The 2025 Qingdao Venture Capital Conference convened on Sept 26, gathering senior executives from leading financial and investment institutions, along with experts, to explore global venture capital trends and attract talent, technology, and capital to Qingdao.

Elevating from a venture capital-focused event to a broader financial industry summit, the conference included one main forum, five parallel sessions, and roadshows for 10 high-quality projects, connecting tech innovators directly with investors.

During the event, Qingdao introduced an action plan to establish a government-guided fund system, integrating venture capital, industrial investment, and key project funds. The initiative aims to form a fund matrix exceeding 300 billion yuan ($4.2 billion), attract over 15 billion in long-term capital within three years, and expand municipal guide fund assets under management to 150 billion yuan by 2027, providing robust capital for industrial development.

Notably, Yangguang Hengyi (Qingdao) Private Fund Management Company was inaugurated, launching a 20 billion yuan private securities fund — making Qingdao the fifth Chinese city to host such a fund. Qingdao also signed strategic agreements with four institutions, including Postal Savings Bank of China, which pledged 500 billion yuan in financing support to bolster local industrial upgrading.

Experts like Wang Yao, president of the International Institute of Green Finance of the Central University of Finance and Economics, emphasized aligning venture capital with green development and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, while Lu Jue of Shanghai Innovation Bank highlighted Qingdao's open ecosystem and industrial advantages as key draws for investment.

By the end of July this year, Qingdao's private fund managers, funds, and the total assets under management had grown 1.5 times, 5.7 times, and 3.3 times, respectively, since 2018, with national rankings rising steadily. These efforts have fueled local champions like KENGIC Intelligent Technology Co, with 1,351 projects receiving 92.2 billion yuan in investment — driving the city's high-quality economic growth.

Qingdao builds a dynamic financial industry that strategically blends traditional banking with a thriving venture capital ecosystem, driving substantial capital flow into the local economy. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]