1.Academic Research and Awards
• On September 25, 2025, the research report "Research on Policy Focus Points for Accelerating the Development of Cross-Border E-Commerce" completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping received the Ningbo City 19th (2023–2024) Outstanding Achievement Award in Philosophy and Social Sciences.
• On November 5, 2025, the scientific and technological achievement "Multi-Dimensional Holographic Profiling Technology and Its Application for Technology Enterprises Based on Ai and Big Data," with Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping as the primary contributor, received the 2024 Ningbo Science and Technology Progress Award (Second Prize). This is the first Science and Technology Progress Award led by the University of Nottingham Ningbo China to date.
• On December 1, 2025, the monograph "Technology Finance—Empowering Innovation and Sustainable Development," with Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping as the first author, was published by Zhejiang Science and Technology Press.
• On December 8, 2025, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping participated as a sub-project leader in the National Social Science Major Project "Research on the Relationship Between Monetary Credit Expansion, Inflation, and Economic Growth (25&ZD129)."
• On December 8, 2025, the S&T achievement "AI- and Big Data-Based Multi-Dimensional Holographic Profiling Technology for Technology Enterprises and Its Application" completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping won the Second Prize of Ningbo Municipal Science and Technology Progress Award.
• On December 31, 2025, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping received the "2025 Outstanding Individual Award for Participatory Politics and Deliberation" by the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the China Democratic National Construction Association.
• On March 27, 2026, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping received the "2025 Outstanding Individual in Participatory Politics and Deliberation Award (Second Prize)” by the Ningbo Municipal Directly‑affiliated Grassroots Committee of the China Democratic National Construction Association.
2.Policy Research and Decision-Making Adoption
• On October 27, 2025, the research report "Accelerating the Construction of a New Pattern for International Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation," completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping, was adopted by the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association (CNDCA) for use in high-level provincial consultation meetings.
• On October 27, 2025, three social condition and public opinion reports authored by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping—"Solving the Problem of Duplicate Data Reporting by Enterprises in Government Affairs," "Encouraging SMEs to Participate in National Major Science and Technology Projects," and "Standardizing the Disposal Mechanism for Cryptocurrencies Involved in Cases"—were adopted by the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the CNDCA.
• On October 27, 2025, the research report "Improving the Science and Technology Financial Service System to Promote the Innovation and Development of Future Industries," completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping, was adopted by the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the CNDCA and submitted to the CNDCA Central Committee as research material for a project.
• On December 1, 2025, the report "The Situation, Risks, and Countermeasures for Chinese Enterprises Issuing Bonds Overseas," with Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping as the first author, was adopted by the Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology.
• On February 10, 2026, Think Tank Chief Expert Wu Tao submitted proposals regarding the development of high-level universities and the integration and efficient utilisation of scientific and technological resources to the Ningbo Municipal Committee via the Ningbo Association for Science and Technology.
• On March 1, 2026, the policy advisory report “Several Suggestions on Building a First-Class Innovation Ecosystem in Ningbo”, completed by Think Tank Chief Expert Wu Tao, was submitted through the Ningbo Association for Science and Technology, and received positive instructions from the principal municipal leaders of the Ningbo Municipal Committee and Municipal Government.
• On April 3, 2026, the policy advisory report "China's Import of 'Bottleneck' Items from Abroad: Challenges and Policy Recommendations", completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping, has been adopted and utilised by the Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology. The Association recognised the report’s significant value as a reference and committed to its reasonable adoption in its work deployment.
• On April 16, 2026, the policy advisory report ”Guarding Against AI-Generated Search Optimisation Degenerating into Bidding Rankings, completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping as the second author, was adopted by the Central Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association (CNDCA).
• On April 20, 2026, the policy advisory report “The Development Status, Difficulties, and Countermeasures of Cultural Industry Parks”, completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping as the first author, was adopted by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology and received instructions from Ms Tong Jiali, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director-General of the Department.
• On April 27, 2026, the policy advisory report “Optimising the Innovation Scoring System for Technology Enterprises to Precisely Empower Industrial Upgrading and Enterprise Development”, completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping as the first author, was adopted by the Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology.
• On May 28, 2026, the policy advisory report “Accelerating the Establishment of a New Landscape for International Scientific and Technological Innovation Cooperation”, completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping, was adopted by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology.
3.Public Influence and Media Outreach
• On October 24, 2025, Think Tank expert panel member Cao Cong was interviewed by Caixin Net for the article "Why China Still Has Few Nobel Prizes in Natural Sciences."
• On November 6, 2025, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping was invited to participate in the thematic event "Leveraging the Role of Science and Technology Finance to Safeguard the Development of New Quality Productive Forces," where she presented the Ningbo Technology Enterprise Financial Rating Model.
• On December 15, 2025, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping was invited to attend the "2025 Free Trade Zone Development Forum" and delivered a keynote speech on "Sino-U.S. Trade Frictions and the Belt and Road Initiative" during the thematic session on "The Belt and Road Initiative, Industrial Upgrading, and International Cooperation Expansion."
