During our study tour, we had the opportunity to visit Sika, a leading Swiss multinational company in the field of specialty chemicals. Sika is globally recognized for its products and systems used for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protecting in both the construction industry and industrial applications such as automotive, railway, and renewable energy.

Our visit started with a company presentation, where Sika introduced us to its history, global presence, and product portfolio. We learned that the company has been operating in China for several decades and plays a key role in providing solutions for large scale infrastructure projects as well as residential and commercial construction.

After the presentation, we were guided through the production facilities. This gave us a first hand look at how Sika’s materials are manufactured and packaged. We were able to observe the production lines, the quality control processes, and how efficiency and safety standards are ensured throughout the factories.

One highlight of the visit was the tour of the Research and Development Department. Here, Sika demonstrated how new materials are developed, tested, and adapted to meet local market requirements. We could see laboratories where products were being tested for durability and performance, as well as examples of innovative applications in construction and industry.

The visit provided us with valuable insights into how Sika integrates global expertise with local innovation. It was impressive to see how deeply the company invests in R&D and how its products are applied in a wide range of industries. Overall, the tour not only deepened our understanding of specialty chemicals but also highlighted Sika’s strong commitment to innovation, especially sustainability, and quality. 

Huayan Robotics is an internationally active high-tech enterprise, serving more than 40 industries in over 100 countries. During our company visit, we were able to see the testing processes, but not the production. Robots are tracked with QR codes, which makes it possible to know their location, floor, work area, operator, and how long they have been in use.

Regression testing is automated, while functional testing is done manually. One of the main challenges for the company is the high cost of the robots. The robots have a modular design: the arm is always the same, but the hand can be changed depending on the task, with programming defining the movements. Their precision is very high, up to one micrometer.

In recent years, Huayan has released several important products, such as the Elfin-Pro and the S-Series of heavy-payload robots. Their newest model can handle up to 50 kg and includes enhanced safety features. The company is also preparing for a Hong Kong IPO, aiming to raise over USD 200 million. Overall, Huayan Robotics comes across as an innovative and ambitious company with strong international growth plans.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 4th, our group visited the Guangzhou office of Pony.ai, one of China’s leading autonomous driving technology companies. The visit took place on the second day of our field trip and provided a first-hand look at the company’s innovations, business strategy and operational approach. 

We were warmly welcomed into their workspace and began with an introductory session in the meeting room, where a company representative gave an overview of Pony.ai’s work and mission. As a friendly gesture, he treated the group to various bubble teas, a refreshing start to the visit. 

The highlight followed soon after: a test ride in Pony.ai’s self-driving taxis. We split into two groups of four and each experienced a fully autonomous journey through the streets of Guangzhou. The vehicle navigated real urban traffic for approximately five kilometers with no human intervention. It smoothly recognized traffic signals, pedestrians, and continuous flows of electric bicycles, making real-time decisions based on multi-sensor fusion perception. Although some of us felt initial nervousness riding without a driver, the system’s swift and precise responses quickly put us at ease. 

 After the ride, we returned to the meeting room for a more in-depth presentation and a lengthy Q&A session. The discussion covered Pony.ai’s core technological strengths, safety mechanisms, and the regulatory environment for self-driving vehicles in both China and other countries (USA, Europe). We learned about the company’s fully self-developed architecture, its extensive database of road tests, and its closed-loop simulation system, all of which contribute to a significant competitive advantage. Redundant hardware design, multiple prediction models, and integration with high-definition maps further enhance the system’s reliability. 

The conversation also touched on the company’s global ambitions, including its European R&D center in Luxembourg, illustrating its strategy for international expansion. What stood out was not only the technological maturity of a company barely a decade old, but also the honest insights into both the challenges and possibilities within the autonomous driving industry. 

This visit offered far more than a quick look into a high-tech company. It provided a tangible sense of how innovation is systematically reshaping the future of transportation.

On Wednesday morning, we first visited Guangzhou University廣州大學 (guangzhou daxue) where we met with students of the Masters of Business Administration. The teachers and academic staff welcomed us and both universities gave a short introduction about their respective universities. The teachers exchanged gifts, took pictures and then we played an icebreaker game. In this game we had to match the parts of the pictures we got handed out with other parts of the larger picture, in that way we found our teammates. We then drew a picture representing our team, my team was called Alpine Dragon 阿爾卑斯龍王 (āěrbēisī lóng wang). We then choose a team leader 組長(zu zhang) to represent the team during the two days, and presented our thoughts behind the picture we drew. After a short break we started into the two lectures presented by FHNW, and Guangzhou University. We learned about the eductation system of Switzerland, and how its fostering innovation, on the other hand we learned from our Chinese colleagues, what the focus on innovation is in China, and how the goal set could be achieved.

