On December 12, the 2025 Global Open Innovation Forum, co-hosted by Plug and Play China and the Research Center for Technological Innovation at Tsinghua University, opened in Beijing. The forum unveiled the first-ever "Top Ten Innovation Districts" list, drawing widespread attention from the worldwide science and innovation community. Among the honorees, Beijing Origin Community was selected, along with Shanghai West Bund and Shenzhen Hetao Cooperation Zone, as part of the inaugural group of "Top Ten Innovation Districts." The inclusion of these three Chinese innovation districts has redefined the "Chinese Dimension" of the global innovation ecosystem.
Rank among the "Top Ten Innovation Districts"
The "Innovation Universe" within a radius of one kilometer
It is reported that the selection of the "Top Ten Innovation Districts" was based on the proprietary "Five-Dimensional Ecosystem Assessment Model" by the TOP Innovation Districts Research Institute, which identifies the world's most representative innovation hubs from a global perspective. In addition to the three Chinese districts, the list includes internationally renowned innovation districts such as Kendall Square in Boston, Cerebral Valley in San Francisco, and the Munich Science Park in Germany. As a representative of "deep innovation" among Chinese innovation districts, the inclusion of Beijing Origin Community not only highlights Beijing's central role in the global science and innovation landscape, but also underscores international recognition of China's approach to building an innovation ecosystem through the depth of its foundational research.
Unlike traditional industrial parks that prioritize short-term economic output, Beijing Origin Community is anchored in its mission as an "origin site and ignition point," with a strong focus on foundational research and original innovation from 0 to 1. Leveraging the advantages of Zhongguancun's core area as an intellectual cluster, it has built a distinctive distributed innovation network.
At the core of Haidian District's Wudaokou Artificial Intelligence Pioneer Zone, a strong wave of AI innovation is emerging, gathering top-tier intellectual resources. Centered on Dongsheng Plaza, within a one-kilometer radius, the area brings together over 30 universities and research institutions, more than 1,000 AI scientists, over 13,000 AI developers, and upwards of 100,000 young students specializing in AI and related fields. This dense concentration provides a continuous flow of talent to support Beijing's leading position in artificial intelligence development.
High-density industrial clustering defines Beijing Origin Community. During a recent visit to the Dongsheng Industrial Park within the community, reporters observed a 138,900-square-meter cluster operating at 90 percent occupancy. AI enterprises here hold over RMB 2.2 billion in combined registered capital—averaging nearly RMB 10 million per company—and possess more than 2,000 AI-related patents and trademarks. The growth rate of newly established enterprises reached as high as 96 percent, and the average revenue growth rate of enterprises exceeded 50 percent, demonstrating the "Haidian Speed" of the development of the artificial intelligence industry.
Build a complete, end-to-end ecological foundation
Multi-dimensional services promote innovation
"We adhere to reduce enterprises' innovation and living costs, while enhancing development efficiency and growth quality," said a relevant official from Dongsheng Town. Through formulating special policies for AI start-ups and implementing measures such as rent subsidies, computing power support, and financing empowerment to lower their innovation costs. Additionally, we have built a 15-minute "work-live-transport-study-medical-commercial" life circle, provided talent apartments and health examination centers, and introduced a 15-year consecutive education system at Haidian Future School to meet the housing and other living needs of scientific and technological innovation talents, thereby reducing their living costs.
Building an innovation ecosystem requires a comprehensive service system. The Origin Community takes the "Dongsheng Cup" International Entrepreneurship Competition as an entry point to introduce high-quality projects from universities and research institutes, helping start-ups achieve innovation breakthroughs. Online, the "AI Department Store" enables companies to showcase their achievements and connect with partners remotely, while the "Origin Leaps Boundary" event offers a platform for AI enthusiasts to collaborate on projects and link resources. Offline, Genesis Academy and the AI Exhibition Hall host over 200 innovation-related events annually, including "Academician's Forum", "Talent Accelerator", and "Origin Market" activities, fostering the deep integration of "campus, industrial park, and community".
Genesis Academy located on the ninth floor of Dongsheng Building. The academy is cultivating a group of AI talents who "understand technology, know how to apply it, and are capable of practical operations" through the 3S closed-loop of "Study, Social, and Sale", making the academy a "catalyst" for innovation.
A relevant official from Dongsheng Town stated that in the process of promoting the construction of Beijing Origin Community, a bottleneck hindering high-quality development has been identified. On one hand, the value of many advanced technologies and skilled professionals in universities and research institutes has not been fully utilized. On the other hand, businesses find it difficult to discover suitable new technologies and connect with the right professional talents in the face of fierce competition. This not only restricts the flow of innovation elements but also impedes the development of new forms of productive forces. "The establishment of Genesis Academy stems from a deep understanding of innovation principles. The value of technology is realized through application, and the vitality of innovation elements is activated in the market."
So far, the academy has signed contracts with 20 entrepreneurs, recruited dozens of innovation and entrepreneurship managers, and set up 70 free seats for AI developers and start-up founders. From "Tuesday AI Study Room" to tech talk shows, and from technical training to project roadshows, a variety of activities constantly engage innovators. The provision of open workstations, themed activity areas, and a membership system has fostered the formation of a stable interactive community among entrepreneurs, investors, and scientists, where new possibilities are constantly nurtured through brainstorming and collaboration.
The innovation ecosystem continues to upgrade
Build "Haidian Origin Community AI Innovation Hub"
The spatial planning and environmental upgrading of the community are continuing to make progress. It is planned to leverage an industrial space of over 15,800 square meters to carry out commercial renovations on the plaza and the exhibition hall of Dongsheng Building, and the backyard of Building C. At the same time, the community will deepen its cooperation with institutions such as the School of Artificial Intelligence at Tsinghua University and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei National Technology Innovation Center to continuously enhance innovation elements.
The inclusion of Beijing Origin Community not only represents recognition of its construction of a "deep innovation" ecosystem but also provides Chinese experience for the development of global innovation zones. Through multi-faceted cooperation, including intellectual clustering, industrial closed loops, and policy safeguards, Beijing Origin Community has created a sustainable growth environment for original innovation. In the future, as the innovation ecosystem continues to improve, this place is expected to nurture more original technologies and globally competitive unicorn companies.
