Recently, the 8th China Think Tank Development & Evaluation Summit Forum, hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Evaluation Studies (CASSES), was held in Beijing on Sept 19. The forum unveiled the results of “the 2025 China Think Tank Comprehensive Evaluation Research Project (which assesses think tanks on their Attraction, Management and Impact, hereafter the AMI)”. Three think tanks from CUEB were recognized, namely CUEB Institute of Metropolis Economic and Social Development, CUEB Institute of Beijing Digital Economy Research and CUEB China ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) Institute.

The AMI, organized by CASSES, is conducted every four years. It comprehensively assesses think tanks based on their attraction of talent, management efficiency, and impact on research, aiming to systematically evaluate the achievements of new-type think tanks with Chinese characteristics, and to promote outstanding think tanks with comprehensive strength, distinctive professional features, and significant policy influence. This selection of three think tanks from CUEB highly recognizes our research on decision-making consultation to serve national major strategies and capital development in the new era.

Building on this recognition, CUEB will implement the “Summit Project” to improve the quality of research and advance the think tank construction. The University strives to build a high-level and distinctive think tank cluster, which emphasizes both theoretical innovation and practical application, contributing wisdom and strength to serve the national strategies and capital development in the new era.

Introduction to the three listed CUEB Think Tanks

1. CUEB Institute of Metropolis Economic and Social Development

Approved by the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee in 2017, the Institute of Metropolis Economic and Social Development in CUEB became one of the first 14 pilot institutions for the construction of high-end think tanks in the capital. It is a professional academic research institution, conducting academic research, cultivating interdisciplinary think tank researchers, and delivering the results of decision-making consultation to meet the development of megacities and regions. Since its establishment, the institute has obtained nearly 200 findings recognized and adopted by leaders. It has published think tank monographs such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Blue Book, which has won nine consecutive first prizes and two consecutive second prizes in the “Excellent Almanac Book Award”, serving as a key resource for the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region. Besides, it has also hosted a series of forums, including Capital Circle Development Forum and Information Release Conference of the Blue Book on Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region. The institute aims at building a high-end capital think tank that focuses on economic and social development issues of megacities, develops research capabilities of complex systems, and serves major national development strategies, Thereby, it further researches on the theoretical and practical issues concerning the construction and governance of megacities (Beijing), the development of world-class city clusters and coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, striving to become an available, reliable and indispensable think tank for the government, society and enterprises.

2. CUEB Institute of Beijing Digital Economy Research

Established in December 2023, CUEB Institute of Beijing Digital Economy Research undertakes the construction of the emerging interdisciplinary platform on digital economy approved by the Beijing Municipal Education Commission. It is committed to driving innovation in digital economy through cutting-edge research, professional training, discipline development, international exchanges and policy-making. Crossing the boundaries between colleges and disciplines, the Institute optimizes distribution of resources, establishes a “matrix-style” research mode, and conducts interdisciplinary research through its featured discipline clusters such as theoretical economics, applied economics, statistics, and management, so as to contribute wisdom and strength to the implementation of the national digital economy development strategy, the construction of Beijing as a global digital economy benchmark city, and the high-quality development of the capital’s economy and society.

The Institute focuses on exploring the basic theories of the digital economy, as well as their application in multiple fields, including industrial innovation, enterprise growth, foreign trade, urban governance, financial development, and economic policy evaluation. Its main research directions include the theory of global digital economy benchmark cities and the construction of modern industrial systems, fintech and digital finance in the big data era, the digital trade against the background of the “Two Zones” (an integrated demonstration zone for further opening up the national service sector and a pilot free trade zone), and the governance system of the digital economy.

2. CUEB China ESG Institute

Established in July 2020, CUEB China ESG Institute is the first domestic institute focusing on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). Its mission is to promote the construction of China’s ESG ecosystem and drive high-quality economic development. In standard development, the Institute, as the convener of the ESG standardization project research group under the National Standards Committee, promotes national ESG standards. In scientific research, it is granted major projects of National Social Science Fund of China, publishes over 80 papers in authoritative journals, and builds high-end academic exchange platforms such as the China ESG Global Leaders Conference. In personnel cultivation, it continuously extends fields covering undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students, and publishes a series of textbooks. In social services, it actively provides consulting services to government departments including the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) and State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) to support Beijing’s high-quality development.