Annual Report on CBD Industrial Development (2024): Industrial Ecology Innovation Enhancing Urban Competitiveness, the key project supported by the Beijing Social Science Foundation, earns the highest rating, as reported by the foundation’s management platform.

This marks the fourth year that the report has maintained the top rating since 2021.

The in-depth and sequential project was conducted by the team led by Zhang Jie and Gao Jieying from the College of Urban Economics and Public Administration and Beijing Philosophy and Social Science CBD Development Research Base (hereafter the Base). The Blue Book was published by Social Sciences Academic Press (China) in November 2024, following the requirements of the Beijing Social Science Foundation. It was jointly released online and offline in Beijing on December 12 by the Base, CUEB, and the Press. The report received coverage from media outlets including China Daily, Beijing Daily, China Economic Times, and Global Times, and was reposted via platforms such as Weibo, WeChat, and the Xuexi Qiangguo App, demonstrating academic, practical, and social impact.

The Blue Book is the latest outcome of the Base’s report series on CBD Industrial Development. The report theoretically investigates the six-dimensional pathways to enhance urban competitiveness through CBD innovation ecosystems. It conducts case studies on the current industrial innovation dynamics of the top ten CBDs in China and continues the calculation of development indicators integrating theoretical analyses, case studies, indicator assessments, and practical insights from the Shenzhen, Nanchang, and Shenyang CBDs, the report elaborates current trends, distinctive strategies, and actionable approaches. Key recommendations focus on bridging ecosystem gaps, optimizing structural synergies, and diversifying specialized sector tracks.

The book consists of four parts: General Report, Data Analysis; Industrial Development, and Regional Practices.

The Blue Book series of Annual Report on CBD Industrial Development has been published for seven years in a row. The 2024 edition has the following three features:

First, it is the latest edition of the data-analyzing report on the CBD industries.

Focusing mainly on the analysis of the development of CBD industries, the book shows the latest stories of ecological innovation and development in China’s CBD industries. In the part of Data Analysis, in-depth research was made in terms of industrial development, industrial spillover, industrial forms, and the industrial environment through indicator calculation. The part of theoretical analysis examines the insights into how innovative industrial ecosystems drive high-quality development in CBDs, as well as practical observations on how the intelligent and connected vehicle industry promotes the development of smart cities in CBDs. On top of that, the part of Field Research, hot-spot city CBDs such as Shenzhen's Futian District, Nanchang’s Honggutan New Area, and Shenyang’s Financial and Trade Zone are taken as telling examples to analyze and categorize their practices in industrial development.

Second, it is the only edition of the development report on innovation in the industrial ecosystem of CBDs.

Economic growth has different stages with different themes. Innovation in the industrial ecosystem is the theme of development in 2024. China is currently transitioning from a planned economy and market economy to a service-oriented urban economy and digital economy, with innovation in the industrial ecosystem emerging as a key variable in economic development. As a high-end industrial functional area of cities, CBD is very productive with distinct innovation in the industrial ecosystem and enjoys rapid development. Enhancing urban competitiveness through the innovation in industrial ecosystem of CBDs holds important theoretical, analytical, and referential value.

Third, it is a rare edition of a frontier report on urban industrial development in CBDs.

In recent years, China’s urban CBD economy has been undergoing a digital transformation. The industrial ecosystems of CBDs n both established and emerging first-tier cities are booming with ongoing advancements in industrial chains.

As China’s authoritative Blue Book dedicated to specialized research on CBD industrial development, the report analyzes recent digital economic development dynamics of the CBDs in ten major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Results show that Beijing CBD’s “Headquarters Growth Plan” continues to drive innovation in the industrial ecosystem; the Lujiazui Financial City is building clusters of fintech industries; Guangzhou Tianhe CBD is constructing a full-cycle industrial innovation ecosystem; the Futian CBD in Shenzhen is creating agile, tech-integrated ecosystems within industrial-commercial hubs, fostering cross-sector collaboration and sustainable growth; Chongqing Jiangbeizui CBD is steadily scaling up diversified industrial sectors, the Hexi CBD in Tianjin is optimizing the industrial innovation ecosystem in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region; the Wuhan Wangjiadun CBD is cultivating a new urban development ecosystem; the Hefei CBD is advancing the industrial ecosystem for scientific and technological innovation through government efforts; the Furong CBD in Changsha is empowering its distinctive industries through institutional innovation; the Zhengdong New District CBD in Zhengzhou is promoting the deep integration of its innovation chain and its industrial chain.

During the research process, team members published papers in core academic journals such as the Economic Management Journal. They participated in thematic meetings of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform, the Dongcheng District People’s Congress, and the Chaoyang District People’s Congress. The team has produced several academic achievements and think-tank advisory services.