Singapore Management University (SMU) and Zhejiang University (ZJU) formalised an agreement to work towards a strategic level, elevating a long-standing partnership that began some 20 years ago. These new collaborations will focus on common university priority themes and areas of Sustainable Living, Digital Transformation, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Growth in Asia. At the MOU signing ceremony held at ZJU on 26 October 2024, SMU Provost Timothy Clark and ZJU Vice-President Zhou Jianghong reaffirmed their commitment to an impactful partnership.
The alliance was inaugurated alongside the 13th Global Forum on Innovation, Green Finance, and Sustainable Development, gathering over 300 thought leaders, policymakers, and industry experts from top global institutions and financial sectors to discuss solutions for sustainable growth. The event drew participants from prominent institutions like Harvard Business School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), and J .P. Morgan, as well as the important People’s Bank of China.
SMU’s Provost Clark opened the forum by emphasizing that “fostering collaboration across borders, between academia, industry, and government, is essential to advancing innovation, driving sustainable development, and promoting economic growth.” He highlighted SMU’s Global Forums as a platform where leaders from East and West converge to exchange views and discuss policy options for global issues.
SMU addressing global challenges through a collaborative, cross-sector approach
In the keynote presentations, SMU’s Professor Liang Hao, Co-Director of the Singapore Green Finance Centre, presented an analysis of the current state of financing decarbonisation efforts in China and globally, underscoring the vital role of technological innovation in achieving carbon emission reduction targets. He emphasised the importance of international and sectoral collaborations in supporting sustainable development through technological and financial innovation.
Supporting this view, Dr Zhang Bei, Deputy Director-General of the People’s Bank of China, stressed the critical role of transition finance for high-carbon sectors in reaching global sustainability goals. She illustrated the impact of new technologies on advancing a green economy through case studies, encouraging the industry to see sustainability as an opportunity, not a challenge. This high-level engagement highlighted SMU’s thought leadership role and its ability to convene influential voices for meaningful discourse on sustainable finance.
Also contributing a global perspective, Harvard Business School Professor Shawn Cole shared insights on sustainable development through the lens of sustainable and impact investments. His analysis explored the factors driving high returns for ESG funds, while also examining the challenges of assessing returns in private markets and the need to balance financial gains with societal impact.
Bridging ESG with Talent and Innovation in Green Finance
The Forum also featured two robust panel discussions. The first, on integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into talent development and innovation, saw experts explore investor attitudes toward sustainable finance.
The second panel focused on Green Finance Transformation, examining policies, market mechanisms, and technological advances essential for scaling sustainability. SJTU’s Professor Wang Tan and J.P. Morgan’s Zhang Dachuan shared insights into the corporate role in green transformation, underscoring the need for policy support, strategic financing, and green technology to meet global emissions targets.
A Decade of Global Impact
Since its inception in 2014, SMU’s Global Forum has become a pivotal platform connecting academia, business, and government leaders for collaborative discourse on global challenges. As SMU and ZJU advance their partnership, they will prioritise joint research in digital transformation, AI, human-robot interaction, and green finance to drive Asia’s growth trajectory.
Further Engagements in Shanghai - Reinforcing SMU’s strategic vision of regional engagement and influence across Asia
During his visit, Provost Clark also spoke at the 10th International Business School Conference (IBSSC), addressing AI, data governance, and the future of business. He engaged with alumni from SMU’s Shanghai chapter and connected with SJTU’s Antai College Dean Prof Chen Fangruo and Singapore’s Consul General in Shanghai, reinforcing SMU’s strong regional partnerships, engagement and influence across Asia.
