From November 7 to 8, 2024, the APEC Industry-Academia-Research Collaborations Dialogue was successfully held in Suzhou, China. Nearly 180 delegates from international organizations such as  APEC Secretariat, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), and the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO), as well as representatives from APEC member economies including China, Peru, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, the United States, South Korea, and Hong Kong, China, gathered to engage in in-depth exchanges and discussions on topics such as policy recommendations and case sharing for cooperation within the Asia-Pacific regional innovation network.

Mr. Ren Hao, Program Director at the APEC Secretariat, congratulated the successful convening of the conference via video. It is through various APEC projects in the working groups, we translate the higher APEC vision, objectives laid out in our leaders’ statements, including the Putrajaya Vision 2040, into concrete tangible outcomes through capacity building. By joining experts from universities, research institutes, industry and government,he believes this project will contribute to the APEC PPSTI strategic policy on “accelerating S&T knowledge sharing to strengthen regional connectivity as an enabler for innovation” and “Creating STI ecosystems & STI networks that strengthen regional STI linkages”.

During the conference, the "Suzhou Initiative on Industry-Academia Innovation Collaborations in APEC Region" was officially released. The initiative elaborates on the development of innovation network mechanisms led by governments, universities, research institutions, and enterprises, and proposes to promote regional STI development through strengthening talent team building and interconnection within the innovation chain.

In parallel with the conference, two sessions, namely the Innovation Policies in the APEC and Case Study on Innovation Collaborations were held. Participants actively shared and discussed policy suggestions, case studies, and other related issues.