Breakfast Seminar:

Innovating with China for the Chinese and Global Markets

08:00 Wednesday 22nd October 2014 (Registration at 07:30)

Mansion House, Wokefield Park, Goodboys Lane, Reading, RG7 3AH

British companies interested in developing international business partnership with China, especially in commercialising products, services and technologies, can be helped by support such as finding matched Chinese partners, specialist sector expert teams in both UK and China, specially arranged market visits, and a research and post-graduate product development team.

The Lancaster China Catalyst Programme – www.lancaster.ac.uk/china-catalyst – is an exciting programme of such assistance. With funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Lancashire County Council and participating businesses, the programme will provide a wide range of bespoke support worth over £70K aimed at helping each participating British company develop an international collaborative R&D and commercialisation project with a Chinese partner.

It seeks to enhance international innovation capacity, and potentially unlock significant amounts of grant funding from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology (GDST).

Over the course of this exciting journey, UK companies will work on commercialisation and business plans to adapt both existing, as well as developing new products, processes and services for the Chinese and/or global markets.

A programme brochure is available for download here: 1410 Innovating with China – China_Catalyst project brochure

Such is the popularity of the programme, the Lancaster China Catalyst Programme already has 16 UK technology companies signed up and, having visited Guangdong to meet potential partners in early September, they are now part way through their innovation journey with China – http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/china-catalyst/projects/uk-projects-2014/

Speakers at the seminar will include senior programme managers and a China (Guangdong) market specialist:

0730 Registration and coffee

0800 Breakfast

0830 Presentations

“Chinese Reverse Innovation” by Dr. Simone Corsi, Lancaster China Catalyst Programme Manager

“The Lancaster China Catalyst Programme: Benefits for UK Companies” by Mark Beresford, UK China Project Manager, Lancaster University

“Doing Business in Guangdong and China” by Dr Kegang Wu, Chief Representative, Guangdong Economic and Trade Office in the UK

0930 Q&A

1000 Networking and One-to-one with the Lancaster China Catalyst project team

Speaker profiles can be found in the BCC LinkToChina website –Speaker profiles

Strong interest has already come from UK companies so far signed up in environmental, low carbon/energy, health & well-being, advanced/high value manufacturing, transport, ICT, Semiconductor Lighting (LED), New Energy Vehicles, Biotechnology, High Tech Equipment Manufacturing, New and Advanced Materials, digital and creative sectors which aligns well with Lancaster University’s specific area expertise.

The Lancaster China Catalyst Programme is interested in companies in a broad range of sectors.

The seminar is free and places are limited. Criteria applied.

Free parking available. Click the link for a location map and directions to the Mansion House, Wokefield Park

For registration please complete the online contact form. For further information please contact Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce on 01753 870500 or BCC LinkToChina on 01753 870571

Companies interested in having an one-to-one with the speakers and the project team are invited to complete an Expression of Interest form which can be obtained and returned to Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce or BCC LinkToChina – info@linktochina.org.uk