Events

Annual Progress Exchange Meeting of the NSFC Major Project “Antitrust Theory and Policy Research in the Digital Economy” Successfully Held

On 23 December 2025, the Annual Progress Exchange Meeting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Major Project “Antitrust Theory and Policy Research in the Digital Economy” was held at the HKU Business School Shenzhen Centre. The meeting was hosted by the Department of Management Sciences of the NSFC, and co-organised by the HKU Business School and the HKU-SCF FinTech Academy.

The event was attended by Wu Gang, Deputy Director of the Department of Management Sciences of the NSFC; Professor Lin Chen, Vice-President of the University of Hong Kong; academic advisors of the project; and key members of the respective research teams. The opening ceremony was chaired by Chen Zhongfei, Deputy Director of the Third Division, Department of Management Sciences, NSFC.

Opening Remarks: Affirming the Academic Mission of Digital Economy Governance

Researcher Wu Gang noted that major projects represent organised and purposeful scientific innovation, and should remain firmly goal-oriented and problem-driven, keeping closely aligned with the nation’s critical strategic needs in digital economy antitrust regulation. He called for strengthened breakthroughs in foundational theory and research methodology. With the project now entering its critical final phase, he emphasised that research teams should enhance collaborative innovation, focus on synthesis and integration, and systematically consolidate representative original theoretical contributions. He further stressed the importance of translating research findings into practical applications, ensuring that conclusions can effectively inform macro-level decision-making and provide substantive reference and informational support for the formulation of market regulatory policies and industry development.

In his welcoming remarks, Professor Lin Chen, Vice-President of the University of Hong Kong, extended a warm welcome to all attending experts. He observed that the digital economy has become a pivotal arena for global competition and cooperation, and that its healthy development urgently requires a systematic and scientifically grounded governance framework. The University of Hong Kong remains deeply committed to research in the digital economy, integrating national and international research strengths, building interdisciplinary exchange platforms, and advancing forward-looking research in digital economy governance to provide robust theoretical foundations for the modernisation of governance systems.

Academic Presentations: Systematic Exchange and Expert Review on Core Topics

The annual progress reporting session was co-chaired by Professor Fang Ying of Xiamen University and Professor Yang Xiaoguang of the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Five principal investigators — Professor Li Lingfang of Fudan University, Professor Zhou Li’an of Peking University, Professor Qiao Han of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Lin Chen of the University of Hong Kong, and Professor Lin Ping of Shandong University — each delivered systematic reports on their respective research tasks, presenting annual progress and interim findings.

An advisory panel comprising Professor Fang Ying, Professor Sun Ning of the Southern University of Science and Technology, Professor Wang Kanliang of Renmin University of China, Professor Yang Jinqiang of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and Professor Yang Xiaoguang conducted in-depth reviews of the research presented. Guided by the project’s overarching objectives, the panel offered targeted recommendations covering the calibration of research directions, breakthroughs on key issues, and the realisation of the policy and social value of research outcomes. While affirming the progress achieved to date, the experts engaged in substantive discussion with research team members, further clarifying research approaches and mapping out pathways forward, with the aim of ensuring that outcomes can more effectively support national decision-making and industry practice.

Industry–Academia–Research Integration: Exploring Compliance Practices

On the afternoon of 23 December, delegates visited Tencent’s headquarters for an on-site research exchange. Through guided tours and roundtable discussions, the expert panel gained a comprehensive understanding of how a leading internet platform approaches digital ecosystem development, compliance management frameworks, and the application of technological innovation in practice. This in-depth industry–academia–research engagement not only provided a vivid real-world case study for theoretical inquiry, but also strengthened the effective connection between theoretical analysis and practical application scenarios.

Closing Remarks

This Annual Progress Exchange Meeting offered a systematic review of the interim research achievements of the NSFC Major Project “Antitrust Theory and Policy Research in the Digital Economy,” and further clarified the priority areas for subsequent research and project completion. Going forward, the project team will continue to deepen its research into digital economy governance, striving to produce high-calibre academic outputs with forward-looking insight and strong policy reference value, thereby providing robust theoretical support for the long-term healthy development of China’s digital economy.