The conference “Innovating in China, for China: Adapting to a Fast-Evolving Market” hosted by Antai College of Economics and Management at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and supported by the AISU and AFEC student unions, was successfully held on May 30, 2026 at the Xuhui campus. Eight industrial elites and around 150 teachers and students gathered at the event. The conference was hosted by CHEN Jing, Deputy Director of International Cooperation and Exchange Office.

Opening Session

At the beginning of the conference, JIANG Ming, Director of the MIB Program, delivered an opening address. He elaborated on the significance of tailoring innovation strategies to China’s distinctive market environment amid fast market changes, and highlighted the necessity for both domestic and multinational firms to carry out market-oriented innovation in China.

Roundtables

The conference featured two roundtable discussions. The first, “Innovating For China: Understanding Market Dynamics & Strategic Adaptation,” focused on how companies can adapt their products and strategies to meet the evolving expectations of Chinese consumers. The second, “Innovating In China: Operational Agility & On-the-Ground Execution,” delved into the operational challenges and opportunities of innovating in a fast-paced and competitive environment.

The eight panelists, including Marie-Catherine Boinay (Treasurer, La French Tech), Camille Verchery (Founder and CEO, VVR International), Dali Nikolovski (Founder and CEO, EcoGreen Energy), Laurent Mourot (China General Manager, BU Air & Cooling, Sogefi), Sébastien Gauchet (Asia Managing Director, Gerflor), Etienne Callafe (CFO, Decathlon China Sourcing), Suntorn Sangkha (Technical Director, Michelin China R&D), and Jack Zhang (Chairman and Founder, Shanghai Winner Environmental Technologies), shared first-hand experience and core viewpoints on localized innovation. They underscored three key pillars for successful in-China innovation: localized market adaptation, flexible operational capabilities and stable industrial partnership construction. In addition, panelists interacted with participating students to answer questions concerning industry trends and career development.

Closing & Future Outlook

The event concluded with a closing speech and a group photo, followed by a networking session where attendees had the opportunity to connect with speakers and peers.

The conference not only enabled students to access frontline industry experience and innovative practices of multinational enterprises in the Chinese market, but also broadened their international horizons and deepened their understanding of localized innovation. Moving forward, ACEM will continue to launch high-quality international exchange events, creating diverse learning platforms for students to connect with global industry resources and empower their academic and career growth.