Despite the actual pandemic affecting the global economy, China is one of the few countries whose economy remains strong as its GDP growth in Q2 of 2021 reaches a 2-digits growth of 18.3%. Due to this fact, many foreign enterprises and startups remain interested in expanding to China, but what are the opportunities, challenges, and common pitfalls to avoid when entering this market?
In Day 1 sessions, industry leaders/experts, government representatives, and top entrepreneurs from Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Paris are coming together in this hybrid multiplex event to discuss various topics on how to do business in China.
Dragos Cacio, Digital Marketing Consultant at Crelong Media as well as the master of ceremony for the first day, introduced Next Tech China, its mission, its program and its stakeholders.
Dragos Cacio, Digital Marketing Consultant at Crelong Media
1 | WELCOME WORDS
One week to answer all the questions startups may have about the Chinese market. Jean Dominique Séval, President of French Tech Beijing, shared his answer to the most frequently asked question of the week - Why should you come to Chinato do business in 2021?
Jean Dominique Séval, President of French Tech Beijing
To Séval, the main reason why French startups entering the China market today is not only to win market share but also to be in the center of the most innovative market in the world. These startups need to learn how to innovate faster and understand the strategies of their future competitors.
Jean-Marc Fenet, Minister Counsellor for Economic Affairs of the French Embassy in Beijing, highlighted the French innovation power and the dynamic Chinese innovation ecosystem from which French promising start-ups can leverage. He also pointed out the strengthening of France-China collaboration to open new opportunities in the key sectors such as smart cities and healthcare.
Jean-Marc Fenet, Minister Counsellor for Economic Affairs of the French Embassy in Beijing
From Paris, thanks to the collaboration with Accuracy, Frédéric Duponchel, President and Chairman of the Board at Accuracy, Marie Vilon, Head of Communications and Community at French Tech Mission and Monsieur Pascal Cagni, President of Business France expressed the importance of a cross-border learning expedition program such as Next Tech China to support the expansion of French Start-ups in China and the exposition given to French innovation and know-how.
Frédéric Duponchel, President and Chairman of the Board at Accuracy
Marie Vilon, Head of Communications and Community at French Tech Mission
Pascal Cagni, President of Business France
Next Tech China is also proud to receive the support of Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister Delegate for Industry, attached to the Minister of the Economy, Finance and the Recovery who emphasized the importance of innovation for long-term and sustainable development which is massively supported by the French government, both financially and in terms of innovation infrastructure.
Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister Delegate for Industry, attached to the Minister of the Economy, Finance and the Recovery
2 | CHINA INSIGHTS
Jean-Marc Fenet, Minister Counsellor for Economic Affairs of the French Embassy in Beijing, along with Kamran Vossoughi, Executive Committee Member of the European Chamber, and Helena Javitte, innovation Manager of Accuracy Beijing - stated in their sessions the importance of understanding the economic prospects in China, the importance of innovation as the main driving force, and the rising trend of China becoming the trendsetter of the global tech industry. The Chinese economy is entering a maturity stage, and its GDP growth is expected to slow down. However, despite the slowdown, China's annual GDP growth is expected to reach at least 5% to 5.5% in the upcoming few years.
Jean-Marc Fenet, Minister Counsellor for Economic Affairs of the French Embassy in Beijing
Kamran Vossoughi, Executive Committee Member of the European Chamber
Helena Javitte, Innovation Manager of Accuracy Beijing
3 | HOW TO START IN CHINA - OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
Maggie Li, Senior Client Partner of Korn Ferry, together with Sylvie Savoie, Beijing Office Managing Partner at DS Avocat, and Bruno Grangier, Founder & Managing Partner of Leaf - revealed the importance of copyright & IP registration before landing in China, the challenges and best practices when hiring and retaining best talents, the uprising demands for transformational leadership among young talents in China today, and the necessity to understand the regulatory environment in China to avoid legal pitfalls.
Sylvie Savoie, Beijing Office Managing Partner at DS Avocat
Maggie Li, Senior Client Partner of Korn Ferry
Bruno Grangier, Founder & Managing Partner of Leaf
4 | TECH REPORT: VIRTUOS SUCCESS STORY
5 | HOW TO MAKE BUSINESS IN CHINA
In this entrepreneurs talk, Jean Dominique Séval, President French Tech Beijing, Guillaume Bernard, CEO of Bernard Controls, Yann Boquillod, Founder of Air Visual, Allen Guo, Founder & CEO of Shuimu Biosciences, and Gilles Langourieux, Founder & CEO of Virtuos sat down in a panel discussion to discuss the entrepreneurship ecosystem in China, and their entrepreneurial journey in creating their China success.
Online：Gilles Langourieux, Founder & CEO of Virtuos
On stage (left to right): Jean Dominique Séval, President French Tech Beijing, Allen Guo, Founder & CEO of Shuimu Biosciences, Yann Boquillod, Founder of Air Visual, Guillaume Bernard, CEO of Bernard Controls
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