On December 6, the opening day of the Fifth Anniversary of Sci-Tech Empowerment Practice of School of Management at Fudan University (Fudan SoM) was grandly held at the Zhengli Campus of Fudan SoM. More than 800 sci-tech entrepreneurs gathered at this shared intellectual home for innovation-driven pioneers, sparking ideas and exchanging creative inspiration.

The year 2025 marks both the 40th anniversary of the re-establishment of Fudan SoM, and a major milestone—five years since the launch of the "Management Empowering Sci-Tech" initiative. From being among the earliest business schools in China to advocate an sci-tech driven strategy, to the inauguration of the Zhengli Campus, the School has forged a distinctive path of management education with a global vision and a mission of leading development—adapting to change, proactively driving change, and pioneering for change.

Opening Ceremony

At the opening ceremony, Professor Xiongwen Lu, Dean of the School of Management, delivered a keynote address. He emphasized that science and technology innovation is the core engine of China's national rejuvenation and an irreversible pathway toward high-quality development. Five years ago, recognizing the momentum of the times and the strategic needs of the nation, the School embedded "sci-tech" into its institutional DNA, advancing the conviction that "Sci-Tech Brings a Better Future," and elevating it to a core strategic priority. Fudan SoM's innovation strategy, he noted, represents not only a proactive transformation of the management education paradigm, but also a concrete response to China's national strategies of innovation-driven development and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening.

Over the past five years, the School has achieved substantial results in implementing its Sci-Tech Innovation Strategy.

The Fudan Sci-Tech Entrepreneurs Program has trained nearly 300 founders and senior executives of sci-tech enterprises.

The Fudan MBA Sci-Tech Youth Camp Program has cultivated 290 mid- and senior-level managers from innovation-based firms.

In collaboration with the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the School has hosted high-growth enterprise accelerator programs, and with the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission, leadership development initiatives such as the Future Stars Program.

Throughout these efforts, Fudan SoM has remained committed to identifying and addressing real managerial challenges faced by sci-tech enterprises, continuously expanding the research frontier of innovation management, fostering innovation ecosystems, and advancing industry progress.

In the area of original theory and research, the School has launched 27 dedicated research projects aimed at building a management knowledge system with strong explanatory power rooted in the Chinese context. Research topics span innovation governance and incentive mechanisms, financing strategies and pathways, and global expansion of sci-tech enterprises. To date, 16 projects have been completed and 11 are ongoing, yielding a steady stream of high-quality original outputs, including publications in top-tier international journals and grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Social Science Fund of China. These achievements demonstrate both the depth and breadth of the School’s research capacity and provide a solid foundation for continued support of technological innovation.

Looking ahead, the School will further enhance project management, consulting diagnostics, and resource-matching capabilities to deliver higher-quality support services for sci-tech enterprises.

At the convergence of the School's 40th anniversary of re-establishment and the fifth anniversary of its innovation empowerment practice, the occasion was not only a celebration of past achievements, but also a commitment to the future:

Let management wisdom empower hard-core technology.
Let Chinese innovation illuminate the future of humanity.

Professor Ling Cen, Director of the Sci-Tech Innovation Center, presented a comprehensive review titled "Five Years of Sci-Tech Empowerment Practice at Fudan SoM." She noted that under the School’s Sci-Tech Innovation strategy, the Center has evolved into a core innovation hub integrating education and training, branding, ecosystem development, and cross-sector resource coordination. Guided by the vision of becoming "the service platform that understands sci-tech entrepreneurs best," the Center has established a closed-loop innovation model of selection, cultivation, and leadership, where theory and practice continuously reinforce one another.

Curriculum development has focused on entrepreneurs' core pain points, delivering a systematic and original course portfolio through collaboration between faculty and industry experts.

Talent cultivation and enterprise empowerment now cover the entire lifecycle of sci-tech firms, forming the most comprehensive innovation management talent product matrix among Chinese universities. Over 1,400 managers from sci-tech innovation enterprises have been trained to date, with nearly 300 new participants annually, creating a national talent highland for technology entrepreneurship.

As a "super node" in the empowerment ecosystem, the Center integrates resources, ensures both quality and scale of connections, and fosters resonance across the ecosystem. Through 286 high-quality events, including Innovation Week, the Sci-Tech Entrepreneurs Conference, and industry summits, it has built a trusted community that serves as a genuine spiritual home for sci-tech entrepreneurs navigating uncertainty.

