The East Asian Institute (EAI) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), in collaboration with the National School of Development (NSD) at Peking University and the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School, will host a high-level conference titled "Navigating Challenges: Industrial Policy, Competitiveness, and Development" on 9-10 January, 2025.
This two-day conference aims to ignite a robust dialogue on the evolving role of industrial policy amid global geopolitical tensions and rapid technological advancements. Industrial policy has historically played a pivotal role in Asia’s economic development strategies and has recently gained traction in the U.S. and Europe, driven by factors such as competitiveness, transitions to a green economy, technological innovation, and national security. Key topics that will be covered include the effectiveness of industrial policies, mechanisms to enhance their benefits, and strategies to mitigate risks. The event will feature cutting-edge academic research presentations and policy-focused discussions.
The conference brings together experts and policymakers from the U.S., China, Europe, and Southeast Asia, including academics, representatives from international organizations, and government officials, to assess the current and future landscape of industrial policy. A virtual keynote address will be delivered by Professor Lawrence H. Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary. A closed-door fireside chat featuring Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore, will be held at an opening dinner on January 8.
Professor Huang Yiping, Dean of the NSD, will deliver a welcome speech on behalf of the organizers and deliver a keynote address. Professor Justin Yifu Lin, Honorary Dean of the NSD, Associate Professor Xing Jianwei of the NSD, and Professor Wang Yong, Deputy Dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University, will also deliver keynote addresses and participate in roundtable discussions at the conference.
The conference builds on partnership agreements between the East Asian Institute at NUS and the NSD at Peking University as well as the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia at Harvard Kennedy School. These partnerships encompass joint research projects and workshops, collaborative publications, and visiting fellowships, allowing for scholars and researchers to engage in meaningful dialogue and collaboration. The next joint conference is scheduled to take place in the second half of 2025.
EAI Director Alfred Schipke said, “This conference exemplifies the importance of fact-based analysis in addressing the complexities of industrial policy in a rapidly changing global landscape. By fostering dialogue among scholars and policymakers from across the globe, we aim to generate insights that will shape practical, evidence-driven, and policy-relevant solutions to the pressing challenges of competitiveness, innovation, and development.
Professor Huang Yiping, Dean of NSD, added, “Industrial policy has been pivotal in driving Asia's economic development, and its relevance is only growing amid technological and geopolitical shifts. Through innovative solutions and cross-border collaboration, this conference provides a vital platform to explore how industrial policy can be effectively designed and implemented to promote sustainable growth and shared prosperity while minimizing negative external spillovers.”
Professor Anthony Saich, director of the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia, said, “Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, industrial policy has become a cornerstone of national strategies to enhance competitiveness and security. This conference serves as a crucial forum for exploring how nations can navigate these pressures while promoting international cooperation, mitigating risks, and ensuring that industrial policy fosters an inclusive global economy and minimizes global adverse spillovers.”
The joint conference is organized in partnership with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore and the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University.
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