Author：哈特中心 Date：2026-09-20
2026 International Industry‑University‑Research Forum on Intelligent Economy and Governance Innovation & The 5th East China University of Science and Technology Symposium on Contracts and Governance in the Digital Economy
To thoroughly seize the core opportunities brought by technological change and governance innovation in the intelligent‑economy era, promote the responsible and inclusive development of artificial intelligence, and systematically explore the internal logic whereby AI empowers corporate governance, industrial upgrading, and coordinated regional development, the 2026 International Industry‑University‑Research Forum on Intelligent Economy and Governance Innovation & The 5th East China University of Science and Technology Symposium on Contracts and Governance in the Digital Economy will be held on 15 October 2026 at the Business School of East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST).
This conference is jointly organized by the Oliver Hart Research Center of Contracts and Governance at ECUST, the Special Committee on Chemical Industry ESG of the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and the Shanghai Enterprise Confederation / Shanghai Entrepreneurs Association. Co‑organizers include the Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Social Governance of Artificial Intelligence, the China Green Finance 50 Forum, and the Institute of Digital Economy of ECUST. Grounded in the cutting‑edge advances of incomplete‑contract theory and property‑rights theory, the conference focuses on AI governance, data governance, platform governance, and the construction of modern corporate institutions. It aims to build an interdisciplinary, international, high‑level platform for industry‑university‑research‑application exchanges to facilitate high‑quality, sustainable, and inclusive development of the intelligent economy. We hereby issue a global call for papers. Details are set out below:
Sir Oliver Hart 2016 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences; Professor at Harvard University; Honorary Professor of ECUST; Director of the Oliver Hart Research Center of Contracts and Governance (ECUST); Member of the Strategic Advisory Committee, ECUST Business School
Academician Wang Hualin Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Professor at ECUST; Director of Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Director of the Three‑Gorges Laboratory; Member of the Strategic Advisory Committee, ECUST Business School
Organizing Co‑Chairs & Invited Speakers (List in progress; order does not signify priority)
Wang Yongqin Professor, School of Economics, Fudan University; Executive Director, Fudan Institute of Finance; Distinguished Professor under the National Major Talent Program
Nie Huihua Tenured Professor, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University; National High‑Level Talent
Qin Xiangdong Professor, Antai College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Jiang Huiling Director, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Social Governance of Artificial Intelligence; Dean and Professor, Law School, Tongji University
Bai Zhishan Party Secretary and Professor, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, ECUST; National High‑Level Talent; Recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars; Chairman, Special Committee on Chemical Industry ESG, Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China
Che Jiahua Professor of Economics, China Europe International Business School (CEIBS)
Liu Meng Head of Office, United Nations Global Compact China
Wu Yuming Executive Director, Oliver Hart Research Center of Contracts and Governance (ECUST); Professor, ECUST Business School
2. Secretary‑General
Jiang Shicheng Deputy Director, Oliver Hart Center for Contracts and Governance (ECUST); Associate Professor, ECUST Business School
Theories, Empirical Evidence and Practical Cases of AI‑driven Corporate Governance as well as Industrial and Regional Governance Innovation in the Intelligent‑Economy Era
Frontier research on incomplete‑contract theory, property‑rights theory, AI governance and corporate governance
Theoretical mechanisms and practical paths for AI‑enabled improvement of corporate‑governance efficiency
Transformation of industrial governance models and risk prevention under digital‑technology disruption
Innovations in intelligent governance mechanisms and policy optimization for coordinated regional development
Algorithm governance, data‑property‑right protection, and legal development for the digital economy
Construction of intelligent‑economy governance ecosystems and value co‑creation from the industry‑university‑research‑application collaboration perspective
Other related topics on ESG and sustainable development
We invite original, unpublished research outputs. Suitable submissions include, but are not limited to: Applications of contract theory and organizational economics to AI governance, data governance and platform governance; research on AI‑enhanced corporate governance and decision‑making efficiency; reconstruction of governance systems and industrial‑chain coordination amid industrial digital transformation; integration of intelligent technologies in regional governance and coordinated urban‑rural development; property‑right allocation, governance rules and regulatory innovation for the market‑oriented allocation of data factors; corporate ESG‑driven sustainable development in the intelligent‑economy context; governance challenges and solutions arising from deep integration between the digital economy and the real economy, as well as relevant frontier theoretical‑empirical studies and practical case analyses.
