From September 4 to 6, 2026, the 15th Annual Academic Conference on Energy Economics and Management in China & the 18th Strategic Seminar on Energy Resource Development and Utilization convened in Dalian, Liaoning Province. Centered on the theme Global Energy Transformation and the Construction of a Powerful Energy Nation, the conference was co‑sponsored by the Department of Management Sciences of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Energy Economics and Management Research Branch of Chinese Society of Systems Engineering, and Dalian University of Technology. It was undertaken by the School of Economics and Management and the Futures Research Institute of Dalian University of Technology, with the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research of Beijing Institute of Technology among the co‑organizers. More than 1 000 experts, scholars and students from 235 universities, research institutes and energy enterprises across China attended the event.
Academician Lu Chunfang (Chinese Academy of Engineering, Director of the Division of Engineering Management, former Vice‑Minister of Railways), Academician He Hong (Chinese Academy of Engineering, Director of the Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Academician Zhang Renhe (Chinese Academy of Sciences, former Vice‑President of Fudan University), Academician Gao Xiang (Chinese Academy of Engineering, President of Dalian University of Technology), Wu Gang (Deputy Director, Department of Management Sciences, National Natural Science Foundation of China), and Professor Wei Yiming (Former Chairman of the Energy Economics and Management Research Branch, Vice‑President of Beijing Institute of Technology) were among the attendees. The opening ceremony was presided over by Kang Xudong, Vice‑President of Dalian University of Technology.
In his opening address, President Gao Xiang extended a warm welcome to all participants. He noted that Dalian University of Technology has made sustained efforts in ocean energy development, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), low‑carbon optimization of energy systems, energy‑economy‑management strategies and energy‑industrial development. The university is accelerating the development of a “DUT Solution” for national energy transition. Taking this annual conference as an opportunity, Dalian University of Technology will collaborate with academic and industrial communities nationwide to tackle energy‑transition challenges and support the building of a powerful energy nation as well as the comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China.
In his address, Professor Wei Yiming remarked that the Research Branch has always responded to major national strategic needs and international academic frontiers in the energy sector. It serves as a platform and bond for academic exchange, scientific research, talent cultivation, social service and disciplinary construction in energy economics and management. He expressed hope that through this conference, participants could jointly discuss practical challenges and development pathways under new circumstances, contributing academic insights to national energy security and the construction of new‑type energy systems.
During the Disciplinary Development Report session, Deputy Director Wu Gang delivered a report entitled Status and Trends of AI‑Empowered Management Science Research. For special plenary reports, Academician Lu Chunfang presented Reflections on Engineering Construction Management in the Intelligent Era; Academician He Hong gave Research on Collaborative Carbon‑and‑Pollution‑Reduction Pathways in the Transportation Sector; and Academician Zhang Renhe spoke on Deficiencies in Scientific Understanding of Human‑Induced Global Warming.
Nine experts delivered plenary speeches: Professor Geng Yong (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Sun Shifang (Vice‑President, China Institute of Development Strategy), Professor Xu Ming (Tsinghua University), Researcher Chen Weiqiang (Institute of Urban Environment, CAS), Professor Song Jinbo (Dalian University of Technology), Wang Haibo (Director, Petroleum Market Research Institute, CNPC Economics & Technology Research Institute), Professor Xie Wei (Peking University), Professor Wang Yudong (Nanjing University of Science and Technology), and Professor Li Jiashuo (Shandong University).
Within the youth‑talent‑development track, Chen Zhongfei, Deputy Division‑Head of Division III, Department of Management Sciences, NSFC, gave a special presentation titled Effectiveness of Talent‑Program Funding and Reforms of the National Natural Science Foundation. Five young scholars were invited to the round‑table forum to share insights drawn from their own research‑growth journeys. Twelve PhD recipients of NSFC Young‑Student Projects presented their project progress reports.
The conference also featured the Deans’ Forum, a round‑table forum on high‑quality development of energy‑futures markets, the Academic Journal Editors’ Forum, award ceremonies for outstanding doctoral dissertations and annual journal prizes, 34 thematic parallel sessions, and six pre‑conference workshops. In total, more than 400 experts, scholars and students gave oral presentations.
Combining cutting‑edge academic discussions, disciplinary development, youth‑talent training and industry‑practice exchanges, this annual conference fostered communication and cooperation among scholars and industry practitioners working on energy economics and management. It offered academic support for advancing research on energy transition and climate governance, promoting relevant disciplines, and serving the construction of a powerful energy nation.
