On January 11, 2024, the 2024 Annual Meeting of the MIIT Think Tank Alliance, alongside the Seminar on Empowering New Industrialization with Enhanced Quality Productivity, announced the addition of three new member units. These include the HEU Institute of Marine Science and Technology Development Strategy, the HEU Integrated National Strategy Research Center of the College of Economics and Management, and the HEU Intelligent Era National Security Research Center of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The MIIT Think Tank Alliance is an open, non-profit, service-oriented cooperation platform. It primarily comprises research institutions and university think tanks affiliated with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The platform also includes think tanks from local industry and information technology regulatory bodies, universities, enterprises, social organizations, and associations. The primary mission of the Alliance’s member units is to foster communication and collaboration between the government, enterprises, and think tanks, providing intellectual support for the advancement of China’s manufacturing and cyber capabilities. The MIIT Think Tank Alliance was officially established in Beijing in June 2018.

HEU places a strong emphasis on the development of think tanks as a strategic initiative to advance academic disciplines and enhance the university’s overall strength, social contributions, and influence. Previously, three of HEU’s think tanks— including the China Manufacturing and National Security Industry Research Institute and the Heilongjiang Regional Innovation-Driven Development Research Center—were selected as part of the first cohort of MIIT Think Tank Alliance members.