• On January 15, 2026, the case study from Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping on CPPCC, “Facilitating the “Two-Way Embrace” of Technology and Finance”, was included in Selected Cases of Provincial CPPCC Members Fulfilling Their Duties Around the Central Priorities, compiled by the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
• On January 15, 2026, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping was interviewed by Yongpai on “Straight to the Provincial Two Sessions”, with the proposal “Improving Zhejiang’s Sci-Tech Financial Service System”.
• On January 16, 2026, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping was interviewed by Lianyi Bao on the Provincial CPPCC, proposing “Advancing International Sci-Tech Innovation Cooperation”.
• On January 16, 2026, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping was interviewed by Ningbo Daily on the Provincial CPPCC, proposing “Proposes Improving Zhejiang’s Sci-Tech Financial Service System to Empower High-Quality Development of Future Industries”.
• On January 16, 2026, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping was interviewed by Tide News on “How Financial “Living Water” Flows to the Frontier of Sci-Tech Innovation? Provincial CPPCC Member Hua Xiuping Offers Several Recommendations”.
• On January 22, 2026, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping was interviewed by Yongpai on Two Sessions Focus, with the proposal “Moving Towards the New: The ‘Breaks’ and ‘Establishments’ in Ningbo’s Sci-Tech Innovation”.
• On June 8, 2026, the CPPCC proposal “Stimulating the Vitality of State-Owned Enterprises to Empower Regional Innovation and Development”, completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping as the first author and expert panel member Huang Jingong as the second author, was adopted by the Ningbo State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.
• On June 10, 2026, the CPPCC proposal “Recent Developments, Challenges, and Countermeasures in China’s Credit Bond Market”, completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping as the first author, was adopted and applied by the Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology.
• On June 10, 2026, the policy advisory report “Addressing Market Shortcomings to Expedite the Launch of China’s Computing Power Futures Contracts”, completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping as the first author, was submitted through the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the CNDCA and subsequently received single-article adoption in the CNDCA Central Committee’s Situation Report, as well as adoption by a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC.
• On June 22, 2026, the research report “Promoting Diversified Sci-Tech Financial Support in Our City to Accelerate AI-Enabled Upgrading of High-End Equipment Manufacturing”, completed by Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping as the first author, was submitted through the Ningbo Municipal Committee of the CNDCA and received instructions from Mr Tang Feifan, Deputy Secretary of the Ningbo Municipal Committee and Mayor of Ningbo.
4.Platform Development and Academic Exchange
• On November 25, 2025, as a co-organizer, the Think Tank held the "Green and Low-Carbon Academic Seminar."
• On December 20, 2025, as a co-organizer, the Think Tank held the "Exploring Carbon Neutrality and Agricultural Technology Development" research and study activity.
• On April 11, 2026, Think Tank Chief Expert Wang Yong and Director Hua Xiuping, were invited to deliver keynote speeches at the Nan Yan Lake Lecture Series at Hefei University. Wang Yong presented “Industrial Upgrading and Economic Growth from the Perspective of New Structural Economics: A Review and Outlook”, while Hua Xiuping presented “The Impact of Executive MBA Education on Corporate Environmental Performance.” https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/EzHQYY4DHKuooSAaBFXyMg
• On May 7, 2026, the Think Tank co-hosted the Innovation Empowerment Salon for Enterprise Development. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/GyQN2S_28njoE_rPM386ow
• On May 14, 2026, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping, was invited to deliver a keynote speech at the Policy Report Writing Workshop. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/fh9Q19afCjk-03XLXU4NYA
• On May 21, 2026, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping, shared the reflections “General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important directive regarding the high-quality development of philosophy and social sciences” on the Ningbo Academy of Social Sciences official WeChat account. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/3-o06cfo0jrG8r1H5P7QKg
• On May 26, 2026, Think Tank Chief Expert Wu Tao, shared the reflection”General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important directive regarding the high-quality development of philosophy and social sciences” on the Ningbo Academy of Social Sciences official WeChat account. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ilCh6R5jMDtkbLgS6_MW_g
• On June 6, 2026, Think Tank Director Hua Xiuping, was invited to the themed event "Young Entrepreneurs with Drive, Creating the Future with Wisdom — Zhejiang Young Entrepreneurs Visit Yinzhou", delivered a keynote speech "The Internal Logic of New Quality Productive Forces and Future Industrial Development."
5.Organizational Development and Team Expansion
• In October 2025, the Think Tank held its first-year construction launch meeting, during which the first-year assessment indicators, standards for recognizing Think Tank achievements, and fund usage norms were clarified. Additionally, a new member (Professor Tan Hao) joined the Think Tank team.
• On February 23, 2026, Professor Wang Yong (Vice Dean and Tenured Associate Professor at the Institute of New Structural Economics, Peking University) joined the Think Tank as an External Expert, with a term of appointment from February 23, 2026 to February 22, 2029. On March 11, 2026, Professor Wang Yong was appointed as Chief Expert of the Think Tank.