On October 25th, 12th EU-China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair (hereinafter referred to as the 12th ECBTCF) opened in Chengdu.

　　“ENRICH West China Center” of EU Project Innovation Center (EUPIC), as the highlight of the opening ceremony, was officially inaugurated. It will enter the Business &Innovation Center for China-Europe Cooperation (CCEC), becoming the first regional sub-center of ERICENA in China. Sophia Science Park of France and Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone jointly launched the Sophia Science Park-China Innovation Center and Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone (France, Europe) Innovation Center. Besides, the settle-in invitation awarding ceremony of CCEC was also held in the opening ceremony.

　　ECBTCF has been held for 11 sessions, the cumulative amount of European enterprises participating amounting to more than 3120, Chinese enterprises over 5,720, with more than 24,500 successful sessions of cooperative agreements and 2,053 agreements of cooperation intention. It has become one of the greatest cooperation conferences with most EU member states, most enterprises participating and extensive communication, investment, trade and technological innovation. As the important bridge of Western China-Europe cooperation, it plays an increasingly important role in promoting economic and technological exchanges and cooperation among different countries and areas.

　　This year, ECBTCF, themed with "open, inclusiveness, mutual benefit and win-win", combining with the new construction concept of Chengdu to be built as the National Central City and in-depth implementation of “Chengdu-Europe +” strategy, looks for the meeting point and new opportunities for cooperation in fields of investment, trade and technology under “the Belt and Road Initiative”, promoting comprehensive, pragmatic and in-depth cooperation of all parties.

　　The First Sub-center of ERICENA Settled; EU Project Innovation Center (EUPIC) Inaugurated

　　In the opening ceremony, Mr. Fan Yi, Deputy Mayor of Chengdu Municipal People’s Government, Secretary of the Party Committee of Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone and Mr. Wei Liguo, Director of Chinese Affairs Department, International Department of Scientific Research Division of European Commission, jointly inaugurated "ENRICH China West Center". It will be settled in CCEC in Chengdu Hi-tech District, becoming the first regional sub-center of ERICENA in China.

　　ERICENA, sponsored by Horizon 2020 of European Commission, will establish a sound mechanism to ensure its long-term operation. It is to contact with and support European scientific, technological and innovation organizations (including entrepreneurs and companies) to enter China’s market and provide selected services for scientific and technological innovation for public and private clients in China.

　　"In January 2016, EUPIC and another 8 European partner institutions plus 4 Chinese partners founded a team applying for sponsored projects of Horizon 2020. After nearly 8 months’ efforts, the project ERICENA won the bidding with a total project budget of 3.589 million euros." said Ms. Dai Yiling, CEO of EUPIC (Chengdu). In January this year, the ERICENA project was officially launched in Oporto, Portugal. As a member of the project group, EUPIC proposed to establish a regional sub-center in Chengdu, which was unanimously approved by the members of the project group.

　　Ms. Dai Yiling said, “Chengdu has become the first regional sub-center of ERICENA.” "ENRICH West China Center" is to promote the exchange and cooperation between EU innovation research institutions and enterprises and related fields in Western China, so as to make itself an important window for cooperation between the two areas.

　　Mr. Wei Liguo said, “Our dialogue and cooperation with China in the field of research and innovation is an important part of the overall strategy of the EU's international cooperation. With China's huge investment in this area, its research and innovation capabilities get enhanced. Promotion of cooperation between European and Chinese researchers can improve the quality and influence of European research and innovation."

　　Sophia Science and Technology Park and Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone Set up Innovation Centers for Each Other

　　The friendship of Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone and Sophia Science and Technology Park, the Silicon Valley in France, is heating up with further in-depth cooperation---- the establishment of innovation centers in each other's park since they became “Sister Parks” and joined hands to initiate the establishment of the world first-class Science and Technology Park Alliance and the first training of Sino-French Sister Park Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mentor Program.

