On March 6 to 7, 2018, a two-day seminar on transformational innovation policies, co-hosted by SPRU and CASTED, was held in meeting room 304 in the CASTED premises.

The first day of the meeting focused on the theoretical framework of transformational innovation policy and the analysis of the historical evolution of China’s innovation policy. President Hu Zhijian gave a welcome speech. The morning session was chaired by Vice President Wu Yishan. Professor Johan Schot of the University of Sussex introduced the theory, method and practical experience of transformational innovation policy. CASTED Research Fellow Li Zhe introduced the preliminary findings in the review and analysis of China’s science and technology innovation policies with the three-stage theory. Fred Steward, Professor of Innovation & Sustainability at the Policy Studies Institute, University of Westminster, Liu Xielin, Professor at the School of Economics and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Cao Cong, Professor at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Liang Zheng, Associate Professor at the School of Public Administration of Tsinghua University, and other experts had a roundtable discussion on the topics of the meeting. The afternoon session was chaired by Professor Johan Schot. Sepo Hachigonta, Director of International Relations & Cooperation at the National Research Foundation of South Africa, talked about transformational innovation policy from the perspectives of South Africa’s science and technology policy. CASTED research fellow Zhao Yandong made a presentation on responsible research and innovation in the Chinese context. After the group discussions on the opportunities and challenges in China’s science and technology innovation policy and the room for application of the theory of transformational innovation policy, SPRU Research Fellow Ralitsa Hiteva, SPRU Senior Lecturer Adrian Ely, Professor Xue Lan of the School of Public Administration of Tsinghua University, and Associate Research Fellow Xie Qian of China Management Center for Agenda 21 had a round table discussion on related issues.

The second day of the meeting focused on low-carbon transformation of China’s power system as a case study of transformational innovation policy. Vice President Wu Yishan gave a welcome speech. The meeting was chaired by Research Fellow Zhao Yandong and Professor Fred Steward. Yang Kejia, a Ph.D. student at SPRU, gave an analysis on the participants' interactions in low-carbon power transitions with a case study of wind and solar energy development in China. Professor Yuan Jiahai of the School of Economics and Management of North China Electric Power University introduced the low-carbon transformation of the power system and the future of coal-fired power in China. Shao Shufeng, Deputy Director of the Strategic Division of the Technology and Economic Consultation Center of China Energy Investment Corporation, discussed the opportunities and challenges of power companies in energy transformation. Li Jianchun, Deputy Secretary-General of the Electric Power Industry Association and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Wind Power Generation Committee of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; Lyu Ruiqiang, Chairman of the Solar Energy Association of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; Dr. Hou Youhua, Director of the Production Technology Department of Inner Mongolia Power Company; Liu Dongsheng, engineer and former Director of the New Energy Division of the Energy Bureau of the Development and Reform Commission of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and other experts introduced the historical development and current status of wind power and photovoltaic power generation in Inner Mongolia. Research Fellow Shi Xiaoyong of the National Science and Technology Assessment Center and Professor Cao Cong of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China and other experts and presenters conducted an in-depth discussion on the theory of transformational innovation policy and the transformation of China’s power system through group discussions and roundtables.