Summary:

• Majority of British businesses in China still ‘wait and see’ – why? Chamber offers an answer
• Talking about semiconductor industry, ‘negotiate with China’ before it becomes pointless, Hermann Hauser explains in a conversation with Ting Zhang
• Electronic vehicle sector boom in China, a decade-long story
• Mitigate your IP risks in China, 5 steps recommended by experts

HOT TOPIC: British Business in China “Conditional Optimistic”

Annual position paper from British Chamber of Commerce in China points to uncertainty and a lack of trust and clarity on regulations. Among surveyed businesses, 70 per cent were adopting a ‘wait-and-see approach’ to understand what specific policy support would be put in place.

There has been a clear rebound of optimism among British businesses in China since the end of 2022, due largely to the Chinese government’s shift in policy, according to the British Business in China: Position Paper 2023 released on May 23.

The optimism, however, is conditional on being able to restore the trust and certainty  needed to fully realise China’s undoubted market potential. Increasingly strained geopolitical relationships, a slowing global economy, growing talk of self-sufficiency, and shifting investor perceptions are the top challenges  clouding the short- and long-term business outlooks, according to the paper.

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CHINA SECTOR INSIGHT

China has emerged as a dominant player in the electric vehicle (EV) market, particularly in terms of supply chains, technology, and cost advantage, all of which have contributed to China’s rise in the industry.

It currently holds the title of the world’s largest consumer and EV battery producer, and plays a crucial role in driving the global transition to EVs. China’s ambitious policies and incentives have also propelled the rapid development of its EV industry, which aims to combat air pollution and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Let’s take a closer look at the Chinese government’s policies and incentives in the EV sector, present data on the EV market and export of EVs in China, and highlight the available business opportunities.

IN CONVERSATION WITH … HERMANN HAUSER

In the latest interview with business/technology leaders, Ting spoke with Hermann Hauser, tech pioneer and founder/co-founder of a wide range of technology companies including Acorn Computers (where he helped spin out Arm).

Topics covered in the conversation include

• The global semiconductor industry and the law of unintended consequence
• Tech sovereignty and where the UK fits
• The opportunities, opinions, and strategies, for succeeding in China
• Advice to tech businesses, and engaging with China
• Protecting IP in China

Click here to watch the interview.

SAFEGUARDING IP IN CHINA BRIEFING – #1

Not many people know the IP risks and mitigations better than the people at Intellectual Property Office(IPO), few companies know how to commercialise innovations in China without jeopardising IP rights better than the ones doing just that, such as Crayfish.io. And who else can claim to be better informed, skilled and experienced in preventing and mitigating IP risks in China than the IP service firms based in that market?

All three joined forces at a one-day in-person briefing on the latest developments in China’s IP sector, and strategies to safeguard and commercialise innovations held on May 24 in Cambridge to share their expertise.

Here’s the piece of advice on how to mitigate IP risks in China, in 5 steps, from experts’ view.