Between October 14 and 18, 2024, the Strategic Clusters Week was held in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Shanghai (China), an initiative that ACCIÓ organizes annually for the training of the cluster teams that are part of the Catalunya Clusters Program through the stay in leading ecosystems on a global scale in the field of industry, knowledge and innovation.

The Cluster Manager of the MAV Cluster, Ona Bombí, participated in the mission together with representatives of 18 clusters of the Catalan ecosystem: Clúster Audiovisual de Catalunya, INDESCAT, Clúster Foodservice, Cluster de Iluminación CICAT, AMBIT - Living Spaces Cluster, Leather Cluster Barcelona, INNOVI Clúster Vitivinícola Català, Catalan Water Partnership CWP, Clúster Digital de Catalunya, Clúster de l'Energia Eficient de Catalunya, Tech Tourism Cluster, FEMAC, Packaging Cluster, KID’S Cluster, Clúster de Residus de Catalunya, Catalonia Health, EduTech Cluster and CSIM Cluster Inmobiliario.

Most relevant visits and meetings:

 ✅ Session on "China: the vision from the anthropology of consumption", with Coral Puig, assistant professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The session made it possible to understand the behavior of consumers in China and in the adaptation of marketing strategies to this very complex market, trends and factors that influence consumption in China.

✅ Session on "Economic introduction of China" by Alicia García Herrero, chief economist of Asia Pacific Natixis.

✅ Visit to HUTCHISON PORTS (Hong Kong). Hutchison Ports is one of the world's leading port terminal operators, with an extensive network of ports around the world. The company invested approximately 500 million euros in the Port of Barcelona, specifically in the BEST terminal (Barcelona Europe South Terminal), making it one of the most technologically advanced terminals in the Mediterranean.

✅ Visit and Meeting at OPPO (Shenzhen): OPPO is one of China's leading technology companies, known for manufacturing smartphones and other consumer electronic devices. Founded in 2004, it is part of the BBK Electronics group, alongside brands such as Vivo, Realme and OnePlus.

OPPO has particularly stood out for innovation in the field of mobile photography, introducing advanced technologies such as pop-up cameras, under-screen camera systems and periscopic lenses for optical zoom. In addition to mobile phones, the company has expanded its offering to Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as smart watches, wireless headphones and televisions.

With a strong investment in research and development, OPPO leads advances in 5G networks, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual reality. The company has a presence in more than 40 countries and has established itself as a key player in the global technology industry thanks to its commitment to innovation and design.

✅ Visit TENCENT (Shenzhen): Founded in 1998, Tencent is one of the largest and most valuable technology companies in the world. It operates various Internet-related services and products, including social networking, gaming, entertainment, e-commerce and online advertising. Tencent is mainly known for the instant messaging service WeChat. Although it started as a simple messaging platform, WeChat has evolved far beyond that and is an indispensable part of the daily life of the Chinese people.

✅ Visit and meeting at InnoX (Shenzhen): InnoX is an incubator founded in 2021 in Shenzhen by Professor Li Zexiang of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with the aim of addressing the growing challenge of driving innovation technology in the coming decades. Specializing in intelligent machinery, InnoX has incubated more than 140 startups, including one publicly traded company and six unicorns, notably DJI, a leader in drone technology. The academy is committed to creating a robust ecosystem that promotes entrepreneurial talent and the development of new technology companies.

Alliances with international companies also enable InnoX to offer participants access to a global network of resources, investors and collaboration opportunities. This global vision and support for emerging technological projects make InnoX a key space for innovation, new product development and the creation of companies with global impact.

✅ E-COMMERCE ecosystem session in China: by Suzy Wang, Business Development Director of Baozun. Founded in 2007, Baozun Inc. is a leading e-commerce services company for brands and an enabler of digital commerce in China. With around 8,000 employees, it serves more than 450 brands globally. Baozun has three main lines of business: E-Commerce, Brand Management and Baozun International, and is committed to driving sustainable growth through high value-added technology solutions.

The content of the session included the development and ecosystem of e-commerce in the Chinese market. Also innovation and the application of new technologies, such as AI, in the e-commerce industry.

✅ Chinese cluster ecosystem session: by Professor Teng Tangwei. Tangwei is a recognized expert in the field of economic development and innovation in China, especially on issues related to industrial clusters and high-tech technology parks. He is the director of the Institute of Land Development and Regional Economy at East China Normal University, a Shanghai-based university known for its research in the social sciences and humanities, as well as its contribution to the regional development of the china

His book Cluster Innovation and Hi-tech Park Transitional Development deals with how industrial clusters and technology parks can evolve in a context of economic transition. The book analyzes the innovation models applied in China's technology parks, and how these contribute to transforming local and regional economies into more technology- and innovation-oriented sectors. It also discusses the challenges and strategies to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of these clusters in a global market.

✅ Visit and meeting at FICOSA: founded in 1949, FICOSA specializes in automotive components. It has expanded its presence in China since the late 1990s, with production plants such as the one in Shenyang. With the entry of Panasonic as a majority shareholder in 2015, Ficosa has consolidated its expansion in China, combining technological innovation and a strong global presence.

✅ Networking meeting with Catalans from different industries currently living in Shanghai.

✅ Visit and meeting at Shanghai Academy of Science & Technology (SAST): Shanghai New Energy Center for Technology Transfer and Industry Promotion and the Shanghai Research Institute of Materials. The Shanghai Academy of Science and Technology (SAST) is an institution that drives technological innovation in fields such as clean energy, advanced engineering and new materials, contributing to the region's sustainable development. Through research and collaboration with companies and universities, SAST leads technological projects that improve energy efficiency and promote the use of advanced materials by industry.

SAST also provides support in the formulation of technology policies, with a strong focus on resource optimization and innovation in manufacturing and materials technology, aligning with sectors dedicated to improving industrial performance and energy efficiency .

✅ Event and presentation and networking with JITRI and NICE: The Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI) is a research and development institution in Jiangsu Province, which promotes technological innovation in advanced industrial sectors. Its mission is to connect scientific research with industrial applications, facilitating collaboration between companies, universities and research centers with the aim of improving the industrial competitiveness of the region. JITRI belongs to the government of Jiangsu Province.

The National Innovation Center of Excellence (NICE) is also a Chinese government institution dedicated to promoting technological innovation and collaboration between companies, universities and research centers. Its mission is to promote cutting-edge projects in strategic sectors to improve China's technological competitiveness at the global level while providing technologies and commercialization services for the industrial development of the Yangtze Delta region in China.

Many thanks to the entire ACCIÓ Barcelona, Hong Kong and Shanghai team for the effort and dedication in organizing the #SCWXina24. From the MAV Cluster we take away a lot of learning and new contacts that will surely generate value in the ecosystem.