We are delighted to be hosting the THE Innovation & Impact Summit 2023 in partnership with Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). Leaders will gather in Shenzhen, China, to analyse how universities can create and sustain cities that are hubs of innovation.

The summit will explore:

The importance of universities in supporting the creation of new cities and new regional economies such as Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area.
The role that universities can play in the city-wide or regional context.
How city authorities can best set the environment so that businesses can invest and universities can prosper
The power and influence of local city leaders on universities that operate within a national system.z`

Demographic models suggest that future population growth will be concentrated in areas that do not currently host a university that ranks highly internationally. What types of universities are needed by cities with fast-growing populations? Which higher education models are going to be most effective in establishing institutions fit for the demands of their host community?

The city of Shenzhen – with a population of 17.6 million – is one of the C40 cities, a group of nearly 100 world-leading cities whose mayors are taking urgent action to confront the climate crisis. The summit will consider how universities may be able to help cities adapt to the punishing effects of climate change. From California to West Bengal, urban areas worldwide are vulnerable to climate risks such as drought, flood and heat stress. What role can universities play in mitigating this impact and ensuring that cities will not just survive, but thrive, innovatively and sustainably?

The summit will spotlight emerging and established innovation hubs, including the Greater Bay Area, Mumbai, Toronto, London, Kigali and Los Angeles.

Click here for more details.