On June 14 and 15, the Berlin Business Desk China (BBDC) had the pleasure of participating in this year’s INNOTECH event at HKUST (Guangzhou), a platform for tech innovation, entrepreneurship and international collaboration.
Since its launch in 2023, INNOTECH has been a gathering ground for dialogue and exchange between tech startups, investors, venture capital representatives, and leading companies, particularly within the dynamic Greater Bay Area (GBA). This year the event showcased over 140 exhibitors and welcomed nearly 2,500 guests from various sectors.
The opening day featured two major forums, including the China Innovation Going Global Forum, which the BBDC was honored to attend. Following a warm welcome speech by Mr. Xiong Hui (熊辉), Associate Vice President for Knowledge Transfer at the HKUST (Guangzhou), the forum featured keynote speeches from leading industry figures such as Mr. Zeng Guang’an (曾光安), Chairman of Guangxi Liugong Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd.; Mr. Wei Haigang (卫海岗), General Manager of GAC MOTOR; and Mr. Shen Zhengning (沈正宁), Managing Partner of Bauhinia Capital.
Following this, an engaging masterclass by Professor Guoli Chen (陈国立) of INSEAD provided fresh perspectives on innovation strategy in global markets.
Afterwards our Chief Representative, Ms. Yiran Li (李怡燃), joined a panel discussion moderated by Mr. Jing Fu (付敬), HKUST (Guangzhou) Director of Global Affairs, on the theme “From Competition to Collaboration: Harnessing Global Innovation Networks”. Ms. Li offered insights into Berlin’s thriving startup ecosystem, shared challenges faced by Chinese tech companies entering European markets and what these companies should prepare before expanding into Europe. She was joined by esteemed panelists including Sun Yin (孙寅), Partner at Deloitte Consulting China; Yandong Guo (郭彦东), Founder & CEO of AI²Robotics; Xiao Ruijie (肖瑞洁), Singapore Chapter President of the INSEAD Alumni Association; Xin Zuo (左鑫), CTO of Meimai Technology and former CIO of Anker Innovations; and Li Yang (李洋), Executive Director at China Office of the Japan-China Friendship Policy Council and Co-founder and Director of Yifeng Family Office. They all shared various insights about different markets from other parts of the world.
The second day of INNOTECH was held in the university’s sports hall with a diverse program featuring exhibitions, startup pitches, investor presentations, live product launches and even music, dance performances that created an energetic atmosphere for exchange and discovery. Visitors from diverse industries explored the latest developments in deep tech, robotics and digital solutions. A highlight was the Robot Dynamics Showcase, where advanced robotics were demonstrated live, adding a futuristic touch.
As part of the exhibition with our own booth, the BBDC proudly presented Berlin as a global innovation hub and as a strategic location for startups aiming to get into the European markets. Our booth attracted attention from visitors interested in learning more about Berlin’s strengths and its investment potential.
The Berlin Business Desk China extends its sincere thanks to HKUST (Guangzhou) for the excellent organization and warm hospitality throughout the INNOTECH event. We look forward to further collaboration in the future and to building strong connections between Berlin and the GBA.
