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HONG KONG, March 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading innovators from China will represent the country's global strengths in innovation and technology on an international stage at the GREAT Festival of Innovation, taking place in Hong Kong SAR in March.
The Festival, which forms part of the UK government's GREAT Britain campaign, will be a platform to connect cutting-edge businesses and brilliant thinkers from around the world who will drive trade partnerships of the future. It will also be a forum for showcasing investment opportunities while highlighting the UK's position as a global centre for innovation.
Confirmed speakers from China joining the GREAT Festival of Innovation 2018 will include:
Speaking ahead of the Festival, Grace Chen said, "Whether you're a software engineer, an entrepreneur or a designer, creativity arises from exposure to ideas outside of your immediate field of knowledge. It's how innovation happens. I'm looking forward to sharing my ideas at the GREAT Festival of Innovation, but I'm even more excited about what I'm going to learn."
Raymond Chao said, "China's Belt and Road Initiative is paving the way for countless opportunities for strategic business partnerships and investment in virtually all sectors of the economy. It is an ambitious project to create enduring economic ties across the entire Eurasian landmass. Its success depends on the meeting of great minds that can come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. The UK, with its long history of innovation and enterprise, has an essential role to play in this project. The GREAT Festival of Innovation, is the perfect platform to start making this happen."
Richard Burn, HM Trade Commissioner for China, said, "I am truly excited to get so many brilliant minds from China and the UK in the same room for these four days. Our countries both have long histories of innovation and ingenuity. The GREAT Festival of Innovation is a golden opportunity for our two countries to identify comparative advantages, build partnerships and collaborate on solutions to create a brighter shared future."
The core programme of the GREAT Festival of Innovation will explore four key themes -- work, live, learn, and play -- over its four days. In attendance at the festival will be a strong delegation of business leaders and decision makers from China looking to create new business partnerships with their Asia and UK counterparts.
China and the UK have a longstanding mutually beneficial relationship, with strong links maintained between the countries. Since Huawei opened its first office in the UK in 2001, the company has continued to invest heavily there, stating the country offers one of the most welcoming and open economies in the world with a straightforward regulatory environment. With 15 offices across the UK, Huawei also demonstrates significant employment opportunity in the UK. More recently, Hytera acquired UK company Sepura, thereby safeguarding over 400 jobs in the UK and adding to the staff it employs in the UK at its HQ in Slough.
This longstanding relationship between China and the UK is further strengthened by the following:
Alongside engaging sessions, panels and workshops, there will be a showcase of some of the UK's leading technology. Travelling to Asia for the first time is UK-designed and developed autonomous robot dog MiRo, the creation of designer-in-residence to the University of Sheffield engineering faculty, Sebastian Conran CEO of London/Bristol based Consequential Robotics. A companion robot with six senses capable of emotional engagement, MiRo has been developed in conjunction with Sheffield Robotics to enhance quality of later life. Also showcasing will be McLaren Design Studio who will present their VR technology that allows customers to design their own driving experience and interiors.
For more information please visit great.gov.uk/innovation or follow the hashtag #GREATinnovation.
About GREAT Festival of Innovation 2018
The GREAT Festival of Innovation, to be held at Asia Society Hong Kong Centre from 21 to 24 March 2018, is the third of its kind after the success of the GREAT Festivals of Creativity in Istanbul (2014) and Shanghai (2015). Its vision is to share innovation and create life-long partnerships that will drive the future of free trade and prosperity between the UK, Hong Kong and the region.
The Festival will explore the latest in cutting-edge innovation and the future of how we work, live, play and learn through a series of talks, panels and interactive workshops over four days. Bringing together some of the world's brightest minds, business leaders and policy makers, the Festival will provide a unique platform for powerful future partnerships.
The GREAT Campaign
Bringing the best of Britain to the world
The GREAT Britain campaign showcases the best of what the whole nation has to offer to inspire the world and encourage people to visit, do business, invest and study in the UK. It is the Government's most ambitious international promotional campaign, uniting the efforts of the public and private sector to generate jobs and growth for Britain. The campaign has already secured confirmed economic returns of GBP3.1bn for the UK.
The UK has a huge amount to offer, with world-class universities, ground breaking research, high tech start-ups and entrepreneurial business people. Global leaders in the creative industries like music, fashion, design and film, the UK can offer visitors unforgettable experiences, breath-taking landscapes and iconic attractions.
The GREAT Britain campaign captures the best of all that is familiar about the UK, but also what is new and surprising about the country.
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