Goodbye to China! (for now)

I keep saying it, but I can’t believe how fast the past four years has gone. It’s been a non-stop whirlwind but it’s been a great pleasure to lead the UK’s science and innovation relationship with China during these exciting times.

When I started the Newton Fund didn’t exist and now it stands at £360m of joint funding from the UK and China, supporting over 450 R&D collaborations and people exchanges to tackle the world’s biggest development challenges. Innovate UK have undertaken a comprehensive programme of national and provincial R&D calls. Working with colleagues in the Department of International Trade, we have supported many companies to export new technologies. The new UK-China Joint Strategy on Science and Innovation will launch at the next People to People dialogue and set the future framework for our relationship.

There are so many different things that I could reflect on from my time here. But here I’ve focused on some observations and recommendations for working with China that have stood out the most for me.

1. The opportunities are vast. China is investing a huge amount in science and innovation. The OECD predicts that by 2020 China will be the world’s largest spender on science, ahead of the US. There will be a range of different partners who will want to work with you. Different regions have different strengths. Do take your time to find the right partners and right locations. Think about what you really want from a partnership. Don’t rush into establishing new partnerships.

2. It’s all about friendship. When doing business, it’s very important to your Chinese partners to get to know you. They will organise opportunities to do this. Often these will be site visits and activities but banquets will also be a regular feature. Do toast regularly throughout the meal. Do get used to shots of Baijiu, China’s national white spirit (sometimes literally). If you’re lucky you’ll get offered red wine. Don’t worry – dinners rarely run beyond 8.30pm.

3. China is innovative and moves quickly. The pace of change in China is outstanding. When you return from two weeks holiday, restaurants have closed and new ones have opened, fully operational, as if they’ve always been there. China is rapidly growing world leading companies, such as telecoms giant Huawei and Beijing Genomics Institute. In the 2017 Global Innovation Index China ranked 22, up from 35 in 2013. I will also miss those innovations that make my life easier. It will be strange leaving phone payments beyond on WeChat and needing a wallet again. Do get to know China’s innovation strengths. Don’t assume China is still playing catch-up.

4. It hasn’t happened until a photo has been taken. There is a love of photographs in China, for which I am very grateful. I now have a very detailed picture diary of my time in China. I won’t forget a moment, from the dullest seminar to the UK being Country of Honour at the Pujiang Innovation Form, the biggest event the SIN team has ever done. Do create photo opportunities. Do dutifully line up when asked for a photo. Don’t groan about yet another photo.

5. You’ll never fully understand China but you can get very close. This reinforces many of the points above. China is large, diverse and changes quickly. In addition, the language and subtexts add another layer of complexity. However, the more time you spend in China, the more you’ll get it. Do ask your Chinese partners to explain the cultural differences. Do travel widely and regularly.

So that’s it from me and over to my successor Frances Hooper. I hope these insights are useful and good luck with your future collaborations!