Partnership agreed for new Centre for UK/China Digital Business Development

A new Centre for UK and China Digital Business Development (UKCN-DBD) has taken its first steps forward.

Plans for the centre are the result of a partnership between Sunderland Software City, University of Sunderland, TusPark UK and a number of Chinese organisations.

It is thought that the UKCN-DBD could support the growth of UK tech companies expanding into Chinese markets and who are able to implement their products and services on a global scale.

Partnership agreements to bring the project to fruition were signed back in December 2019, following a trip to China by a Sunderland tech delegation.

The team is now working on moving forward with partners in key Chinese cities such as Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and Xiamen.

Prof Yonghong Peng, Professor Data Science at University of Sunderland, said: “It is the excellent time for the development of the Centre to enable the growth of the digital economy across the UK and China.

“The successful and productive trip of visiting Shenzhen, Xiamen, Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing demonstrated the great welcome and appreciation of Chinese partners to join the development of the UKCN-DBD to further drive the development of the ecosystem for digital growth through the business-university-government partnership.”

David Dunn, CEO at Sunderland Software City, added: “China is one of the fastest-growing digital economies in the world, yet it can be daunting for UK companies to enter a brand-new market.

“There is a lot of untapped potential for UK companies to collaborate, trade, and invest in China. That’s why we’re particularly excited about the UKCN-DBD, which helps UK tech companies overcome perceived barriers of exporting into China.

“We’ve come a long way since our initial partnership with TusPark UK and TusPark Newcastle in 2018, which started with a big vision to create better links between the UK and China.

“It’s fantastic to now see this vision take shape in the form of an official UK-China Centre for Digital Business Development backed by key investors, universities, science parks and innovators across China.”