Shenzhen, 17 Nov 2009
A Golden Bridge will be built up between China and Finland
The China (Shenzhen) - Finland Golden Bridge Innovation Centre announces its establishment as China’s first innovation platform that will provide access abroad for Chinese high-tech companies.
Greater Helsinki Promotion and Shenzhen Nanshan Government have officially signed A Memorandum of Understanding during the 11th China International Hi-tech Fair, thus establishing the China (Shenzhen) - Finland Golden Bridge Innovation Center in Finland. As the highlight of this year’s fair, the two parties announced publicly that they would jointly set up a physical innovation center in the Helsinki region, Finland by Q1, 2010. The China (Shenzhen) - Finland Golden Bridge Innovation Center will be a non-profit service organization especially for Chinese hi-tech companies, research institutions and public innovation agencies, looking to invest in market expansion or research and development activities using Finland as a platform to EU and Russian markets. The signing ceremony was overseen by Ms. Riina Nevamäki, the Secretary of State of Finland Ministry of Employment and Economy (MEE) and Mr. Chen Yingchun, Vice Mayor of Shenzhen.
As planned, China (Shenzhen) - Finland Golden Bridge Innovation Center in Finland will provide market entry consulting, business set-up service in Finland and office premise & service package, project partnering, fundraising and legal services for Chinese customers. The center will also help implementing incentive policies that aid Chinese hi-tech companies and research institution in R&D and innovation activities.
In light of the China “go abroad” strategy, and in order to boost the growth and internationalisation of bilateral high-tech companies and innovation systems, this project has received close attention and support from the Chinese and Finnish governments. On 25th June 2009, a MoU was signed in Helsinki by Ministry of COmmerce (MOFCOM) and Ministry of Employment and the Economy, promoting cooperation in the bilateral hi-tech cooperation and innovation center. Prime Minister Vanhanen and China’s Vice Premier Li Keqiang were present at the signing ceremony to underscore its importance.
Ms. Riina Nevamäki, the State of Secretary of Finland Ministry of Employment and Economy (MEE), the Finnish signee of the November MoU, says: “The Finnish government is committed to supporting the kick-start of China (Shenzhen) - Finland Golden Bridge. Shenzhen is an excellent starting point for the next generation national level innovation and investment cooperation between China and Finland. In the later phases other Chinese innovation bases will be included in this national level Innovation Center.”
On the Finnish side, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy has mandated Greater Helsinki Promotion (GHP) and TEKES to lead this project together with MOFCOM. Other Finnish and Chinese partners will be included as the process proceeds. As the first phase of Golden Bridge project will proceed to setting up China-Finland Innovation Center in Helsinki. China (Shenzhen) - Finland Innovation Center has been strongly supported and work has been done with the full cooperation of local partners, Shenzhen Nanshan Bureau of Science and Technology and Shenzhen Nanshan Hi-tech Incubator.
Mr Chen Yingchun, the Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen, stresses that “The Chinese Commercial Department encourages Chinese companies to go abroad and seek opportunities for investments and cooperation. We also hope that more Shenzhen companies can realise entrenching themselves locally and going globally, take full advantage of the global talent, technology and capitals, level up their competitiveness internationally, and to build a good international image of China and Shenzhen companies. The Golden Bridge breaks a new path for high-tech companies and gives them the opportunity to fully utilize overseas intelligence and innovation resources, which is favorable for Chinese companies’ internationalisation.
During the ceremony in Shenzen, as the first company who enters the centre, Shenzhen BAK Battery Co. Ltd has signed the investment intention agreement with Greater Helsinki Promotion. Mr Cao Xinjun, the company’s Vice President as well as the company’s representative said that they have continuously followed the Finnish communication technology industry and intend to build a long term partnership with Nokia. In October, invited by GHP and the Golden Bridge, BAK’s technology VP and sales GM explored the investing environment of Helsinki, and exchanged their ideas on future cooperation model with several Finish communication companies and institutions. Through that, BAK believes that, with the help of Golden Bridge, they can find a Finnish R&D partner, build up a sales and a R&D team in Finland and then boost the company’s innovation as well as its market expansion. BAK expressed their appreciation towards the favorable policy that was offered by GHP and the Golden Bridge Innovation Centre.
For further inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Ann Zhang
Greater Helsinki Promotion Shanghai Office
Tel: +8621 6104 2227
Email: ann.zhang@helsinkibusinesshub.fi
Ms. Amelie Liao
Shenzhen Nanshan Hi-tech Iincubator
Tel：+86-755 2697 8515
Email：cfgb666@gmail.com