New Economy and Frontier Technologies Conference, Beijing

Peking University, 31 January – 1 February 2026

A special two-day conference held in partnership with Peking University, hosted at the Institute of New Structural Economics. The programme combined lectures from senior Peking University academics with visits to university research facilities.

Day 1 – Lectures at the Institute of New Structural Economics

The conference opened with a lecture by Professor Justin Yifu Lin, Honorary Dean of the National School of Development at Peking University and former Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the World Bank, on the changing global landscape and China's economic future. Professor Lin analysed shifts in international dynamics and the role of structural economic reform.

Professor Chen Zhangliang, Professor at the School of Life Sciences and former Vice President of Peking University and former President of China Agricultural University, then lectured on the development of high-tech industries and opportunities for business transformation, examining how the integration of biology and technology is creating new opportunities across sectors.

In the afternoon, Professor Huang Zhuo of the National School of Development spoke on AI adoption and the "intelligent dividend", covering how artificial intelligence, data and digital technologies are changing business efficiency and productivity across industries.

The day's final lecture came from Professor Chen Jitao of the School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, who introduced the school's research programme, its major projects and their applications in industry.

The day concluded with a dinner attended by guests including Ambassador Liu Xiaoming, former Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, with discussion of China's industrial, technological and academic development.

Day 2 – Research facilities and academic visits

The second day began with a visit to the National Key Laboratory for Micro-Nano Electronic Devices and Integrated Technologies, where Professor Cui Jian of the School of Integrated Circuits presented current research in microelectronics and nanoelectronics.

After a guided tour of the Peking University campus and its history museum, delegates joined an online session hosted by the iCANX Global Scientist Center, with contributions from Professor Zhang Haixia (Peking University, founder of iCANX) and Professor Yu Nan (Intelligent Medicine Institute, Fudan University). Professor Yu's lecture, "Artificial Intelligence 3.0", traced the evolution of AI through its major phases, the rise of deep learning, and emerging directions including affective computing and its applications in medicine and security.

Speakers

Professor Justin Yifu Lin is Honorary Dean of the National School of Development and Dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University. He served as Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the World Bank from 2008 to 2012. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago.

Professor Chen Zhangliang is Professor at the School of Life Sciences, Peking University. He previously served as Vice President of Peking University and President of China Agricultural University. His research is in biotechnology and molecular biology.

Professor Huang Zhuo is a faculty member at the National School of Development, Peking University, and Deputy Director of its Digital Finance Research Center. He holds a PhD in Economics from Stanford University.

Professor Chen Jitao is a faculty member at the School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, and Deputy Director of the Research Center for Applied Chemical Technologies. His research focuses on analytical chemistry and energy materials.

Ambassador Liu Xiaoming served as Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2021, the longest-serving Chinese ambassador to the UK.

Professor Cui Jian is Assistant Dean of the School of Integrated Circuits at Peking University. His research focuses on high-precision micro-inertial devices.

Professor Zhang Haixia is Professor at the School of Integrated Circuits, Peking University, working on micro-nano systems and micro-energy technologies, and founder of the iCANX platform.

Professor Yu Nan is a researcher at the Intelligent Medicine Institute, Fudan University, specialising in affective computing and the integration of emotion, cognition and artificial intelligence.

Enquiries