On December 5th – 9th, The U.S. China Cleantech Center (UCCTC) hosted the U.S. China Cleantech Innovation Forum and Technology Roadshow to China for 5 days of friendly and highly productive meetings and network building. The Roadshow led 10 U.S. cleantech companies interested in entering or expanding its reach to China, along with select investors, corporate executives, and other key stakeholders already operating in China, on a tour the burgeoning cleantech markets of Beijing, Xuzhou, and Dongying. The tour provided the cleantech CEOs with an excellent view of what it would be like to do business in China and established some of the key introductions and connections with key leaders that will enable them to get their China plans moving.
The trip kicked off the morning of December 5th at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing with a half-day Cleantech Market Briefing hosted by representatives of the U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, U.S. EPA, and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The highly informative open discussion gave delegates exposure to all the elements of the Chinese cleantech ecosystem and insights into how business gets done in China as well as advice on key legal issues, such as IP protection. On the evening of Dec. 5th, the delegation arrived in Xuzhou and was welcomed by Xuzhou’s vice Mayor and municipal government heads at a closed-door reception with Chinese media followed by a VIP dinner where U.S. companies had a chance to dine with China’s local government leaders and cleantech insiders.
The trip was centered on the U.S. China Cleantech Summit– a two-day showcase event in Xuzhou hosted by UCCTC and the Xuzhou Municipal Government. The summit attracted more than 400 respected participants representing cleantech VC investors, technology entrepreneurs, Chinese and foreign corporations, government leaders, and management consulting and law firms. On Dec. 6th, attendees enjoyed a series of keynote speeches and panel discussions on topics ranging from innovation in clean energy, green building, and energy efficiency, to trends and best practices learned in China’s booming environmental protection sector, including air, water, and soil pollution. Throughout the first day of the summit, participants had multiple opportunities in private, “sidebar” meetings and networking meals to create valuable connections with some of the key players in China. On Dec. 7th, U.S. and foreign cleantech innovation companies participated in the Technology Showcase, where they presented themselves and their companies to China-based investors and corporations who have strong interest in western cleantech.
On Dec. 8th and 9th, the delegation visited the city of Dongying in China’s Shandong Province, where they had access to pre-arranged meetings with China-based investors, partners, and government officials. Delegates had the opportunity to make company presentations to an audience of 79 corporates and investors seeking innovative clean technologies for local project integration, partnerships and investment, as well as roundtable discussion and working luncheon with the Mayor of Dongying to discuss the landscape, ecosystem, and opportunities for U.S.-China joint collaboration on clean energy and environmental protection. After lunch, the group participated in site visits to local manufacturing facilities in need of clean air and water technology solutions and industrial zones focused on clean energy and green development. The off-site meetings facilitated a first-hand account and deeper understanding among the delegates as to the scale and scope of the environmental issues local Chinese governments face as well as the technology deployment opportunities immediately available for U.S. companies.
