Zhao, Hong

BMSTC/ACZSP/ ZhongGuanCun Innovation and Development Institute, China

Dr. Zhao Hong, a prominent economist and former Vice President of the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, is currently President of the Zhongguancun Innovation and Development Institute. With a distinguished academic background as a Ph.D. Research Fellow and Postdoctoral Mentor, Dr. Zhao is a member of the expert advisory group for the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality and a recipient of the State Council of China’s Special Allowance for his contributions.

Zhao’s research expertise spans regional and industrial economics, science and technology innovation, science park development, and urban governance. Known as the founder of the “headquarters economy” theory, he published Headquarter Economy (2004), China’s first monograph on this topic, which has earned broad recognition among both academics and policymakers.

Over his career, Dr. Zhao has led and completed more than 100 major projects, such as the “Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for Science and Technology in Beijing” and “Research on Zhongguancun Innovation Culture.” His research has been awarded numerous provincial and ministerial-level honors, including the Beijing Science and Technology Award and the Excellence Award in Philosophy and Social Science. The insights from his work have provided critical references for government decision-making.

Since 2012, Dr. Zhao and his team have annually released the “Zhongguancun Index,” a comprehensive analysis tracking the development of high-tech industries, technological advancements, and policy innovations within the Zhongguancun area. This index has become an essential tool, widely recognised as a barometer for the innovation ecosystem within China’s technology parks, and it is a key resource for entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and those monitoring technological progress across the country.