InnovFest Suzhou 2018
Promoting Innovation and Market Opportunities between China’s “Belt and Road” & ASEAN Nations
InnovFest Suzhou 2018 was successfully held at the NUS Suzhou Research Institute (NUSRI) from 20 to 21 June 2018, connecting over 1,100 entrepreneurs, corporates, investors, technology start-ups, professionals, academics, and government agencies from around the world to share and exchange insights on the latest innovations and entrepreneurship developments in China and beyond. Co-organised by NUSRI, BLOCK71 Suzhou and NUS Enterprise, the annual event aims to build a key cross-border platform to link Chinese companies with innovations overseas, especially innovations from Singapore and beyond.
Coinciding with Singapore’s ASEAN presidency this year, and in partnership with the Jiangsu provincial government agencies, InnovFest Suzhou 2018 held a series of talks and showcased technologies, innovative products and services that are geared towards market opportunities at China’s “Belt and Road”. This year’s event acts as a platform to create greater synergy between the China and ASEAN innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems and to promote innovation and market opportunities between the two regions. Focusing on four key themes: Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical and Health, Smart Green Cities, and Technology Commercialisation, the event featured innovation keynotes, forums, project roadshows, product showcases, investment pitching, talent dialogues, and industry visits. More than 120 cutting-edge technology projects from over 10 countries and regions including Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, North America and Europe, also exhibited at the festival.
Amongst the attendees were Guest-of-Honour Dr. Chen Deming (former Minister of Commerce of China and the current Chairman of the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment), Prof. Tan Eng Chye (President of National University of Singapore), Mr. Luo Weiwei (Consul General of the Singapore Consulate General in Shanghai) and Dr. Wu Qingwen (Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Suzhou Municipal Committee and Secretary of CPC SIP Working Committee). Over 60 participating international universities and research institutes, and 300 well-known enterprises including Pfizer, Sanofi and GGV Capital also attended the event.
Delivering the opening address, NUS President Prof. Tan Eng Chye said:
“We hope that InnovFest Suzhou can play a pivotal role in linking the real economy and innovative technologies, the government and enterprises; building bridges between China and overseas to further raise and deepen the bilateral cooperation between China and Singapore.”
The “Belt and Road” China-ASEAN International University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum was also held at InnovFest Suzhou. Professionals and academics from the world’s top ranking universities such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Oxford University, University of Science Malaysia, Chulalongkorn University, De La Salle University, Xiamen University, and Shenzhen University gathered together to promote innovation exchange between China and countries along the “Belt and Road”, as well to create more opportunities for cross-border cooperation in innovations and market access.
In addition, InnovFest Suzhou also saw the official launch of the “Innovation and Creativity Education Programme”, initiated by the Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee, Temasek Foundation International, NIE International and the Singapore University of Technology and Design, to make Suzhou Industrial Park the hub of innovation and creativity where primary and secondary school teachers can co-learn the use of innovative teaching pedagogies to teach science, design and technology.
Held annually since 2015, InnovFest Suzhou is a leading international Innovation and Entrepreneurship Festival in China that is hosted and organised by NUS Suzhou Research Institute (NUSRI), BLOCK71 Suzhou and NUS Enterprise. Website: http://www.nusri.cn/InnovFest-Suzhou-2018/