　　According to the agreement, Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone has invested to set up Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone (France, Europe) Innovation Center in Sophia Science and Technology Park, providing a window for innovative talents and companies in France and Europe settled in Chengdu. At the same time, Sophia Science and Technology Park will also enter into CCEC, offering support for soft landing and projects in China for Sophia and France enterprises.

　　In the opening ceremony, Mr. Su Peng, Director of Management Committee of Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone and Jean Pierre Hurley, Vice President of Sophia, France, President of Sophia Science and Technology Park, inaugurated Chin Innovation Center Sophia Science Park, Chengdu hi tech Zone (Europe - France) innovation center double center.

　　Officials of Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone said that the industrial fields of two parties highly fit, so every interaction between them will promote cooperation to specific and in-depth common development for mutual benefit.

　　Settle-in Invitation Awarding Ceremony of Business &Innovation Center for China-Europe Cooperation Held

　　With the ECBTCF as a representative, Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, adhering to the international development path, constantly improves the level of opening up. At present, it has become a district with the highest opening-up degree of economy and the most modern city form.

　　In May this year, the first integrated platform of cooperation service for Europe in China – CCEC started in Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, which will become a new window of the “Belt and Road Initiative" and comprehensive cooperation between Western China and Europe as well as a permanent site of this fair. At present, the outdoor landscape of CCEC has been fully completed, and the main building construction and interior decoration are almost done.

　　In the opening ceremony, Mr. Xu Fuyi, Deputy Secretary of Party committee of Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone and Ms. Dai Yiling, Director of EUPIC exchanged documents for each organization and enterprise to settle; these 17 European organizations includes EBN, TechTour Investment Institutions Union, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, NRW.Invest, Bremeninvest, Steinbeis China—Technology Transfer and Education, ARENA innovation organization in Germany, Yingrui Technology Group, Mediterranean, Montpelier, France, Sicily Italy, CTCC, Universiteit Brussel, ConnectChina Co,. Ltd, SPI, Ruth Chamber of Commerce and Industry from Bulgarian, International Research and Support Center for Science and Technology in Greece, and Innovation Technology Center Alliance in Russia.

　　“In addition to favorable policies, Chengdu High-tech Industrial Development Zone has a good international environment, strong industrial base and overall elements for internationalization, which will attract more international enterprises, institutions and talents to settle here.” Officials of Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone said so. This district has become a new landmark favored by global leading enterprises. In July this year, Siemens increased its investment here to establish Siemens Industrial Software Global R & D (Chengdu) Center and Siemens Intelligent Manufacturing (Chengdu) Innovation Center; In September, Apple Corp, the global leader of IT and new economies, settled its China Service Center in Chengdu Hi- tech Industrial Development Zone; In October, Medtronic, the world medical giant, has invested here for three times to start the construction of a medical innovation center. "In the first 9 months this year, 1.648 billion U.S. dollars of investment have been in place, increasing by 19.3% year on year."

　　At present, Chengdu, located at the intersection of the Silk Road and the Yangtze River economic belt, is speeding up its construction of a national central city that embodies the new concept of development, and makes itself a center for foreign exchanges in the western region of China. As the engine of reform and opening up innovation, Chengdu High-tech Industrial Development Zone, taking the mission of "Moving towards East", is accelerating the construction of the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport Aerotropolis Town with Chengdu Tianfu International Airport as a link, so as to build an important position for Chengdu’s foreign trade.

　　“CCEC will rapidly converge transportation hubs like Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and European-Chengdu Express to interconnect the whole world, promoting all-round cooperation among China, Europe and counties along " the Belt and Road Initiative ” and increasing the level of opening up of the whole district.” Officials of Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone said they will continue to adhere to the concept of opening up development, " the Belt and Road Initiative ", "Chengdu-Europe +" strategy, so as to promote the formation of all-round, wide-ranging and multi-level cooperation and win-win situation and to speed up the completion of open innovation demonstration zone by expanding international exchanges and cooperation.