Australian entrepreneurs build ties with China

Australian start-up companies will visit Chengdu in August to help facilitate a bilateral trade and innovation exchange between Australia and China.

CancerAid, Elanation and SonderDesign were selected from a field of six finalists after winning a pitch competition at the Chengdu Innovate program, held in Sydney in July this year.

The companies will meet with local innovation networks in Chengdu, as well as participate in the 14th China International Software Cooperation Conference organised by the Chengdu Software Industry Association.

Chengdu Innovate is jointly managed by UNSW Innovations, the technology transfer arm of the University of New South Wales, and China Ambition, a business consultancy that helps Australian firms engage with the Chinese market.

China Ambition CEO Melissa Ran, who was born in Chengdu, said increasing disposable income, a desire for high-quality products and the number of multinational firms establishing operations in the city would mean opportunities for Australian businesses.

“Chengdu Innovate is just the first step in introducing Australian entrepreneurs to the Chengdu market. I look forward to much more collaboration to come in the future,” Ran said.

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, is the economic centre of Western China. It is rapidly becoming recognised as a global innovation hotspot.

The Chengdu Innovate initiative is a recipient of an Australia-China Council grant. It was organised with the support of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and the Australian Consulate in Chengdu.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Robert Churchill