Over the past five years, seven participant enterprises have successfully gone public, and more than 70% of alumni companies have demonstrated sustained growth. Going forward, the Center will continue to refine its offerings, strengthen resource integration, invest in future industries, and catalyze cross-disciplinary innovation.

At the ceremony, Professor Xiongwen Lu, representatives from the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, Fudan SoM leadership, industry advisors, academic leaders, and alumni jointly illuminated the "Innovation Beacon," officially launching the Fifth Anniversary Sci-Tech Empowerment Series. The opening ceremony was hosted by Chen Liu, Assistant Director of the Innovation Accelerator.

"Sci-Tech Leadership Power" Thematic Exhibition

On December 6, the "Sci-Tech Leadership Power" exhibition opened at the B+ Building of the Zhengli Campus.

Section I – Innovation & Philosophy: the foundational logic of "Management Empowering Sci-Tech."

Section II – Empowerment Outcomes: five years of talent development and ecosystem building.

Section III – Alumni Enterprise Product Showcase: highlighting four frontier tracks—Life Sciences, Silicon Photonics & Chips, Intelligent Mobility, and Digital Infrastructure—along the theme of Connection · Resonance ·  Super Nodes.

Interactive installations, including immersive VR experiences, allowed visitors to step into real enterprise scenarios—such as semiconductor automated transport systems—bringing cutting-edge innovation to life.

China's First "Sci-Tech Entrepreneurship Stage Drama"

On the afternoon of December 6, Fudan SoM premiered China's first stage drama dedicated to sci-tech entrepreneurs at the C Building Theater of Zhengli Campus. Based on real entrepreneurial stories, the production was written and directed by Professor Pengxin Yang and his team, with performers from Shanghai Theatre Academy, New York University, and Fudan University, and featured special appearances by Unitree robots and robotic dogs.

Structured around the five elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—the drama wove together stories from intelligent technology, biotechnology, medicine, energy, and electronics. Alumni entrepreneurs from the Fudan Sci-Tech Entrepreneurs Program joined as special guest performers.

Through comedy, warmth, monologue, romance, and action, the performance formed a rich symphony of innovation—depicting struggle, resilience, courage, and perseverance.

At the finale, distinguished guests delivered "Empowerment Reflections," offering profound insights on time, family, innovation finance, intellectual property, and entrepreneurial responsibility.

"This is China's first stage play composed of a series of short segments, interpreting the genuine pains, struggles, perseverance and courage of sci-tech entrepreneurs. From all the trials and decision-making scenarios portrayed on stage, I saw reflections of many of our students. First and foremost, my salute goes to the artists, as well as the faculty, students and alumni who participated in the production and performance.

The biggest difference between this generation of sci-tech entrepreneurs and previous generations in China lies in their aspirations, sense of mission and commitment to responsibility, which enables them to forge ahead fearlessly even in the most difficult times. Many things can be priced, but life and the love between family and friends are invaluable. When making your final choices, never forget that you have their love to fall back on. This immense treasure is enough to help you rise again after a setback.

We need to empower sci-tech innovation through management expertise, and solve the practical problems reflected in the play. Thank you to all faculty members, alumni and friends. It is because of you that Fudan SoM's sci-tech innovation strategy advances with growing confidence and resolve. I am convinced that we will blaze a bright path forward and make our own contribution to the rejuvenation of our nation.

As we stand at the 5th anniversary milestone, let us build on past achievements and forge ahead into the future, ushering in a new journey for China’s management education with innovative ideas." —Dean Xiongwen Lu

A commemorative documentary marking the five-year journey of sci-tech empowerment was officially released at the event.

The Second Sci-Tech Entrepreneurs Conference

Later that day, the Second Sci-Tech Entrepreneurs Conference convened with four parallel thematic forums, bringing together entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors for in-depth dialogue across life sciences, AI, intelligent mobility, and cross-disciplinary innovation. Discussions spanned topics such as brain–computer interfaces, AI investment cycles, embodied intelligence, low-altitude economies, longevity technology, deep-earth resources, and innovation identity—offering forward-looking perspectives at the intersection of science, industry, and society.

The evening concluded with the annual alumni gathering, where the Sci-Tech Entrepreneurs Distinguished Alumni List was announced and commemorative trophies marking the fifth anniversary were presented.