European Industry

Many European companies are already investing in China. They are either establishing own branches, or building joint research labs / production sites, or fostering R&D collaboration with partners. Much in contrast to the already satisfied markets in most of the developed countries in the European Union, China is a fast growing high-potential market for ICT products developed out of cooperation projects. If European companies are smart enough to have a share in the profits which can be attained at this market, their home bases in Europe will profit as well. SPICE will support European companies in their collaboration efforts with China.

SPICE maps competences and potentials of Chinese research organisations and companies in the most promising regions. European industry therefore gains knowledge about ICT R&D activities and players in China. Successful collaboration needs excellent partners. SPICE offers contacts to experienced partners working in the same technology fields in China. Cooperation might be funded as research projects in the Framework Programmes of the EC. SPICE will present at least 1000 contacts to highly valuable Chinese partners to European actors. SPICE project will also give an overview of ICT research strengths in Chinese regions. As basis for cooperation with Chinese researchers and companies, SPICE will present the hurdles, barriers, and cornerstones that need to be addressed to engage successfully in R&D collaborations with China.

SPICE will increase the understanding of the collaboration potential with Chinese organisations by demonstrating business models of companies, their ways of working, first steps towards collaboration, and other relevant characteristics. It will also facilitate the direct engagement of EU companies in China and prepare them for expansion in this direction.

SPICE supports European companies to present their own organisation on international platforms and events to the prosperous Chinese market. The China High-Tech Fair 2007 in Shenzhen for example will attract more than 600.000 visitors. SPICE will present opportunities for EU-China research cooperation at forums and workshops there.

Concerning the aims of European policies several ICT areas have the potential to be realized especially by small and medium enterprises both from technological backgrounds and from the service industry. SPICE will devote special attention in the analysis to ICT areas with potential for SME engagements.

European R&D actors who are cooperating with China already, are welcome to contribute to the analyses of SPICE on finding the most prosperous ICT sub-areas for EU-China research cooperation initiatives. The SPICE results will then contribute to the strategy of the European Commission to foster EU-China R&D collaboration.