Swiss innovators hoping to make an impression at high-tech fair

Switzerland hopes to highlight its startups' innovative and tech solutions and promote in-depth science and cross-border technology exchanges at this year's China Hi-Tech Fair.

The event, to start on Monday in Shenzhen and online, will welcome Swissnex in China, the science consulate of Switzerland in China, and Swiss startups at the swisstech online pavilion.

The physical fair will end on Wednesday while the online one will continue until Friday.

Philippe Roesle, who will be CEO of Swissnex in China from March, said "young, tech-savvy" entrepreneurs, who come from Switzerland's world-class education, research and innovation ecosystem, will showcase their pioneering products and services to solve tomorrow’s global challenges.

The 19 Swiss startups to attend the fair are from fields such as biotech, software, robotics, industrial automation and vehicle technology. Their promotional material, videos and contact information can be viewed on an online platform provided by the fair.

Roesle said they expect participating startups will use the swisstech pavilion to gain quick access to the Chinese market, expose brands to a massive audience and make high-quality connections with investors, incubators, manufacturers and customers.

Although Swissnex in China has attended many expos and trade shows in the country, most of them have been held in Shanghai.

"It is therefore a great pleasure for us to be able to participate in an expo in Shenzhen (Guangdong province) for the first time and thus establish a presence in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; one of the most open, dynamic and innovative regions in China," he said.

Shenzhen has achieved remarkable success in a short period of time. It grew from a little fishing village to a manufacturing hub of the global tech industry within 40 years, Roesle said.

As home to some of the most well-developed hardware industry supply chains and ample intellectual capital, the city provides valuable access to leading technology, investors, partners and experts, Roesle said.

Switzerland launched a new swisstech China series this year to raise its profile as an innovative location and promote the visibility of Swiss startups across China's hottest tech expos. Among them are the Shenzhen fair and a consumer tech and innovation show held in Shanghai in June.