Industry and Innovation Research Center of ZZULI
The Industry and Innovation Research Center of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (formerly known as the Research Center for Industrial Innovation and Development of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry) (hereinafter referred to as the "Center") stands as one of the early-established disciplinary platforms with industrial innovation and development as its research focus among universities in Henan Province. Over more than a decade of construction and development, the Center has now developed into a vital base for research on cross-regional policy collaboration and innovation mechanism, industrial technology innovation model, and innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Henan Province.
According to Document No. 701 issued by the Henan Provincial Department of Education in August 2018, the Center was approved as a "Key Research Base for Humanities and Social Sciences in Henan Universities (Cultivation) in 2017". Since its approval, the base has conducted in-depth research on the key and difficult issues in China's economic and social development, and has achieved fruitful results in scientific research, government and enterprise services, and team building. From 2017 to 2025, it has obtained 23 national-level projects, 144 provincial and ministerial-level projects, and over 26 million yuan in income from horizontal projects. It also published 304 academic papers indexed by Chinese core journals, SCI, SSCI, EI, and CSSCI. In the evaluation of key research bases for humanities and social sciences in Henan Province in 2019, the Center ranked fourth in the total score among the cultivation-type bases.
Currently, based on the actual economic development of Henan Province, the Center conducts research and exploration on the theoretical and practical issues related to undertaking industrial transfer and the development of industrial clusters in Henan Province. It has formed the following three distinctive research directions:
(1) Research on the Interactive Development of Undertaking Industrial Transfer and Industrial Clustering. Since the beginning of the 21st century, industries in the developed eastern regions of China have been continuously relocated to the central and western regions, which has brought rare development opportunities to the relatively underdeveloped central and western regions. Promoting the clustered development of industries in the central and western regions by undertaking industrial transfer has become an important measure for local governments to drive economic development. This research direction is based on the actual economic development of Henan Province, and studies and explores the theoretical and practical issues of undertaking industrial transfer and industrial cluster development in Henan Province.
(2) Research on Industrial Transformation and Upgrading under the “New Normal”. Under the new normal, the economic and social development of Henan Province faces new opportunities and challenges. Industrial transformation and upgrading involves two aspects: industrial transformation and industrial upgrading. The core of industrial transformation and upgrading is the transformation of the economic development mode, which includes transitioning from low value-added to high value-added, from investment-driven to innovation-driven, from extensive growth to intensive growth, and from resource-intensive and environmentally polluting to resource-saving and environmentally friendly. This research direction conducts a comprehensive review and analysis of the development history and current situation of traditional advantageous industries, pillar industries, and emerging industries in Henan Province, summarize the advantages, disadvantages, opportunities, and challenges in each industry's development, and propose ideas and countermeasures for industrial transformation and upgrading.
(3) Research on Technological Innovation and Market Innovation. This research direction focuses on cultivating innovative entities as the main thread, promoting the aggregation of high-end factors as the driving force, and strengthening the construction of the innovation and entrepreneurship service system as the key priority. It studies the incentive mechanisms for guiding innovation and entrepreneurship, cultivates the broader cultural environment for innovation and entrepreneurship for the masses, and promotes technological innovation and market innovation in various major industries in Henan Province.
In recent years, a series of preferential policies have been successively issued by the central government and local governments in Henan to bolster industrial innovation. Particularly, the establishment of the Zhengzhou-Luoyang-Xinxiang National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone has aroused enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and innovation across society. Under such circumstances, by adhering to a problem-oriented approach, highlighting national economic development, emphasizing teamwork, and strengthening collaborative research, the Center has steadily recruited a group of outstanding research-oriented talents. It has so far established a key team with young and middle-aged researchers as its backbone. The full-time and part-time researchers of the Center, who possess sound knowledge structures and well-defined research focus areas, form a vigorous academic team featuring strong comprehensive strength and a spirit of solidarity and collaboration. The Center, renowned for its meticulous scholarship, diligence and innovation, as well as for its vibrant academic and research atmosphere, has produced substantial results in industrial innovation research. Several of its research outcomes have exerted significant influence nationwide.
Since its inception, the Center has upgraded and improved the basic research conditions, and continuously added relevant academic works, academic journals, and computer hardware needed for research. In the course of its research, the Center strengthened management and made bold reforms. It made significant progress in personnel and management, formulated effective rules and regulations, and strictly implemented them, thereby promoting the advancement of various initiatives.