Closer ties should be built within the Yangtze River Delta region to address the changes in the industrial chain and further boost innovation, experts said at a think tank summit held on Monday.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, efforts should be made to deepen the integration of advanced manufacturing and producer services while advancing the application of artificial intelligence, according to experts from Changjiang Institute of Industrial Economics, part of Nanjing University.

A free trade zone research institute under Anhui University suggested in its latest research findings that the YRD should strengthen the connectivity of regional digital infrastructures, promote the sharing of cross-city innovation resources, and enhance the application of green technologies.

While the overall level of technology-driven entrepreneurship capability within the YRD is higher than the national average, regional collaboration, the capacity of government-guided funds, and the establishment of a full-cycle financial system should be further strengthened, according to experts from Shanghai Tech University.

Research results from East China Normal University showed that AI is transforming from a tool-based technology into a systemic production factor. This trend is particularly evident in the industrial upgrading process within the YRD. But it has also led to a mismatch between skills and talent supply.

Xu Wenwei, a professor from Fudan Development Institute, also emphasized that the YRD faces a significant shortage of digital and AI talents. Educational institutions are encountering bottlenecks regarding curriculum systems, faculty resources, and computing power.

Therefore, Xu suggested that laboratories and industrial technology research institutes can be jointly built in the region. A "one-card" system can be introduced to facilitate talent mobility. Special funds can be set up to promote the integration among industries and the academia.

Zhang Zhongwei, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission, suggested that cross-regional legislation can be promoted to improve the stability and continuity of the governance system while creating institutional benefits.

The YRD should seize the three major trends of accelerated domestic substitution, proactive corporate overseas expansion, and accelerated localization of foreign investment, Shen Yufeng, lead partner of Strategy& China with PwC, said. Efforts can be made to foster industrial collaboration, innovation scenarios, and the ability to link international resources, he said.