Highrises and hi-tech: Shenzhen is booming
at 3:51pm on Thursday, 13th October 2005
Yesterday was my first full day in Shenzhen, and I spent the morning in an event organised by the UKTI on commercialisation of nanotechnology. Speakers included Julie Deacon who works for the MNT network (funded by the DTI), Raymond Oliver of Cenamps, and 2 speakers from Guangdong Province (where Shenzhen is located) on the nanotechnology development priorities for this region. I spoke on nanotech and public engagement. The audience of about 40 or 50 included scientists and policy-makers from Shenzhen, Guangzhou and other regions (Hainan). In the afternoon, we spoke to a few journalists and generally wondered if we were confusing them, especially as they really liked the idea of open access research institutes (thinking 'open' meant 'free of charge').
We had about 45 minutes to look around the hi-tech fair yesterday, and I spent my time talking to a couple universities. They use the fair to sign agreements on exchanges or other support with universities in China (or abroad if the chance arises). I imagine that tomorrow when I visit the Virtual University Park and Tsinghua University situated within the Shenzhen University Town, I'll hear more about these kinds of collaborations.
After a very diplomatic meeting with the governor of Hainan province, who wants us to visit on our next trip (tropical beaches, yes! But, unfortunately, not a lot of science investment) I was able to head back to the hi-tech fair before a meeting with the Shenzhen S&T Bureau in the afternoon. (One thing about the governor: their business cards are all printed on mini DVDs. Cute.)
So before I discuss the fair, I need to mention the Guardian article today in which the EU warns that China is 'targeting hi-tech jobs'; in other words, China is interested in shifting from manufacturing to more knowledge-intensive industries. This is confirmed in an article on the Pearl River Delta in 'China international Business' (CIB Issue 214 September 2005) which notes that after the rapid industrialization in the last 25 years in Guangdong, a shift toward more R&D intensive industry is necessary.
But why? CIB writes that this is mainly because the pollution resulting from so much resource-intensive industry will never be remediated unless there's some decline in manufacturing. And manufacturing here is not growing as fast as it has been, leaving the region nervous about growth prospects.
Let's also contrast this with the reality of the hi-tech fair. I am not saying that the EU won't face competition from China, but i don't think I can agree with the tone of the Guardian article. If you're picturing me wandering the isles with robot guides while reading my refreshable e-paper, think again. There are keychain size mp3 players, mobile phone LCD screen-making equipment, and your occasional biological medicine (looks like vitamins?) display. The Hitachi's of the world have have lovely displays ("Inspire the next'). Each province is showing off their wares (Tibet was packed, by the way, and I was interested to see that they are using a traditional method to make a cure for hepatocirrhosis.) So everyone is talking a lot about about innovation, they are here because they are looking for opportunities to learn and collaborate. This about sums up the mood.
Smaller businesses are hopeful too. One materials scientist educated in France was showing off her Honeycomb Diesel Particulate Matter (PM) Trapping Substrate and wanted to find joint venture partners in France and the UK (when i asked her about her current funding, she said 'it's very difficult' -- Hmmm.) A young man working for a start-up of 40 people noted that 30 of those employees are engineers. He started to tell me that his company sold data backup software just like Veritas in the US, and then amended to say it is actually only very similar to it. Language barrier, I presume.
So yes, there is evidence from the fair that Chinese businesses, governments and universities are looking for ways to improve their knowledge base, but there is also a lot of willingness to share information and collaborate. They need knowledge industries to complement manufacturing otherwise they stay stuck in low-paying polluting industries.
When I arrived back at the hotel after the fair, a surprising trance-muzac version of 'Mission impossible' was playing over the loudspeakers. It seemed appropriate; It feels like China's the protagonist in it's own Hollywood movie, and all eyes are watching to see what will happen next...
Yesterday was my first full day in Shenzhen, and I spent the morning in an event organised by the UKTI on commercialisation of nanotechnology. Speakers included Julie Deacon who works for the MNT network (funded by the DTI), Raymond Oliver of Cenamps, and 2 speakers from Guangdong Province (where Shenzhen is located) on the nanotechnology development priorities for this region. I spoke on nanotech and public engagement. The audience of about 40 or 50 included scientists and policy-makers from Shenzhen, Guangzhou and other regions (Hainan). In the afternoon, we spoke to a few journalists and generally wondered if we were confusing them, especially as they really liked the idea of open access research institutes (thinking 'open' meant 'free of charge').
We had about 45 minutes to look around the hi-tech fair yesterday, and I spent my time talking to a couple universities. They use the fair to sign agreements on exchanges or other support with universities in China (or abroad if the chance arises). I imagine that tomorrow when I visit the Virtual University Park and Tsinghua University situated within the Shenzhen University Town, I'll hear more about these kinds of collaborations.
After a very diplomatic meeting with the governor of Hainan province, who wants us to visit on our next trip (tropical beaches, yes! But, unfortunately, not a lot of science investment) I was able to head back to the hi-tech fair before a meeting with the Shenzhen S&T Bureau in the afternoon. (One thing about the governor: their business cards are all printed on mini DVDs. Cute.)
So before I discuss the fair, I need to mention the Guardian article today in which the EU warns that China is 'targeting hi-tech jobs'; in other words, China is interested in shifting from manufacturing to more knowledge-intensive industries. This is confirmed in an article on the Pearl River Delta in 'China international Business' (CIB Issue 214 September 2005) which notes that after the rapid industrialization in the last 25 years in Guangdong, a shift toward more R&D intensive industry is necessary.
But why? CIB writes that this is mainly because the pollution resulting from so much resource-intensive industry will never be remediated unless there's some decline in manufacturing. And manufacturing here is not growing as fast as it has been, leaving the region nervous about growth prospects.
Let's also contrast this with the reality of the hi-tech fair. I am not saying that the EU won't face competition from China, but i don't think I can agree with the tone of the Guardian article. If you're picturing me wandering the isles with robot guides while reading my refreshable e-paper, think again. There are keychain size mp3 players, mobile phone LCD screen-making equipment, and your occasional biological medicine (looks like vitamins?) display. The Hitachi's of the world have have lovely displays ("Inspire the next'). Each province is showing off their wares (Tibet was packed, by the way, and I was interested to see that they are using a traditional method to make a cure for hepatocirrhosis.) So everyone is talking a lot about about innovation, they are here because they are looking for opportunities to learn and collaborate. This about sums up the mood.
Smaller businesses are hopeful too. One materials scientist educated in France was showing off her Honeycomb Diesel Particulate Matter (PM) Trapping Substrate and wanted to find joint venture partners in France and the UK (when i asked her about her current funding, she said 'it's very difficult' -- Hmmm.) A young man working for a start-up of 40 people noted that 30 of those employees are engineers. He started to tell me that his company sold data backup software just like Veritas in the US, and then amended to say it is actually only very similar to it. Language barrier, I presume.
So yes, there is evidence from the fair that Chinese businesses, governments and universities are looking for ways to improve their knowledge base, but there is also a lot of willingness to share information and collaborate. They need knowledge industries to complement manufacturing otherwise they stay stuck in low-paying polluting industries.
When I arrived back at the hotel after the fair, a surprising trance-muzac version of 'Mission impossible' was playing over the loudspeakers. It seemed appropriate; It feels like China's the protagonist in it's own Hollywood movie, and all eyes are watching to see what will happen next...
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