[First stop: Shanghai] SSIC China Innovation Trip 2018
Time：2018-10-11 Look：1226
September 2018, SSIC organized its first SSIC China Innovation Trip. Representatives from ten innovative Swiss startups from diverse fields including biomedical, artificial intelligence, navigation system, green finance, 3D data for spatial application were selected to join the trip, together with the representatives from SSIC.
During the tour, the group visited three cities in seven days with numerous visits, pitching & networking events, including the 2nd Swiss-Sino Innovation & Entrepreneurship Cooperation Forum in Ningbo.
The First Stop : Shanghai
Shanghai is one of the most developed Chinese cities, a global financial hub, with population larger than 24 million. On the evening 13 September, the delegation arrived in Shanghai Pudong Hi-tech zone from Zürich.
Tired but exciting, the group enjoyed their first dinner in Shanghai in a relaxing and uplifting atmosphere.
The next morning, the partner of SSIC, Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone Offshore Entrepreneurial Base for Overseas Professionals, organized visits to Zhangjiang Incubation Platform for Overseas Enterprises, Microsoft Incubator, Zhangjiang Incubator, Zhangjiang International Innovation Service Center, and Offshore Enterpreneurial Base. The high-density of the incubators and the vibrant energy of the whole innovation area was awe-inspiring.
In the afternoon, the first round of roadshow of this trip was held in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, with the participation of c.a. 80 representatives from Shanghai Association for Science and Technology, Science, Technology and Economy Commission of Shanghai Pudong New Area, investment institutions, enterprises, etc.
The participants to the event also witnessed the signing ceremony between SSIC and the Science and Technology Innovation Promotion Center of Shanghai Pudong New Area, marking the official start of the partnership between SSIC and Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone Offshore Entrepreneurial Base for Overseas Professionals.
The roadshow rolled out subsequently, with rigorous discussion among the entrepreneurs, the experts and the investors.
Later in the evening, the group took a stroll in the city center, admiring the glamor of Shanghai downtown in the night.
On September 15, the delegation headed to Songjiang District, 30 km southwest of downtown Shanghai in the Yangtze Delta region. Songjiang has Shanghai’s first municipal-level industrial zone, currently hosts pillar industries such as electronic information, modern equipment, fine chemical engineering, new materials and bio-pharmaceuticals. The group visited the exhibition hall of the G60 Science & Technology Innovation Valley, a coverage of 101.64 km2 including nine major industry functional sections. Following the visit, the delegation was received by Songjiang District government officials in Yuehu International Conference Center at the foot of Sheshan hill.
In the afternoon, the group departed from Shanghai and headed to the second stop of the trip: Ningbo.
Pictures/ Qingxia ZHONG
Article/ Qingxia ZHONG, Man WANG, Ke WU
Editor/ Yuting DENG