Money Matters: Decoding the Chinese Innovation Funding Scene

In recent years, innovation has been one of the most used terms in the circle of Chinese policy makers, the reason being that in such a fast-speed environment, innovative ideas are key to unlock China’s development and strengthen its global competitiveness. For that reason, China has signed co-funding deals and rolled out policies to encourage the start-up scene in their market, especially focusing on financing new ideas and innovations in China. The most prominent funding and programs include the ‘EU-China Co-Funding Mechanism’, the ‘National Natural Science Fund’, the ‘Bases and Talents Program’, ‘The Medium to Long-Term Plan for the Development of Science and Technology (2006-2020)’, etc. To be able to succeed in this huge but complicated market, a good understanding of the innovation landscape and its funding opportunities in China is essential.

Being a foreign entrepreneur, especially one relatively new to the environment, one can easily get lost in the seaof information and miss many good opportunities. This is why the EU SME Centre and the European Chamber have invited twoexperienced experts who will analyse the Chinese innovation landscape and the funding scene in China directed towards smaller businesses and entrepreneurs. This discussion aims to help European business and entrepreneurs better understand not only what to expect from China’s push for innovation , but also what types of financial support they can actually obtain and the risks they face.

The EU SME Centre and the European Chamber are thus pleased to invite you to our discussion on innovation funding in China. General Manager at Kairos Future China Mr. Tomas Larsson and Senior Project Manager at Development Solutions Mr. Alessio Petino will provide an introduction and analysis to the start-up landscape and the funding scene in the mainland, and engage in a discussion on further possibilities to entering the Chinese market as a foreign SME.

If you would like to attend, please register with Ms. Cindi Yu in Beijing at cyu@europeanchamber.com.cn or Mr. Miguel Angel Perez Balaguero in Shanghai maperezbalaguero@europeanchamber.com.cn before Monday, 18th November COB.

Agenda

15:00-15:30 Registration and Networking

15:30-15:40 Opening Remarks

15:40-16:20 Presentation by Tomas Larsson

16:20-17:00 Presentation by Alessio Petino

17:00-17:30 Discussion and Q&A

Speakers

Tomas Larsson

Tomas Larsson is the China head of Kairos Future, an insight and foresight consultancy, and Founder of Dcipher Analytics, an AI startup. His areas of interest include developments in the social, consumer, and innovation domains in China and he holds several patents on methods for data-driven trend watching. Tomas first moved to China as a student in 2002 and his China experience ranges from working at the Swedish Embassy in Beijing to practicing kung fu at a Buddhist monastery in Yunnan. He is educated at UC Berkeley, Lund University, and Fudan University, holding a M.Sc. in Nanoengineering and a M.A. in Asian Studies.

Alessio Petino

Alessio Petino is a Senior Project Manager at Development Solutions (DS) – a European consultancy with its primary focus on supporting EU external policies and cooperation strategies towards strategic partner countries. Alessio Petino currently also serves as key expert on the EU-funded project “Improving EU Access to National and Regional Financial Incentives in China”, which has the objective of increasing the framework conditions for the participation of European actors in Chinese national and local funding programmes for research and innovation. Under the project, informative sessions and ad hoc studies are delivered for European stakeholders, including the recently published “Guide for European tech SMEs on China’s public incentives and funding for innovation” – which provides a comprehensive overview of the wide range of public incentives and funding instruments available in China for tech SMEs, especially at the local level.