On 24/25 September 2016 a ministerial delegation will lead the UK’s engagement as Country of Honour at the Pujiang Innovation Forum in Shanghai.

The PIF, which is hosted in Shanghai every year by China’s Minister of Science and Technology, is China’s premier innovation event. The forum will attract over 700 senior government officials, academics, business people and entrepreneurs from China and overseas and will receive extensive media coverage. The theme for this year’s forum is “Double Engines: Institutional Innovation and Technology Innovation”

As Country of Honour, the British delegation, led by a Minister (name tbc), will be made up of senior officials, business people and academics. With innovation currently high on the Chinese government’s agenda, as reflected in their latest 5 year plan, the UK’s position as Country of Honour highlights China’s recognition that the UK is a global leader of innovation.

The forum will provide an excellent platform for comprehensive UK engagement with China, and will provide an opportunity to make contact with both central and regional senior government officials. The forum will allow for discussions on market access issues, the opportunity to sign agreements, networking with academics and business leaders, identifying innovation financing partners, making themed forum presentations, participating in panel discussions, joining creative and technology partnering events, putting on showcases / exhibitions, all helping individuals and organisations to develop research, business and other innovation engagement in China.

As well as the plenary session and the Country of Honour Forum, the following forums will take place:

• Enterprise Forum:                New Development of Enterprise Innovation Models
• Industry Forum 1:                 Intelligent Manufacturing and Industrial Big Data
• Industry Forum 2:                 Intelligent Vehicles
• Policy Forum:                        Public Governance for Innovation
• Regional & Urban Forum:    “The Belt and Road Initiative” and Regional Innovation
• Entrepreneur Forum:           Makerspace and Grass Roots Entrepreneurship
• Culture Forum:                      Craftsman Spirit and Innovation Culture
• S&T Finance Forum:            Developing the Eco-environment for S&T Finance – Crowd Innovation, Crowd Outsourcing, Crowd Funding
• Future Science Forum:        How Imagination Illuminates Reality
• Talent Forum:                      Enhancing the Driving Force of Talent

Opportunities for participation

Pujiang Innovation Forum (24/25 September)

Main Forum - The organisers (Shanghai S&T Commission) Passes are available from RMB 2400 to RMB 5800 on the PIF website. Country of Honour Forum – The theme will be “Concept to Commercialisation” to showcase the UK’s experience in innovation. The programme for this forum is largely set, though further suggestions for important players or case studies are welcome.

Sub-Forums – It may be possible to arrange for UK speakers in the other sub-Forums, which are entitled Enterprise, Industry, Policy, Regional & Urban, Entrepreneur, Culture, S&T Finance, Future Science and Talent. The Science Innovation Network (SIN) team who is leading on liaison would welcome suggestions and proposals.

UK showcase event

In order to push forward the UK-China creative/innovative relationship and capitalise on being Country of Honour, the SIN team will organise an innovation showcase event alongside the Pujiang Innovation Forum. This will be a major part of the Minister’s programme, and will allow opportunities for speakers, presentations, round tables, networking events, b2b matching, exhibitions and showcases to highlight the UK’s innovation strengths including in education, science/research, technology, business promotion, culture and tourism.