09 Oct 2025
In September, the College of Industry-Entrepreneurs (CIE) and HeXie Management Research Centre (HeXie Academy) launched the new academic year with a strong start, delivering substantial project outcomes including one ministerial-level project, two horizontal research projects, and one training programme, generating nearly RMB 1 million in total revenue. These achievements not only reflect the team’s dedication and exceptional innovative capacity but have also laid a solid foundation for the year ahead.
Building on this positive start, the College and Centre have channelled these initial outcomes into momentum for sustained development, closely aligning with the university’s strategic priorities to advance the development of the X-ECO Mall. Following the meeting of the Suzhou XIPU CIE Education Development Foundation Council on 11th September, the team thoroughly studied and began implementing the university leadership’s guidance on advancing the X-ECO Mall through the development of specialised sub-ecosystems. Swift action was taken, engaging all staff and establishing a systematic plan. After two dedicated working sessions in September, the development of the X-ECO Mall sub-ecosystems was officially initiated.
To ensure a scientific, sustainable, and efficient development process, Professor Xiaobo Xu, Executive Dean of CIE and Director of the HeXie Academy, serves as Executive Leader of the X-ECO Mall Development Taskforce. The College and Centre also selected four senior faculty with significant academic and industry influence to lead the respective sub-ecosystems:
- Dr. Peng Liu – Lead for the Silver Economy Sub-ecosystem
- Prof. Lei Liang – Lead for the Human Resources Sub-ecosystem
- Dr. Gangmin Li – Lead for the Emerging Advanced Technology Sub-ecosystem
- Dr. Xiaoming Ding – Lead for the Finance Sub-ecosystem
All staff participated in a "mutual selection" process to form the core team for each sub-ecosystem, establishing an interdisciplinary, cross-sector, and collaborative structure.
On 8th October, a workshop was convened for all four sub-ecosystems. Chaired by Prof. Xu, the meeting brought together sub-ecosystem leaders, team members, and administrative support staff. During breakout sessions, each team conducted in-depth discussion on the key priorities for their sub-ecosystem. In the plenary session that followed, each group presented their overall development plan, core resources, and potential projects, exchanging views on phased targets and revenue projections for the coming year. The workshop was marked by lively discussion and thorough exploration, demonstrating the team’s creativity and collaborative spirit.
The session not only helped to clarify the direction and quarterly objectives for each sub-ecosystem but also identified multiple cooperative themes and action plans with strong potential for implementation. This has added significant momentum to subsequent project incubation and the overall advancement of the X-ECO Mall.
Looking ahead, CIE and the HeXie Academy will continue to adhere to the principles of "Ecological Collaboration, Industrial Empowerment, and Academic Leadership," driving the X-ECO Mall to become a strategic platform linking industry, academia, research, government, and society. This initiative will also lay a solid foundation for one of the XJTLU’s 20th-anniversary celebration events in May 2026 – "HeXie Ecological Development and Industrial Innovation Summit Forum & XJTLU X-Eco Mall Launch Conference" – supporting the university as it takes firmer strides in educational innovation and industry integration.
09 Oct 2025