrepreneur’s perspective in a presentation titled “Embodied Intelligence: A New Paradigm in Intelligent Science.” He introduced a novel concept: “Using modern mathematical methods to hierarchically represent stereoscopic visual information through an isomorphism, which enables precise recognition without training and interpretable processes.” He also demonstrated progress in implementing embodied intelligence technologies in industrial and service scenarios driven by this technical approach.

Rodolfo Fücher, Member of the Economic and Social Development Council of the Brazilian Presidency and Chair of the Council for Technological Innovation and Digital Commercialization, delivered a keynote speech on “Brazil: The Next Frontier for Technology Investment,” highlighting the opportunities for technological innovation and the prospects for multinational cooperation in Latin America’s largest economy.

High-Level Dialogue: Global Landscape of Key and Core Technology Investments

In the forum’s concluding session, Lu Peng, Deputy General Manager of ZGC International, moderated a high-level dialogue titled “Crossing Borders: Key & Core Technology Investment and Development in an International Context.” Esteemed international guests, including Eric Westhof (Academician of the French Academy of Sciences and the German Academy of Sciences), Alan Inn Wei Loon (National Director of Galaxy Overseas Malaysia), Xu Jingjing (Partner at Fuel Ventures in the UK), and Jakob Schweißhelm (Chief Technology Officer of holoride), held an in-depth dialogue on global key & core technology investment trends, multinational technology transfers, and opportunities in emerging markets, contributing valuable insights toward building an open and collaborative global key & core technology investment ecosystem.

Throughout the forum, stakeholders from the key & core technology investment ecosystem shared the latest practices and deliberated on frontier topics. The event underscored ZGC’s pivotal role as a crucial source of global key & core technology innovation, providing a significant platform for “new-quality capital” to support the development of new productive forces and propelling the Beijing (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) International Science and Technology Innovation Center to new heights.