(Yicai) July 30 -- Leaders from across the technology, industrial and innovation sectors gathered at the recent 2026 Conference on the Integrated Development of Technological Innovation and Industry to discuss major topics such as how China can strengthen its innovation ecosystem, tackle key industry challenges, unlock new growth opportunities and foster deeper integration between technology and industry.

The conference, which was held in Shanghai on July 28, featured a series of keynote speeches on the evolving role of media, finance and investment in supporting technology innovation and industrial upgrading. Below are selected highlights from the speakers' remarks.

P1 – Song Jiongming, director and president of Shanghai Media Group, observed that "connecting the most important participants in the innovation ecosystem, gathering the most professional insights and judgements, building the most efficient collaboration mechanisms as well as serving technological innovation and energizing industrial growth are responsibilities that mainstream media must proactively embrace today."

P2 – Liu Jian, secretary of the Party Committee and chairman of Shenwan Hongyuan Securities, noted that "large securities firms should serve as connectors linking technology, industry, capital and the markets. By integrating research, investment and investment banking services, these brokerages can ensure that innovative technologies receive capital support commensurate with their long-term value."

P3 – Zhang Xiaojing, director of the National Institution for Finance and Development, said "the primary battleground for technology finance lies not in the banking system but in the capital markets and venture capital ecosystem. Only by establishing institutional mechanisms that encourage innovation and responsible risk-taking can technology finance fully realize its potential."

P4 – Wen Zhi, general manager of Shanghai Guotou Leading Fund, recommended that "state-backed investment funds should act as 'patient capital' that can withstand technological cycles, market sentiment shifts and valuation fluctuations. The Fund of Funds should provide the fertile foundation that enables sub-funds to become strategic knowledge partners, portfolio companies to serve as ecosystem nodes and scientists to remain the source of innovation."

P5 – Yang Yudong, editor-in-chief of Yicai, shared the insight that "a science and technology innovation ecosystem cannot simply be created through top-down planning. It needs to be shaped from the bottom up by ecosystem partners and driven by the needs of enterprises."