In Summer 2024, the Division of Public Policy (PPOL)’s Master of Public Policy (MPP) program conducted its Experiential Learning course: “PPOL 6100T, Urban Innovation and Development”. Led by PPOL Associate Professor and MPP Co-director Prof. ZHU Pengyu, 15 students embarked on the Yangtze River Delta Science and Innovation Study Program, examining the region's approach to developing new productive forces in Wuxi, Suzhou, and Shanghai.

The delegation's first stop was Wuxi, where they explored key innovation hubs such as the Wuxi-Hong Kong Collaborative Innovation Center and visited pioneering firms in robotics, microelectronics, and new energy. These experiences illuminated the complex interplay driving the area's economic growth and technological progress, offering students insight into how various sectors synergize to cultivate innovation.

In Suzhou, the group toured the Modernization Command Center for Social Governance within the Suzhou Industrial Park, gaining perspective on contemporary community management techniques. Their visit to Xiexin Group expanded their knowledge of sustainable technologies, particularly in integrated solar energy storage and wind power grid integration.

The last leg of their journey brought them to Shanghai, where aerospace innovation and urban planning took the center stage. Students were captivated by the development of domestically produced large aircraft and gleaned valuable lessons from Shanghai's comprehensive metropolitan planning strategies, providing a window into China's ambitious vision for the future.

Throughout their study trip, students gained a holistic view of the Yangtze River Delta's approach to promoting new productive forces development through symposiums and workshops with local government officials and key industry stakeholders, field visits to the cutting-edge technology industries, and lectures and seminars by academia. They also presented their findings and policy recommendations on new-type productive forces development, contributing to the ongoing dialogue about the region's future.