Zhongguancun has led China in technology and innovation with its rich resources and preferential policies, particularly in recent years when innovation and entrepreneurship became the core of the nation's development strategy.

Commenting on Zhongguancun's contribution to China's innovation programs, Franklin Urteage, former innovation advisor of the White House, said "It’s very significant because Zhongguancun, in the last ten years, has created more programs, has created more activity."

Managing Partner of Peakview Capital Erik Lassila, who has been working with Zhongguancun for quite a long time, spoke highly of Zhongguancun’s contribution to the cultivation on innovative and entrepreneurial talents and the innovation and entrepreneurship development in China.

Alan Dowdell, vice president for business development of ChargePoint, also shared his views on Zhongguancun.

Yin Hejun, deputy mayor of Beijing, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Zhongguancun Forum on Dec 7. [Photo provided to zhongguancun.gov.cn]

"It up till now has been a really good incubator location because startups really need low-cost places to get some support, get talent, get advice, maybe get some funding," he said.

At the opening ceremony, Yin Hejun, deputy mayor of Beijing, mentioned that Zhongguancun, with about 500 colleges and national scientific research institutions and R&D centers of more than 300 multinational companies, is the cradle of China's technology and innovation.

"About 42.9 percent of intelligent entrepreneurial enterprises in China were born here," Yin said.

"Zhongguancun will connect into the global innovation network and integrate advanced international resources to build itself into a more influential global technology center."

To promote the artificial intelligent industry and cultivate a competitive and innovation-oriented AI industrial cluster, the Administrative Committee of Zhongguancun made a plan which specifies goals, instructions and missions for its AI companies and explains what support the administration will offer.

So far, more than 30,000 overseas returnee entrepreneurs have established over 8,000 enterprises in Zhongguancun Park, giving it the highest concentration of returnee-opened companies.