{"id":94052,"date":"2018-07-18T14:05:18","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T14:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=5c333b56bdeb6d1f8076031b65e2ddd1"},"modified":"2018-07-18T14:05:18","modified_gmt":"2018-07-18T14:05:18","slug":"news-story-future-cities-mission-to-china-applications-now-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=94052","title":{"rendered":"News story: Future Cities mission to China: applications now open"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Applications are now open for UK businesses to join Innovate UK\u2019s Future Cities delegation to China.<\/p>\n

The mission \u2013 taking place from 26 to 30 November 2018 \u2013 is a valuable opportunity to build new smart city business collaborations overseas.<\/p>\n

Why China?<\/h2>\n

China\u2019s Greater Bay Area offers a wealth of opportunity for UK businesses working in smart cities infrastructure and design.<\/p>\n

This cluster of 11 cities across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau province is Asia\u2019s most dynamic region.
\nIt is currently developing into a global hub for technology and innovation and has aspirations to become an economic centre that will rival Tokyo, San Francisco and New York.<\/p>\n

Benefits of taking part<\/h2>\n

By attending, you\u2019ll learn about market opportunities and business culture. You\u2019ll develop a tailored pitch and then travel to China to meet prospective partners, investors and customers.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also have the chance to visit pioneering future cities projects in China\u2019s Greater Bay Area, centred around Shenzen. The city is a centre of technology for internet start-ups, including Tencent<\/a> and Huawei<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Depending on the make-up of the businesses on the trip, there may also be visits to other cities such as Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Wuhan and Hefei.<\/p>\n

What to expect from Future Cities<\/h2>\n

Future Cities missions are designed to offer UK urban innovators a unique opportunity to enter overseas markets.<\/p>\n

Preparation and planning is critical to success. Chosen mission participants will all receive expert advice and support before travelling to ensure that they are prepared to explore new markets, including 1-2-1 coaching.<\/p>\n

The mission week will include pitching to local stakeholders, networking and the chance to meet other Chinese and UK-registered companies operating in China. You will also be able to get advice from the Department for International Trade<\/a> (DIT) on exporting globally.<\/p>\n

Previous missions have taken delegations to Australia, India, Malaysia and Singapore.<\/p>\n

Who should attend<\/h2>\n

The mission is open to established UK-registered micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and urban innovators looking for Chinese customers, partners or investment.<\/p>\n

Businesses should focus on the following areas:<\/p>\n