MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

Event

Mar 26, 2026
Integrating Counties into the Regional Innovation System in the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-City Region

Existing studies on the implementation of China’s science and technology policies primarily focus on the coastal growth regions, leaving inland provinces as well as smaller cities and counties underexamined. This geographic bias limits a nuanced understanding of China’s evolving innovation strategy—particularly as recent policy shifts elevate the importance of inland regions and county-level jurisdictions. China now operates under a comprehensive policy framework designed to mobilize resources across all administrative levels throughout the country in pursuit of greater self-sufficiency in science and technology. 

This presentation outlines a preliminary framework for examining the role of counties within this strategic landscape. It draws on the presenter’s ongoing research on pilot initiatives for regional cooperation in the Chengdu–Chongqing Twin-City Region, which in 2020 was designated as China’s fourth major growth hub. Given the region’s position as a key agricultural center, the study focuses on pilot programs in which the development of agricultural technologies constitutes a central component—innovations in agro-technology are critical in safeguarding China’s food security amid increasingly volatile geopolitical times. The research examines how counties are integrated into the regional innovation system of the Twin-City Region.

  • Dr. Outi Luova

    Dr. Outi Luova is a Senior University Lecturer at the Center for East Asian Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Finland, where she also serves as Vice-Director of the Center. In addition, she holds the title of Docent in East Asian Studies at the University of Helsinki. Dr. Luova acts as Director of the Finnish University Network for Asian Studies and is the Principal Investigator of the Finnish team in the EU-funded Horizon project “ReConnect China.”

    With a disciplinary background in history and China studies, Dr. Luova’s research has primarily focused on local governance in China. Her current work examines the implementation of China’s science policies at the local level. Among her major recent publications are the co-edited book *Chinese Economy* (in Finnish, with Juuso Kaaresvirta, 2024); the article “Local Environmental Governance and Policy Implementation: Variegated Environmental Education in Three Districts in Tianjin, China” published in the 2020 special issue “New Directions of Urban Studies in China” in *Urban Studies*; and the edited volume *Greening China’s Urban Governance: Tackling Environmental and Sustainability Challenges* (Jørgen Delman, Yuan Ren, Outi Luova, Oscar Almén, and Mattias Burrell, eds., Springer, 2019). List of Publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6637-920X

Organizer(s)
Location
Max Planck Institute for the History of Science
Address
Boltzmannstraße 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Room
219/Online
Contact and Registration

We welcome both internal and external guests. For further information about the LMRG Colloquium series, specific sessions, or registration (a limited number of places are available), please contact Dr. Franziska Fröhlich.

About This Series

The LMRG Colloquium is a venue for members and guests of the Lise Meitner Research Group, "China in the Global System of Science," to share their work in progress. It is an opportunity to raise questions, discuss methodological challenges, or get feedback on preliminary conclusions. We aim to create a supportive atmosphere that combines rigorous criticism with genuine curiosity.

Full program of the LMRG Colloquium 2025 & 2026
2026-03-26T14:00:00SAVE IN I-CAL 2026-03-26 14:00:00 2026-03-26 15:30:00 Integrating Counties into the Regional Innovation System in the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-City Region Existing studies on the implementation of China’s science and technology policies primarily focus on the coastal growth regions, leaving inland provinces as well as smaller cities and counties underexamined. This geographic bias limits a nuanced understanding of China’s evolving innovation strategy—particularly as recent policy shifts elevate the importance of inland regions and county-level jurisdictions. China now operates under a comprehensive policy framework designed to mobilize resources across all administrative levels throughout the country in pursuit of greater self-sufficiency in science and technology.  This presentation outlines a preliminary framework for examining the role of counties within this strategic landscape. It draws on the presenter’s ongoing research on pilot initiatives for regional cooperation in the Chengdu–Chongqing Twin-City Region, which in 2020 was designated as China’s fourth major growth hub. Given the region’s position as a key agricultural center, the study focuses on pilot programs in which the development of agricultural technologies constitutes a central component—innovations in agro-technology are critical in safeguarding China’s food security amid increasingly volatile geopolitical times. The research examines how counties are integrated into the regional innovation system of the Twin-City Region. Dr. Outi Luova Dr. Outi Luova is a Senior University Lecturer at the Center for East Asian Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, Finland, where she also serves as Vice-Director of the Center. In addition, she holds the title of Docent in East Asian Studies at the University of Helsinki. Dr. Luova acts as Director of the Finnish University Network for Asian Studies and is the Principal Investigator of the Finnish team in the EU-funded Horizon project “ReConnect China.” With a disciplinary background in history and China studies, Dr. Luova’s research has primarily focused on local governance in China. Her current work examines the implementation of China’s science policies at the local level. Among her major recent publications are the co-edited book *Chinese Economy* (in Finnish, with Juuso Kaaresvirta, 2024); the article “Local Environmental Governance and Policy Implementation: Variegated Environmental Education in Three Districts in Tianjin, China” published in the 2020 special issue “New Directions of Urban Studies in China” in *Urban Studies*; and the edited volume *Greening China’s Urban Governance: Tackling Environmental and Sustainability Challenges* (Jørgen Delman, Yuan Ren, Outi Luova, Oscar Almén, and Mattias Burrell, eds., Springer, 2019). List of Publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6637-920X Boltzmannstraße 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany 219/Online Franziska Marliese FröhlichDieu Linh Bui Dao Franziska Marliese FröhlichDieu Linh Bui Dao Europe/Berlin public