Recently, the Publicity Department of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee announced the list of the second batch of key cultivation new-type think tanks in Yunnan Province. Two think tanks of Yunnan University of Finance and Economics were selected: the Innovation Think Tank for the Development of an Economic Radiation Center and the Think Tank for Digital-Intelligence Integration and Technological Innovation. With these new additions, the university now has a total of five provincial-level key cultivation think tanks, ranking second among universities in the province.

The Innovation Think Tank for the Development of an Economic Radiation Center is led by Professor Chen Hong, Secretary of the University Party Committee. It focuses on theoretical research related to the development of an economic radiation center, with emphasis on resource-based economy, park economy, and port economy. In recent years, members of the think tank have written more than 30 policy consultation reports, including one adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, five receiving affirmative instructions from the principal leaders of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, and ten receiving affirmative instructions from the principal leaders of the Yunnan Provincial Government. Its members have also led two major projects and five general projects funded by the National Social Science Fund of China, as well as 15 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and have published more than 60 papers in CSSCI and SSCI/SCI journals.

The Think Tank for Digital-Intelligence Integration and Technological Innovation is led by Professor Duan Yunlong, Director of the Division of Science & Technology Administration. It focuses on digital-intelligence integration and innovation-driven development, studies the “three major economies” and the construction of an economic radiation center, and explores the synergy between technological innovation and digital-intelligence technologies such as cloud computing, blockchain, big data, and artificial intelligence. In recent years, more than 30 reports submitted by members of the think tank have received affirmative instructions from leaders at the provincial-ministerial level and above.