The International Conference on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development was held online on Dec 23.

Hosted by the Shandong University of Finance and Economics in Jinan, the capital of East China's Shandong province, co-organized by the Yellow River College of Business, the Shandong Province Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education International Joint Research Lab, and the Silk Road Entrepreneurship Education Network (SREEN) Jinan Platform, the event was attended by more than 100 participants, including experts, scholars and representatives of enterprises and policymakers from around the world, as well as faculty and students from many universities.

The conference aimed to strengthen international exchanges in innovation and entrepreneurship research and practice, and contribute to the implementation of major national and sun-national strategies such as ecological conservation, the high-quality development of the Yellow River basin and the construction of green, low-carbon and high-quality pilot zones.

Zhang Hongxia, vice-president of Shandong University of Finance and Economics, speaks at the International Conference on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During her address at the opening ceremony of the conference, the university's vice-president Zhang Hongxia said that the university has made numerous attempts to foster talents in innovation and entrepreneurship. She expressed hope that the international conference will help establish a platform for brainstorming, experience sharing and win-win cooperation so as to help implement the innovation-driven development strategy and serve the high-quality development of Shandong province.

Professor Wang Zhongming, chairman of the SREEN and a senior professor at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, pointed out in his opening speech that Shandong University of Finance and Economics, which serves as a member of SREEN, should promote green development and contribute to sustainable Chinese modernization through education of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Wang Zhongming, chairman of the SREEN, speaks at the International Conference on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During the online conference, international and domestic keynote speakers gave presentations around the themes including "Innovation and Sustainable Development from an International Perspective", "Innovation and Sustainable Development in the Manufacturing Industry", and "High-Quality, Green, and Sustainable Development of Enterprises". Foreign scholars from the USA, Germany, Israel, the UK, and Spain shared their experience and expertise through keynote presentations.

Professor Mark Starik, University of Wisconsin Extended Campus, USA, delivers keynote speeches. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Professor Markus Beckmann, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany, gives keynote speeches. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Professor Tamar Almor, the College of Management, Israel, delivers keynote speeches. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Professor Mohammad Ahammad, Leeds University, UK, gives keynote speeches. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Professor Helen Goworek, Durham University in the UK delivers keynote speeches. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Professor Oscar Bustinza, University of Granada, Spain, gives keynote speeches. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Associate Professor Ferran Vendrell-Herrero, University of Edinburgh, UK, delivers keynote speeches. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Professor Liu Yipeng, FAcSS, Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences, UK, and Founding Dean of Yellow River College of Business, presided over the conference. He said during the closing ceremony that the college aims to cultivate responsible leaders with both indigenous knowledge of Chinese management and a global mindset. The college will also encourage innovation and collaboration to address the opportunities and challenges faced by the society and the economy.

Professor Liu Yipeng, FAcSS, Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences, UK, and Founding Dean of Yellow River College of Business, speaks at the closing ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

He pointed out that the college contributes to the national Yellow River strategy and the regional business community through academic excellence and engaged scholarship. He also hopes that the insights, expertise, and experiences shared by scholars and entrepreneurs from home and abroad at this conference can provide valuable ideas and inspiration for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development in China.