On May 28, the highly anticipated first-ever World Leading Incubator Forum (hereinafter referred to as the "Forum") took place during the 2023 ZGC Forum, during which the Global City Entrepreneurship Incubation Index (hereinafter referred to as the Index) made its global debut. Beijing proudly secures fourth in the overall ranking of the Index while claiming the top spot in the sub-index of entrepreneurship incubation performance.

Release of the Index

At the Forum, Gao Jian, the head of the Entrepreneurship Research Center on G20 Countries at Tsinghua University, made an exciting announcement regarding the release of the Index. This index is collaboratively compiled by the Entrepreneurship Research Center on G20 Countries at Tsinghua University and the School of Economics and Resource Management of Beijing Normal University. Comprising a comprehensive study of incubation services in 40 renowned cities, the Index offers a systematic, objective and forward-looking evaluation of and guide for major innovation and entrepreneurship hubs, based on data collected from authoritative sources. The cities were carefully selected to ensure global coverage and diversity, with those in China and the United States both taking a higher percentage. The twelve Chinese cities include Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Hong Kong, Taipei, etc., alongside nine American cities including New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco.

The developers of the index have made diligent efforts to ensure a scientific evaluation system. The system encompasses three first-level sub-indices, namely entrepreneurship incubation performance, entrepreneurship incubation potential and entrepreneurship incubation ecosystem. These first-level sub-indices further branch into nine second-level sub-indices which consist of 22 third-level sub-indices.

According to the research result presented in the Index, New York, London, San Francisco and Beijing emerge as the top four cities based on overall scoring. These cities can be considered the "first-tier cities" among global entrepreneurship incubation cities, with their scores exhibiting only minor differences.

Among the three first-level sub-indices, Beijing stands out as a global leader in entrepreneurship incubation performance, securing the top spot worldwide, with New York and London in second and third place respectively. Among the second-level sub-indices of entrepreneurship incubation performance, Beijing has the highest number of incubated enterprises globally. In terms of entrepreneurship incubation potential, Boston, New York and Beijing claim the top first, second and third positions respectively. As for the entrepreneurship incubation ecosystem, New York, London, San Francisco, Beijing and Shanghai emerge as the top five cities.

The Index also encompasses an analysis of the entrepreneurship incubation situation for cities in China. Beijing, known for its robust entrepreneurship incubation capabilities, outshines other cities with an overall score that is 20 percent higher than Shenzhen. Furthermore, Beijing secures the top position in China in eleven third-level sub-indices.

Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission (The Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park) and Steinbeis Global Institute Turbingen sign a strategic cooperation agreement.

Several contracts were also signed for several major cooperation projects during the Forum.

Inauguration of the DSE's Representative Office in China

(Source: Beijing Daily App)