The Italian Innovation Center, located along the Yangpu River in Shanghai, made its debut at the recently concluded eighth edition of the China International Import Expo. With its distinctive Italian style and innovative concepts, it shone on the CIIE stage.

Upon entering the exhibition area of the Italian Innovation Center at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, the theme of “Innovation, Green Transformation, Integration, and Mutual Benefits” stood out. Journalists noted that the space brought together numerous Italian companies operating in the fields of sustainable and green industrial design, innovative architectural design, Italian cultural tourism, and high-quality food products. Each exhibition embodied the essence of ‘Made in Italy’. During the event, the exhibition area attracted numerous professional visitors, instilling new confidence and momentum in Sino-Italian cooperation.

Three ‘firsts’ mark a new chapter for participation in the CIIE

The Italian Innovation Center's participation in the CIIE set several records. It marks the Center's inaugural organization of an Italian government and business delegation to the CIIE, its first-ever exhibition space on the CIIE platform, and the first large-scale series of Italian-Chinese business matchmaking events since the Center's founding. These three “firsts” underscore the high priority and meticulous preparation given to this emerging platform.

“Our invitation to the Italian government and business delegation goes beyond simply showcasing products; it aims to create a ‘China-Italy CIIE Innovation Energy Field’,” said Xu Shunwu, president of the Italian Innovation Center. He expressed hope that this approach will facilitate the implementation of collaborative development projects between China and Italy, enabling Italian sustainable innovation technologies, Italian design, and high-quality food products to take root more effectively in the Chinese market.

As a newly established institution, the Italian Innovation Center has been dedicated to promoting the sharing of complementary resources and strengths between China and Italy in various sectors since its official launch in the Yangpu district last January. In just ten months, it has evolved into a key bridge connecting bilateral exchanges and cooperation, with its debut at CIIE propelling it to the forefront of international collaboration.

Dual-drive strategy amplifies synergistic effects

During the Expo, the Italian Innovation Center innovatively adopted a dual-drive approach combining “on-site exhibition and off-site engagement” to maximize collaborative impact. Inside the venue, carefully designed exhibition areas showcased Italy's innovative achievements to visitors. Outside the exhibition halls, a series of dynamic events continuously amplified the synergistic effects of the “CIIE China-Italy Innovation Energy Field.”

The organization of the Italian government and business delegation's visit to China represents the most important achievement of the Italian Innovation Center at this CIIE. According to relevant officials, the Center has successfully assembled a 10-member business delegation, including the mayor of Gerace and other business representatives, to participate in the Expo. “These representatives from different sectors arrived with sincere intentions to collaborate, laying a solid foundation for Sino-Italian business partnerships,” the official said.

Finance is the lifeblood of international cooperation. On November 7, the Italian Innovation Center successfully signed strategic cooperation agreements with the Milan branch and Shanghai branch of China Construction Bank at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. In the presence of numerous guests, representatives of the three parties signed the agreements on site. These partnerships aim to integrate resources and provide financial support for cross-border development between Chinese and Italian companies, facilitating collaboration in investment, trade, and other areas. Intense networking activities between government and business also took place. On November 8, the Italian Innovation Center was invited to showcase the best Italian architecture and industrial design companies at Yangpu's Fuxing Island. They participated in the special promotional event for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cluster Zone at the 8th China International Import Expo, entitled “Meeting at CIIE, Reviving the Future.” Representatives of Chinese and Italian companies created opportunities for collaboration during the exchanges and signed business cooperation agreements, building bridges for industrial cooperation between the two nations.

In addition, during this CIIE, the Italian government and trade delegation visited Putuo and Baoshan districts at the invitation. During the reception activities in each district, both sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on industrial design, high-end food products, sustainable development, and other sectors.

“Meeting with confidence,” creating a bright future together

On November 9, the “Trusted Partnership: China-Italy Enterprise Cooperation Forum,” hosted by the Italian Innovation Center, was successfully held at the Shanghai People's Urban Practice Exhibition Hall. As a supporting event of the 8th CIIE, this forum marked the culmination of Sino-Italian exchanges. Government representatives and numerous renowned companies from both countries gathered at the forum to explore new opportunities for collaboration.

Liu Jinyuan, deputy head of Yangpu District, said on behalf of the District Party Committee and Government: “I extend a sincere invitation to our Italian friends to invest and put down roots in Yangpu, sharing in the dividends of the district's development.” Subsequently, China Construction Bank presented a package of specialized financial services. This concrete financial support initiative was greeted with warm applause from the business representatives present.

In the presence of the participants, Italian representative Geracce, mayor of Geracce, gave a detailed presentation of local investment opportunities. Through case studies and vivid data, he showcased the unique appeal of the Italian market to Chinese companies. The signing ceremony brought the atmosphere to a climax. Chinese and Italian institutions signed several strategic cooperation agreements covering the fields of cultural tourism, engineering, and design. Each agreement marked another solid step forward in bilateral collaboration. The forum's open exchange session saw particularly lively discussions. Representatives from Chinese and Italian companies gathered in groups, exchanging business cards, showing product samples, or directly discussing the details of cooperation. This face-to-face interaction transformed collaborations from simple agreements on paper into concrete and deep-rooted partnerships.

The successful debut of the Italian Innovation Center at the eighth edition of the CIIE marks the beginning of a new chapter in Sino-Italian collaboration. This innovation platform, which has evolved from Yangpu Riverside to the international stage, is now writing a new chapter in bilateral cooperation through mutual trust. Today, the refined craftsmanship of “Made in Italy” converges perfectly with the vast market of “Chinese smart manufacturing,” as two distinct cultures merge and coexist on the CIIE stage... In the future, the Yangpu District and the Italian Innovation Center will deepen their strategic collaboration, leveraging the spillover effects of the CIIE to establish a regularized cooperation mechanism in which “exhibited products become commodities and exhibitors become investors.” At the same time, through regular industrial matchmaking fairs and the creation of a cross-border technology transfer platform, they will facilitate precise connections between Italian SMEs and the Chinese market, shaping a new landscape of bilateral cooperation.

(Text and images reproduced from the official WeChat account of Shanghai's Yangpu District: https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_31945626)