Cong Cao

Cong Cao is Professor in Innovation Studies at the Department of International Business and Management, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, where he has been based since 2015. Previously, he held academic positions at the University of Oregon, National University of Singapore, State University of New York, and University of Nottingham.

His educational background spans both China and the United States across natural and social sciences disciplines. Specific degree details are not explicitly stated in available sources.

Professor Cao's research centers on:

• Science, Technology, and Innovation systems
• China-focused Innovation Policy evolution
• Technological Entrepreneurship dynamics
• Global Talent Migration patterns
• Biotechnology and Nanotechnology policy frameworks

His influential publications include "China's Scientific Elite" (RoutledgeCurzon) and "GMO China" (Columbia University Press), examining how global debates shape China's technological development.

Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a strategic shift toward analyzing systemic transformations in agricultural innovation, inter-agency policy networks, and the spatial dimensions of regional innovation ecosystems, with strong emphasis on China's integration into global research frameworks through partnerships like UK-China cooperation.

His scholarly impact is recognized through significant awards:

• Consecutive "Most Cited Chinese Researchers" distinctions (2021, 2022)
• Ningbo Philosophy and Social Sciences Achievement Awards (First Prize 2019, Merit Prize 2023)

Professor Cao has supervised doctoral research and secured major funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, European Union, and National Natural Science Foundation of China. His current project "Norms of Science with Chinese Characteristics" examines institutional evolution in China's science system.