SHANGHAI STATEMENT
PurposeThe Global Network is the pre-eminent group of leading research universities’
associations from North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. As a collectiveorganization, the Global Network has signed two statements concerning researchintensive universities. The 2013 HEFEI STATEMENT marks the first widespread
agreement on key characteristics and missions of modern research universities. In
2014, the Global Network signed the LEIDEN STATEMENT reinforcing the role of social
sciences and humanities in the global research landscape. The LEIDEN STATEMENT
is intended to help enable broad interdisciplinary connections that can deliver multiple
perspectives to solve global challenges.
The SHANGHAI STATEMENT builds on previous Global Network statements, in orderto outline the critical role of research-intensive universities in global innovation
ecosystems. The SHANGHAI STATEMENT also identifies the vital actions researchintensive universities must undertake to strengthen their foundational role in theinnovation ecosystem.

Preamble
In today’s increasingly complex global landscape, innovative ideas, technologies,
products and services address social, political and economic problems. Innovation
permeates all aspects of the economy and global society. Emergent innovations aredeveloped within a complex ecosystem consisting of people, organizations andinteractions.
Research-intensive universities are key pillars in the innovation ecosystem. Per theHEFEI STATEMENT, research universities are distinguished by the quality, breadth anddepth of their research. They drive national development and well-being. Building onthese principles, research-intensive universities will also foster the success of the global
innovation ecosystem. Talented people sharing disruptive ideas in dynamic regions will
drive innovation. On both the global landscape and at the local level, research
universities create the conditions that support this innovation ecosystem. Global
research universities train talented innovators, act as a hub for innovative ideas, provide
critical research facilities and infrastructure and serve as incubators for disruptive startup companies. In sum, universities are critical sites for developing the talent, knowledge
and partnerships that underpin future innovative advancements.
Universities are sites of training, collaboration, discovery and experimentation. They
foster talent, providing opportunities for students and faculty to develop knowledge thatdraws upon hard and soft skills. The ideas people develop, challenge and improve uponat universities are critical to innovative, knowledge-based economies. Universities arealso an important site for collaboration, where talented, curious innovators work, learn

and share ideas, attracting other innovative thinkers and developers as they create
important social and professional networks.
Research-intensive universities are uniquely positioned as innovation hubs, offering
training, collaboration, experimentation and early-stage commercialization opportunities.
Capacity for discovery-driven research is one of a research university’s mostcompetitive advantages. As homes to top talent and world-class research infrastructure,
universities are ideally positioned to undertake the long-term, fundamental research that
often leads to our most innovative discoveries. On the global landscape, researchintensive universities are pillars of innovation, connecting world-class researchers withpotential partners from all disciplines and sectors. As a result, innovation and innovative
economies and societies are more efficiently advanced in partnership with researchintensive universities.
In an increasingly connected global landscape, research-intensive universities are astrategic asset. Integrating these institutions into the innovation ecosystem will drive
innovation and spur new discoveries. To facilitate this integration, the university
associations of the Global Network commit themselves to a series of statements thatwill further entrench our universities as key members of the global innovation
ecosystem, developing the people, knowledge and partnerships that will foster
innovation at all levels of society.

Statement
To foster innovation, the eight signatory university associations of the statement committhemselves to:1) Providing high-quality education to tomorrow’s innovators by fostering
critical thinking, curiosity and a broad skillset. World-class leadership and adiversity of talent are central to innovation, because creative individuals develop
innovative products and services. Our universities provide a healthy environment
to unleash and develop the potential of both students and faculty. Our institutions
encourage all to challenge their own boundaries and explore the remote cornersof science to develop innovations that improve society. The speed oftechnological change in all fields means people will need to learn new skills andconcepts more frequently and more rapidly than at any previous time in history.
Universities impart discipline-specific knowledge and foster the curiosity that
underpins a commitment to lifelong learning. That learning will prepare
innovators to identify gaps within the ever-changing innovation ecosystemquickly, and pivot to meet those emerging needs.
2) Pursuing knowledge and academic excellence based on best available
evidence. All instructional and research activities will create and disseminate
knowledge following the highest academic standards. Investments infundamental research lead to ground-breaking discoveries and knowledge
creation. These investments also develop tomorrow’s talented innovators and theexpertise that drives innovation on the global landscape, offering diverse, highquality opportunities for learning and research.
3) Exploring new areas of study, new research paradigms, new ways ofthinking and new platforms. Universities are home to world-class researchersand state-of-the-art research infrastructure, creating a dynamic environment that
fosters collaboration across disciplines and borders. In addition, they are sites ofleading scientific and technological innovation on the global landscape. The tasksof today's universities are not merely to discover the world around us and explore
the unknown but also to forge new frontiers, create new opportunities anddevelop new products, services and technologies.
4) Collaborating with partners from all disciplines, sectors and geographiclocations. The global research landscape is increasingly interconnected, as
research endeavours span disciplines, sectors and borders. Collaboration
strengthens fundamental research. As a result, universities must build
collaborative platforms that allow researchers from around the world and from all
disciplines to work together to advance fundamental science and to share thelatest research findings and insights. Moreover, universities have the capacity tostrengthen ties with industries and public institutions, connecting policymakers,
businesses, researchers and the general public so they can address major
challenges that affect our shared future.

5) Building a global network that connects local expertise to international
partners. Research is increasingly collaborative and interdisciplinary, and there
are significant opportunities for major research findings to draw on localknowledge and for communities and regions to benefit from these groundbreaking findings. Fostering partnerships among research-intensive universities
around the world will help to establish an international knowledge network
underpinning the global innovation ecosystem.