A group of Canadian high-tech start-up companies seeking market expansion opportunities and partnerships in China demonstrated innovative programs on Nov 11 in Beijing.

The demo with Tsinghua Holdings Co Ltd, a Tsinghua University high-tech conglomerate, was one of the roadshows the Canadian start-ups had in five major Chinese cities from Nov 5-15.

C2-CAN China Business Development Trip in Beijing on Nov 11.

Tech companies from Canada in new materials, Internet, Internet of Things, big data, VR, education software, and medical health presented their technologies and products to Chinese investors, governmental officials, and representatives of start-up companies in Beijing’s Zhongguancun, the country’s most dynamic innovation and entrepreneurship area.

The tech companies’ trip was hosted by the China-Canada Commercialization & Acceleration Network (C2-CAN) launched by Simon Fraser University (SFU) and Hanhai Zihye Investment Management Group. It was an initiative to support commercialization of advanced technologies originating from China and Canada.

Zhao Yanlai, vice-president of Tsinghua Holdings Co Ltd and the company’s innovation center general manager, gives a speech at the demo. 

Zhao Yanlai, vice-president of Tsinghua Holdings Co Ltd and the company’s innovation center general manager, gave a speech at the demo, saying Canadian innovative and advanced technologies are in line with China’s huge potential market in clean energy, environmental protection, and health care. 

He added that the two countries’ start-up companies need to maintain communication and exchanges, as do SFU’s VentureLabs® and Tsinghua University’s X-Lab that share similar backgrounds and missions in acceleration of technology businesses. 

The event with Tsinghua Holdings allowed the tech companies from Canada to explore cooperation ranging from financing to business channels to partnerships, said Zhao Zhenjiang, vice-president of Hanhai Holdings, a sponsor of the event. 

The Canadian entrepreneurial teams also visited incubators like Zhongguancun Inno Way, Creative Young Community, and Tsinghua X-lab.

Pang Yaning, director of incubation at Tsinghua Holdings’ Innovation Center, Ian Hand, executive director of VentureLabs® and SFU’s Innovation Office, Zhang Yansong, president of Hanhai Investment, Zhou Yajing, general manager of TIBinggo, and Li Zhaohui, general manager of the China-Canada Cleantech Innovation Center took part in the event.