The 16th Summer Davos Forum concluded on June 26 in Tianjin, with over 1,800 participants from more than 90 countries.

This year, young tech firms from Hangzhou — including Unitree Robotics, BrainCo, Deep Robotics, Bota Bio, and Deep Principle — drew global attention for their innovations in robotics, brain-computer interfaces, and AI-driven science.

It marked Hangzhou's largest-ever presence at Davos, spotlighting a new model of Chinese innovation combining digital economy, deep tech, and global reach. These startups, led by entrepreneurs often under the age of 40 and backed by strong academic and R&D credentials, represent a shift from traditional manufacturing to high-tech leadership.

Two Hangzhou companies made it to the forum's Technology Pioneers 2025 list, underscoring the city's focused strategy in narrow but globally impactful tech tracks. With R&D spending often exceeding 20 percent of revenue, these firms exemplify Hangzhou-style breakthroughs in emerging fields.

AI dominated the forum's agenda — mirroring Hangzhou's own push in the AI era. The city is fostering top-tier models like DeepSeek and Alibaba's Qwen, and recently launched a comprehensive AI strategy with 20 policies supporting talent, infrastructure, and application ecosystems.

Hangzhou's visible role at Davos illustrates how mid-sized cities can compete globally by specializing in AI-powered innovation, transforming from a digital economy pioneer into a high-impact, future-ready hub.