Date: September 17, 2019 17:46

Source: Economic Daily-China Economic Web

From September 16th to 19th, the first Global Innovation Conference, themed "In Nanjing, Creating the Future," was held in Nanjing. The event was hosted by the Chinese Association for Management Science and jointly organized by the Nanjing Overseas Returned Scholars Association, Tsinghua University's Center for Technological Innovation Research, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics' Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Agile Think Tank, and other institutions. Notable guests who attended the afternoon forum dialogue session included Wan Chen, Deputy Chairman and Co-President of Shanghai YanHua Intelligent Technology (Group) Co., Ltd.; Wen Wu, Chair of the International Telecommunication Union's Focus Group on Digital Currency; Zhang Fulan, CEO of the China Region for the American Marketing International Association; Dragan Cigoja, CEO of International Affairs for the China-Europe Technical and Economic Cooperation Association, and former representative of the Nikola Tesla Research Institute in China; Wang Yi, advisor to the President of the Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina); Chen Wenfang, founder of New Era Leadership and former Chairman of Citibank Consulting Group.

[Provided by the Chinese Association for Management Science]

　　

Wen Wu, Chair of the International Telecommunication Union's Focus Group on Digital Currency: The ITU is an international standards organization, leading initiatives such as 5G. Regarding central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), Western countries tend to be opposed. However, in African countries, Southeast Asian nations, and countries like China where mobile payments are prevalent, opinions differ. In his view, developed countries' perspectives on digital currencies currently lean towards maintaining the status quo.

Zhang Fulan, CEO of the China Region for the American Marketing International Association: Innovation and marketing are the only two major functions of a business, both being broad concepts. At its core, marketing is about creating value for customers, encompassing the commercial activities of society and enterprises, with every link in the chain involved. Innovation is inherent in any activity or business chain, spanning from organizational structures and strategic creativity, right through to product design, production, and market entry – each step holds potential for innovation. In her view, there is no East-West divide when it comes to innovation and marketing in businesses; rather, the differences lie in the varying stages of development they are in.

Dragan Cigoja, former representative of the Nikola Tesla Institute in China: Innovation still presents many differences between the East and West, particularly in Asia and China, where certain innovations have been notably successful. China is increasingly becoming part of an interconnected world of everything. Especially among China's younger generation, there is a desire to find common ground and create more empowering ways, representing a completely different mindset. Due to the existence of diverse goals and models, this leads to more opportunities to foster even better innovations.

Wang Yi, Advisor to the President of the Republika Srpska (Serb Republic within Bosnia and Herzegovina): The combination of European technology with the Chinese market might be an excellent business logic. Integrating China's model innovations, which are abundant in Chinese internet companies, with European technological innovations could potentially create a synergistic effect greater than the sum of its parts.

Chen Wenfang, founder of New Era Leadership and former chairman of Citibank Consulting Group: Innovation has become a standard strategic capability for all businesses and nations, without distinction between East and West. For companies, every entrepreneur must inspire each employee, reaching the heart of people, and pursue organizational innovation as well as mechanism innovation.

(Responsible editor: Han Xiao)