As lunch was near and all the bellies were rumbling, it was time to grab a nice sandwich and sit together in our teams to once more exchange some view points and start interesting discussions, build relationships and have a good time together. After lunch and just before we went to the company visit, we took one last picture all of us together in front of the Library 圖書館 (tushuguan).

In the afternoon, we went to Jinhuamei Leatherware Co., a company officially founded in 2001 but rooted in a small family workshop that began about 15 years earlier. Over time, Jinhuamei transformed into a flexible manufacturing company, adapting its strategy multiple times in response to changing conditions.

The company initially specialized in leather belts, but had to diversify as opportunities as well as new challenges arose. For example, the rise of mobile payment options meant that mobile phones began replacing traditional wallets. Another major disruption came during the first Trump administration, when tariffs posed a serious problem. The company responded by establishing sub-companies outside China, such as in Thailand, to bypass these trade barriers.

Just as that issue was addressed, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. With physical shops closed, Jinhuamei shifted its focus to its own trademarks like Dubaolu and increased its reliance on online marketing. Somewhere around this point, marketing costs even began to exceed production costs.

Today, the company faces fresh challenges with the tariffs introduced during the second Trump administration in 2025. Unlike before, their overseas subsidiaries are also affected, making it harder to rely on previous workarounds. Once again, Jinhuamei is being forced to rethink its global strategy.

Our study tour continued with a visit to VIP.com, one of China’s largest e-commerce companies headquartered in Guangzhou. Founded in 2008, the company has grown rapidly and is now listed on the New York Stock Exchange. With more than 60 million active users, VIP.com is especially known for its flash-sale model and its strong focus on fashion, cosmetics, home goods and lifestyle products. By offering limited-time deals and a highly personalized shopping experience, it has managed to build a loyal customer base and position itself as a key player in China’s highly competitive online retail market. 

Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the reception staff and immediately began with a guided tour through the company. During the tour, we gained an overview of VIP.com’s history and operations and also received fascinating insights into their vision for the future, in particular, how shopping might look in the years to come. We were shown, for example, how one can stand in front of a video scanner and virtually try on clothes via video. Their ideas on innovation, personalization, and the integration of technology into everyday retail experiences gave us a glimpse into the company’s forward-looking mindset. 

A later highlight of our visit was the presentation of the employee facilities. What we discovered there was truly extraordinary: an entire ecosystem designed for staff well-being and work-life balance. The offerings ranged from a Pilates studio, a full gym and a climbing hall to a traditional tea house, a library, a hair salon, and even on-site medical services. These amenities, among many more, showcased VIP.com’s commitment to creating a unique and holistic working environment for its employees. 

We were all deeply impressed by how much emphasis the company places on the well-being of its employees as well as by its innovative thinking regarding the future of shopping. A group photo at the headquarters rounded off this inspiring visit.

Our study tour included a visit to Pearl River Piano Group, the world’s largest piano manufacturer, headquartered in Guangzhou. Founded in 1956 and producing over 150,000 instruments annually, the company exports globally and has evolved far beyond traditional piano production. Pearl River is known for combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, making it a central player in both the Chinese and international music industry. 

Upon arrival, we toured the extensive manufacturing facilities, observing how the company combines the careful selection of wood to ensure high quality at every stage of piano making. Step by step, we followed the process from raw material to the fine-tuned instrument, which highlighted how tradition and innovation are blended to create world-class instruments. 

Over time, Pearl River has diversified its strategy significantly. The product portfolio now includes digital pianos, string and guitar instruments. Beyond instruments, the company has also broadened its role in the cultural landscape: today, it operates hundreds of music schools, provides interactive teaching solutions, and hosts concerts in its own Kayserburg Concert Hall. 

After the factory tour, we continued our visit in the Pearl River Piano Museum, which offered a journey through the history of the instrument. The exhibition included historic pianos from different eras, rare models, and detailed insights into the evolution of piano design and craftsmanship. Walking through the museum gave us a deeper appreciation of how the piano has developed over centuries and how Pearl River contributes to carrying this cultural heritage into the present. A particularly beautiful moment came when one of the museum staff members performed on one of the pianos, allowing us to experience the sound and atmosphere in a very personal way. 

