These visits aimed to foster partnerships between the UK and China in business, technology, culture and education. The discussions focused on how to link innovation, talent, and resources to achieve mutual growth in the current macroeconomic context.
About Nanjing: As the capital city of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing’s GDP reached 1.74 trillion yuan (approximately 190 billion GBP) in 2023, ranking among the top ten cities in China. It boasts the highest per capita GDP among provincial capitals, and its Nature index ranking for scientific research cities risen to 6th globally. Nanjing is also ranked 4th nationwide in the evaluation of innovation capabilities among national innovative cities. The city is home to leading clusters in software and information services, as well as smart grid industries, and its digital economy core industries contribute the highest proportion of GDP in the province. Nanjing has been named “China’s Happiest City” 14 times.
Nanjing’s Technological Innovation: Nanjing places great emphasis on technological innovation and the transformation of scientific achievements. The city is accelerating the development of a globally influential technology innovation centre, building a comprehensive technology transfer system, and promoting the deep integration of innovation, industry, capital and talent chains. This approach aims to ensure that technological achievements and market applications advance together.
Promoting UK-China Cooperation: EFEC is dedicated to providing a bridge for innovation and talent development in the 21st century. Mrs Lily Lin’s visits have enhanced mutual understanding and trust between the two sides. Future cooperation will focus on the following areas:
- Advancing Technological Collaboration: With its rich educational and technological resources, vibrant innovation ecosystem, and solid industrial foundation, Nanjing offers significant opportunities. EFEC will facilitate the connection between UK and Chinese resources across various sectors, industrial parks, and innovation platforms. This collaboration will support Nanjing’s innovation development while also enhancing the UK’s innovation ecosystem.
- Facilitating Exchange Activities: Nanjing emphasises both “going out” and “bringing in” strategies, hosting the “Nanjing International Science and Technology Cooperation and Exchange Conference” series and establishing multiple overseas collaborative innovation centres and research institutions. EFEC will focus on enhancing these efforts by collaborating with various centres and institutions, facilitating the landing of overseas projects, supporting Chinese enterprises in going global, and actively organising overseas exchange activities to jointly enhance global impact.
- Enhancing talent cultivation: In response to emerging industry challenges, EFEC is willing to leverage its many years of experience and resources in the field of education and research. By collaborating with local education departments, relevant schools/colleges, and related enterprises, EFEC aims to jointly explore coordinated solutions for advancing education, technology, and talent development.
- Shaping Regional Impact: As the central city of the Nanjing metropolitan area and a crucial hub in eastern China, Nanjing plays a significant role in the Yangtse River Delta region. The UK-China cooperation cases and experiences developed through EFEC’s initiatives in Nanjing will be likely to be replicated and promoted across the Yangtse River Delta, further enhancing the regional development.
In summary, EFEC’s strategic collaboration with Nanjing is set to create a powerful bridge that enhances the UK’s innovation ecosystem through increased research capabilities, market opportunities, and talent exchange. This partnership will drive forward the UK’s position as a global leader in innovation and technological advancement.
Image: Nanjing Biomedical Vally, sourceNiuka Video
