The 2025 World Conference of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) successfully concluded in Beijing on September 19, marking another milestone for global collaboration in science, technology, and innovation.

Kicking off on September 17, the event centered on the theme "Elevating excellence: Innovation spaces driving high-quality development." Co-hosted by IASP and the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, and organized by the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and the Administrative Committee of Zhongguancun Science Park, it drew around 800 participants from 97 countries and regions, including representatives of science parks, experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs.

The opening ceremony highlighted Beijing's commitment to building a world-leading science park by leveraging its core strengths in education, science, and talent, while extending an open invitation for global collaboration and investment in Zhongguancun.

Throughout the week, participants engaged in in-depth discussions across four plenary sessions and 15 parallel forums, exploring open innovation ecosystems, urban development, sustainable growth, and future technology trends.

Established in 1984 and headquartered in Málaga, Spain, IASP is the world's only non-profit association dedicated to science parks and innovation areas as its members. Today it connects 325 members across 76 countries, representing over 115,000 companies. This was Beijing's fourth time hosting the flagship gathering, following editions in 1995, 2005, and 2015.

A major outcome of this year's gathering was the release of the Zhongguancun Initiative, which outlined a shared vision for the future of science parks worldwide. The initiative promotes the development of "Five Parks" — innovative, green, smart, human-centered, and open — setting a roadmap for sustainable growth and international cooperation. This was the first time the IASP World Conference issued such a collective declaration, signaling a strong global consensus on the role of innovation clusters in shaping the future economy.

Beyond discussions, the conference delivered concrete outcomes. A total of 42 cooperation projects were signed by 63 Chinese and foreign entities, including science parks, enterprises, universities, and research institutions. These projects span areas such as joint R&D, technology transfer, talent exchange, and cross-border industrialization, covering partnerships with more than ten countries and regions, including Germany, Italy, Singapore, South Korea, and Ethiopia.

Exhibitions showcased cutting-edge achievements in smart parks, low-carbon technologies, and open science platforms, while seven innovation tours introduced international participants to Beijing's leading technology landmarks such as robotics, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing hubs. Delegates described the visits as eye-opening, offering insights into the deep integration of scientific and industrial innovation in China.

As the conference closed, Beijing handed over the IASP flag to Sophia Antipolis in France, the host of the 2026 edition. While this year's event has ended, the collaborative momentum is set to continue as Beijing and Zhongguancun reaffirm their commitment to advancing international innovation cooperation.