China is the fastest growing and most dynamic global market for emerging digital technologies. With 900 million plus internet users, China’s digital economy now accounts for a third of its annual GDP. The country is rapidly developing and deploying a range of emerging technologies, from 5G and artificial intelligence to quantum computing and blockchain, into a wide spectrum of industries and applications.
The UK is home to world-leading digital innovation, with the UK start-ups and scale-up ecosystem valued at $585bn in 2020. Despite this, relatively few UK-based tech businesses have invested in or are actively exporting to the China market, with many tech businesses choosing to prioritise the more familiar US and European markets.
Several potential challenges face tech start-ups and scale-ups when entering the Chinese market. How to protect IP effectively, obtain necessary local licences, navigate complex data and cybersecurity laws, select the best corporate structure, and identify trustworthy local partners, are just some of the many market access issues tech companies face entering the market. The significant resource and time commitment China requires can sometimes seem like a bridge too far for many tech exporters.
This peer-to-peer workshop will offer UK-based tech businesses of all sizes the opportunity to pose their China market access questions to the wider group of UK-China Tech Forum members. Tech companies interested in the China market and CBBC/techUK members with specialist expertise are encouraged to join this session, which will be held under the Chatham House rule.
We look forward to seeing you at the event. If you would like to submit your questions before the webinar, please email Jana.Psarska@techuk.org or mark.hedley@cbbc.org.
About the UK-China Tech Forum
Jointly hosted by techUK and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), the UK-China Tech Forum is a platform to allow businesses to engage with key stakeholders in government and business in areas of UK-China tech trade, policy and market growth in both countries. The forum is for representatives of businesses, government and other stakeholders interested in influencing or understanding the policy landscape impacting the technology sector, trade relations, and the market opportunities and challenges in China and the UK.
The forum brings members together to discuss issues and events that may impact their growth in the UK and China and provides an avenue for collective concerns to be aired and discussed with both governments. Moreover, it provides a platform for participants to explore emerging opportunities for growth and expand their business networks via topical engagements throughout the year.