On Friday, we travelled from Guangzhou to visit Dongguan University of Technology (DGUT), located in the Songshan Lake District of Dongguan city. Established in 1992, it is the first public university in Dongguan. Its strong focus on engineering disciplines is complemented by coordinated development in management, literature, science, economics, law, and education.

Upon arrival, we received a guided introduction to the university campus and its infrastructure, which clearly showcased the expansive size of the campus. We were warmly welcomed by a lecturer from the International Cooperation Studies department, who provided detailed explanations about the vast university grounds and the arrangement of facilities for both faculty and students. During our visit, we also met with bachelor’s students and those pursuing a Master of Business Administration and took group pictures together.

Our tour included a visit to the Dongguan University exhibition hall, where we learned about the university’s history and its development timeline from inception to the present.

We attended an introductory session where representatives from the university explained how the government foresaw the future demand for talent and established the university under a national talent development program. They discussed incentives offered to experts worldwide to join and contribute to the university’s knowledge base. Notably, Nobel Laureate Dr. Chenning Yang serves as the university’s honorary president.

For lunch, we dined with students in one of the university’s three dining halls. This experience gave us valuable insights into student life, their career aspirations, and their preparations for upcoming challenges.

During our study tour, we had the opportunity to visit Dailywin, a Chinese company

specializing in innovative watchmaking and jewelry. Dailywin is recognized for integrating advanced materials and for its e=orts to combine Swiss and Chinese standards, seeking to elevate the quality and competitiveness of its products.

Our visit began with a company presentation, where we learned about Dailywin’s evolution within the watch industry. Initially, the company operated as an OEM for internationally renowned watch brands. Through independent R&D and innovation, it successfully transitioned into ODM, focusing on design and development. Today,

Dailywin manages its own brand, SAGA, competing internationally under the OBM model. This transformation illustrates how the company has extended across both ends of the value chain, from manufacturing to brand management. We were then introduced to Dailywin’s strategic market approach. A key focus is on women, as they tend to purchase multiple pieces in a single transaction. For this reason, the company not only develops watches but also invests heavily in jewelry design, ensuring that its products remain attractive and relevant in an increasingly competitive market.

Another highlight of the visit was the tour of their new o=ices and design facilities. These modern installations will play a central role in creating future collections, combining aesthetics with advanced material innovation. We also learned about Dailywin’s strong ties with universities, which serve as a pipeline for new talent and fresh ideas in design and engineering.

Overall, the visit provided us with valuable insights into how Dailywin has grown from being a contract manufacturer to becoming a brand with international recognition. It was impressive to see how the company combines tradition and innovation, invests strategically in R&D, and adapts to consumer trends by expanding beyond watches into jewelry. This experience deepened our understanding of the watch industry in China and highlighted Dailywin’s commitment to quality, creativity, and global competitiveness.

Founded in 1998 in Shenzhen, Tencent is one of the world’s largest technology companies, with over 100,000 employees and a presence on every continent. Its diverse portfolio includes social platforms like Weixin (for Chinese users) and WeChat (for international users), QQ (designed for younger audiences), cloud services, AI, gaming, fintech, and digital infrastructure. Tencent is also known for its strategic partnerships, such as its collaboration with DeepSeek for AI development, and its commitment to social responsibility through the Tencent Charity Foundation, which supports research and science.

The company’s guiding principle is “Tech for Good”, which drives its mission to connect people and serve clients through meaningful, responsible innovation.

We were welcomed into a meeting room by Alice Liu, Senior Manager at the Center of International Exchange, who gave us a compelling presentation on Tencent’s global reach, values, and technological vision. The session sparked lively engagement, with students asking a wide range of questions—from how Tencent integrates sustainability into its business model, to technical inquiries about data centers and application insights. The discussion was so dynamic that we had to shorten the presentation to continue with the second part of the visit.

We then toured Tencent’s showroom, where their IT infrastructure was mapped out and their most innovative products were on display. Highlights included a virtual reality tour of a historical cave, and demonstrations of futuristic technologies like palm print scanning for payments, train access, and identity verification. Students had a great time exploring and interacting with these innovations, gaining a hands-on understanding of how Tencent is shaping the future of digital life.

IMEDCO is a global leader in radio frequency (RF) shielding solutions, specializing in the construction of Faraday cages for MRI rooms. Their enclosures are built using high-quality copper foil wrapped around wooden frames, ensuring long-term electromagnetic shielding performance. IMEDCO’s modular design allows for architectural flexibility and relocation of installations. The company also offers RF doors, windows, feedthroughs, and LED lighting systems tailored for medical environments.