All submissions must adhere strictly to academic ethics, be free of intellectual‑property disputes, ensure originality and scientific rigor, and avoid simultaneous submission to multiple outlets. Academic papers shall clearly state the research topic, methodology, core findings and innovative contributions. Abstracts should list authors, affiliations, professional titles, contact information and grant acknowledgements (where applicable). Format requirements: Chinese‑language manuscripts should follow the styling guidelines of the journal The Journal of World Economy. English‑language manuscripts should conform to the formatting conventions of American Economic Review, with consistent citations, footnotes and references.
Submitted corporate, industrial, urban‑rural regional ESG and sustainability case studies must be original and fact‑based, highlight governance innovation and outcomes, and include supporting data as well as practical implications. Reference formatting benchmarks include Harvard Business Review, Journal of Management Case Studies and Reviews, and Tsinghua Management Review.
Abstract submission deadline: 30 September 2026 Email subject format: The 5th Symposium on Contracts and Governance – Name of First Author – AffiliationPlease send submissions to the dedicated conference email address:hartcenter@mail.ecust.edu.cn
The Organizing Committee will conduct anonymous peer review. Notification of acceptance will be emailed to authors no later than 8 October 2026. Accepted authors are required to submit the full draft paper by 10 October 2026; failure to meet this deadline will be regarded as automatic withdrawal from the conference.
Conference Date: 15 October 2026 (full‑day)Venue (provisional): Lecture Hall 406, Business School Building, East China University of Science and Technology Conference Format: Keynote speech by the Nobel Laureate, thematic presentations, in‑depth sub‑forum discussions, special seminar on incomplete‑contract theory and AI governance, industry‑university‑research‑application roundtable dialogue, and comments on outstanding papers. A live‑stream channel will be available online for scholars unable to attend on‑site.
No conference registration fee will be charged. The Organizing Committee will provide on‑site catering and conference documents for invited presenting authors. Travel and accommodation expenses are to be covered by participants themselves. All accepted papers will be compiled into the conference proceedings for in‑conference circulation.
Enquiries: Ms. Li, Tel: 021‑64253106 E‑mail: hartcenter@mail.ecust.edu.cn
Subsequent conference updates will be released via the official website and WeChat public account of the Oliver Hart Center for Contracts and Governance (ECUST). Please follow our releases. Conference arrangements are subject to dynamic adjustment.
Scholars, young researchers from universities, research institutes, enterprises and government agencies at home and abroad are warmly invited to submit papers and participate. Let us jointly discuss governance innovation for the intelligent economy and contribute insights toward high‑quality development and governance modernization.
Introduction to Oliver Hart Center for Contracts and Governancehttps://hartcenter.ecust.edu.cn/index/detail/oid/2‑4272738/m/zxjs
Inauguration Ceremony of the Oliver Hart Center for Contracts and Governance & Symposium on Contract Governance in the Digital Economyhttps://hartcenter.ecust.edu.cn/index/detail/oid/2‑4281273/m/zxdt
The 2nd Symposium on Contracts and Governance in the Digital Economyhttps://news.ecust.edu.cn/2022/0613/c6a166816/pagem.htm
The 3rd ECUST Symposium on Contracts and Governance in the Digital Economyhttps://www.ecust.edu.cn/2023/0913/c729a175652/page.htm
2026 International Industry‑University‑Research Conference, Digital Economy and ESG Sub‑Forum & The 4th ECUST Symposium on Contracts and Governance in the Digital Economyhttps://hartcenter.ecust.edu.cn/index/detail/oid/2‑4283426/m/zxdt
Source: Oliver Hart Research Center of Contracts and Governance, East China University of Science and Technology
