Government, business and academic leaders gathered at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) on 26 March for an ESG forum focused on how digital technologies can strengthen supply chain resilience and drive sustainable development. The event brought together over 100 participants for high-level dialogue and knowledge exchange.
The Digital Platform for ESG Evaluation of Manufacturing Enterprises, developed under the auspices of the Regional Centre of Expertise Ningbo on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE Ningbo), was officially launched and opened to enterprises free of charge.
Backed by China’s first national group standard "Evaluation specification for environmental, social and governance (ESG) of manufacturing enterprises" — led and issued by the Centre for Responsible Business and Innovation (CRBI) at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) — the platform serves small and medium-sized manufacturers, industrial chain leaders and their suppliers. It delivers internationally aligned, locally adaptable ESG services including capability assessment, diagnosis, improvement and certification, to help enterprises access green finance, high-end supply chains and global markets, and drive the industrial chain’s low-carbon, circular and transparent transformation.
This is a key initiative outlined in the University’s 15th Five-Year Plan, leveraging RCE Ningbo to advance industry-university-research collaborative innovation in sustainable development and deliver demonstrative results.
The forum also featured keynote speeches on ESG governance, AI-enabled value creation and corporate innovation, alongside the signing of a strategic ESG collaboration agreement between UNNC and G-COVE to advance research, talent development and industry collaboration.
UNNC reaffirmed its broader commitment to global sustainability through international partnerships, policy engagement and interdisciplinary innovation.
Professor Jonathan Garibaldi, Provost of UNNC, said:
In a time of rapid technological transformation, universities play a vital role in connecting academia, industry and policymaking. At UNNC, we respond to global challenges through research innovation, talent development and multi-stakeholder collaboration. By building platforms for exchange, we promote knowledge sharing, stimulate new ideas, and translate global sustainability concepts into practical regional actions.
UNNC will continue to build on this momentum, with plans to co-host the 2026 Sustainability and Innovation Awards Summit with the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai in June, further advancing dialogue and accelerating the practical implementation of ESG principles.
Published on 27 March 2026