Far from the concept of China as having low technological capacity, the country’s annual investment in research and development (R&D) has multiplied tenfold in just a decade and amounts to 115,197 million euros per year, a figure which, in terms of equivalent purchasing power, represents half of the investment in the 27 countries of the European Union. These data are taken from the European Commission’s report on key figures for Science, Technology and Innovation in 2007.
If current trends continue, in 2009 China is expected to overtake the EU in terms of intensity of R&D measured as a percentage of investment in comparison with gross domestic product.
La Rioja began pro-active relations with China in 2005, with the organisation of a first official visit by an important trade delegation comprised of all the most representative social and economic players in La Rioja, headed by our President, Pedro Sanz. It involved over 40 Riojan companies from different sectors, one of the biggest being the agrifood industry. This visit in May 2006 made it possible to strengthen ties with different Chinese regions such as Liaocheng or Heze, emblematic places for the agrifood sector located to the west of the province of Shandong, where there are already Riojan companies established in China, such as Ayecue, Cidacos and Celorrio, among others.
During 2007, La Rioja continued its efforts in China and organised a series of promotional events under the aegis of the ICEX Agrifood Products Promotion Plan for the period 2007-2009.
In 2008, within the framework of the European Globaltech Project, La Rioja continues to look to China and is carrying out activities to encourage closer links and greater understanding both in terms of the Chinese market and through links with Technological Centres of Excellence and Universities which are working in strategic areas for La Rioja and which make it possible to set up a lasting and effective relationship of exchange which will contribute to the ultimate goal of creating back-up structures which will allow the creation of a technological platform and antenna which will favour the presence of Riojan companies in China in the research centres and universities of the country.
As part of this project, a technological prospecting trip was arranged in May 2008 with funding from the European Globaltech Project and the presence of the President of ADER, regional minister Javier Erro, technical experts and Globaltech Project staff belonging to ADER, as well as representatives from the Technology Centres of La Rioja (CITA, CTIC, CTCR and CTICH). As part of this project, 9 benchmarking surveys have also been conducted (sectors: Fungi, Construction, Footwear, Metal-Mechanics, Environment, Vegetables, Energy, Meat and Plastics) which together with the other actions carried out have led to the conclusion that there is enormous scope for collaboration between La Rioja and China.
The Economic Development Agency of La Rioja, through the Globaltech Project, has developed various lines of action with the ultimate aim of establishing the basis for the creation of a Rioja-China Technological Platform which could encourage the presence of our firms in China. This will conclude the first stage of the most ambitious plan aimed at creating a Permanent Technological Antenna in China which forms an inseparable part of the Integral Strategy of La Rioja in China. This strategy shall have to consider, among other things, a close technological collaboration which would help to gain knowledge and resources, whether human or technological.
LINES OF ACTION
To achieve this goal various lines of action have been designed:
Identification of companies with interests in China
On 25 February 2008, the Globaltech Project was launched in the Technology Centre of La Rioja with an intensive workshop with companies. As a result, over 50 companies interested in China were detected and subsequently these took part in individual meetings.
Identification of projects and selection of initiative to promote.
During the months of February and March, meetings were held by sector and on an individual basis with 65 companies and various Riojan organisations in order to identify ideas for collaborating with China.
At the present time there are leading firms with interests in China in each of the 5 previously mentioned sectors.
Benchmarking studies
9 benchmarking studies have been conducted in priority sectors for La Rioja: edible fungi, construction, footwear, metal-mechanics, environment, vegetables, energy, meat and plastics. These studies were completed after the technology prospecting mission to China, thanks to making contacts with the Chinese authorities which works with the country’s technological plans, visits to technology centres, universities, state-of-the-art businesses, centres of knowledge, with which an effective and lasting relationship of exchange has been established and a network of contacts has been created for collaboration and coordination of different initiatives with the Network of Riojan Technological Centres, in such a way as to be of mutual benefit to all the companies involved.
The Benchmarking studies can be downloaded at the bottom of the page.
Strategic cooperation agreements
The aim of these agreements is to regulate the framework for collaboration between technology centres for joint projects and activities between la Rioja and China. These accords also represent a first step towards the creation of a technological platform of La Rioja in China which helps Riojan firms to establish a presence in this country.
This platform will allow La Rioja to set up a stable infrastructure which will make it possible to attract strategic allies, carry out technology transfer projects outside the national scope, encourage the exchange of knowledge and the establishment of agreements between companies, etc.
The four signatory Chinese technology centres are:
The collaboration agreement has been signed between the Technology Centre for Food Innovation and Technology of La Rioja (CITA), the Beijing Vegetable Research Center (BVRC) and the Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER).
- China Meat Research Center (CMRC): located in Beijing, it is the only research centre in China specialising in meat products. It is equipped with the best and latest technology in meat processing.
The collaboration agreement has been set up between the Technology Centre of the Meat Industry La Rioja (CTIC), the China Meat Research Center (CMRC) the Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER).
- Fujian Academy of Agricultural Science Soil and Fertilizer Institute (FAAS): a state technology centre located in Fujian whose purpose is research with edible fungi. The centre has over 45 teachers and researchers who, in recent years, have worked on research projects involving the use and handling of natural resources for agricultural purposes, environmental projects, quality assurance and the development of new techniques for growing edible fungi, etc.
The collaboration agreement has been signed between the Mushroom Technology Centre of La Rioja, Navarra and Aragón (CTICH), the Fujian Academy of Agricultural Science Soil and Fertilizer Institute (FAAS) and the Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER).
- China Leather and Footwear Industry Research Institute (CLF): this centre located in Beijing, is the only state institute engaged in information, research, development, testing and promoting productivity in the leather and footwear industry. It is made up of 200 professionals specialised in processing leather and hides, footwear, chemistry, biology, engineering, etc. CLF is the body responsible for setting quality standards at national level.
The collaboration agreement has been set up between the Footwear Technology Centre of La Rioja (CTCR), the China Leather and Footwear Industry Research Institute (CLF) and the Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER).
As a result of this work, in December 2008 a delegation from China visited La Rioja, made up of the heads of the 4 Chinese research centres for food and agriculture (vegetables, meat, fungi) and footwear which had signed agreements.
During this visit the guidelines were laid down for the actions to be undertaken in 2009:
-Technology transfer
-Joint research projects
-Mobility and exchange of technologists and researchers
-Dissemination. Organisation of seminars, conferences, courses and other similar activities.
-Exchange of publications, research findings and other documents of interest.
-Technological assistance for Riojan businesses present in China and vice-versa.
-Two-way technological surveillance.
For further information on any of the above, please contact the Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (ADER) via the e-mail address globaltech@ader.es
Benchmarking China
Benchmarking Study of Edible Fungus Sector
Benchmarking Study of Construction Sector
Benchmarking Study of Footwear Sector
Benchmarking Study of Metal-Mechanic Sector
Benchmarking Study of Enviromental Sector
Benchmarking Study of Plastics Sector
Benchmarking Study of Vegetable Sector
Benchmarking Study of Energy Sector
Benchmarking Study of Meat Sector