During our visit to IMEDCO Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., we were welcomed in the meeting room by the General Manager, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the South China Board of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. He gave us an insightful overview of the company’s operations and its role in fostering EU-China business relations.

We then split into groups to tour the production site, where we observed the manufacturing of copper panels used in Faraday cages. Students actively engaged with company representatives, asking questions about production processes, logistics, cost structures, and project management requirements. The hands-on exposure to the technical aspects of RF shielding was both educational and inspiring.

Following the production tour, we explored the final product as installed in hospital settings. One of the most interesting and customer-focused innovations we saw was the transformation of the interior image design within IMEDCO’s RF enclosures. What started as simple framed pictures has evolved into the PictureWALL system—a sleek, seamless panel solution featuring high-resolution, customizable images. These visuals aren’t just decorative; they’re designed to create a calming and welcoming atmosphere for patients undergoing MRI scans. With durable coatings and flexible sizing, the system combines aesthetics with functionality, turning clinical spaces into more comforting and visually engaging environments. It’s a great example of how IMEDCO integrates user-centered design into highly technical products.

Back in the conference room, we attended a second presentation focused on the SwissCham. We learned about the strategic advantages of doing business in China, especially within the dynamic Greater Bay Area.

To conclude the visit, IMEDCO hosted a typical Swiss apéro, featuring dried meats, cheeses, chocolates, fruits, and beverages. This warm gesture created a relaxed atmosphere for networking and exchanging ideas. The Swiss-themed decor, with walls adorned with images of Switzerland, added a personal and cultural touch to the experience. As a thoughtful farewell, we also received goodbye gifts, including informational booklets about the company and a traditional mooncake, symbolizing hospitality and cultural appreciation.

On Tuesday morning of the second week we went to the Shenzhen Technical University located in the Pingshan district. The University was build in 1034 days, and opened its doors in 2018. Now hosting around 14’000 students in 27 colleges, from medical engineering to arts. The school was built taking inspiration from FHNW and other Universities of Applied Science from Germany and Switzerland. Upon arrival we were greeted by a group of students which were eager to practice their English skills, and some of us took the chance to learn a few more Chinese words.

WeChat contacts were exchanged, and we went on a tour through some research facilities and labs. First we visited the Material Science Department where we learned how artificial diamonds can be made. After that we went to an operation room of the future using robotic support and we looked at MRC/Cat Scans where Medical Imaging can be done. As we just visited a shielding company the day before, this rounded the experience by seeing the actual machines. 

The second last step was the arts department which remined myself a lot of the ZHAW Art Building in Zurich at the Toniareal.

Since the curious minds also have to be fed not only with knowledge but with food, we went to eat in the students canteen, where a few students helped to get everyone a Passionfruit Tea. Our visit to the SZTU was then concluded and we took another Robotaxi to our next destination.

Our study group along with students from Shenzen university of Technology visited KK Mold, an industrial mold manufacturing company based in Shenzhen, China. Founded in 2004, the company specializes in plastic mold design, precision injection molding, and product assembly for leading global brands like BYD, BMV. KKMold Shenzhen focuses on delivering the highest quality, excellent service, and competitive pricing. The company employs more than 500 regular workers who handle the entire process from mold design and creation to manufacturing plastic molds using these casts.

Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the company’s Human Resources coordinator. We toured the facility where we observed the design of stainless-steel molds according to customer specifications and how plastic molds are produced from these metal molds. KK Mold places great importance on material selection, mold design, injection process control, quality assurance, and production efficiency. While adopting new technologies and optimizing processes remain ongoing challenges, the company manages them effectively.

The visit also covered the company’s history, highlighting its initial focus on manufacturing various tools, followed by a strategic shift towards producing molds for emerging electric vehicle components such as charger handles and key fobs.

At KKMold’s technology division, the focus is on advancing emerging technologies, with various tests to assess the performance and reliability of their molds. Notably, they also manufacture molds for humanoid robots.

During the discussion about the company’s future, we learned about their market vision driven by state-of-the-art technology. Our visit concluded with dinner alongside the company’s chairman, management team, and students from Shenzhen Technology University, where we shared insights on the development of the Greater Bay Area.

On the morning of September 10th, our group visited the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) and UBTech Robotics. Visiting provides practical insights into the latest technological developments and industrial applications in artificial intelligence and robotics through lab tours, product demonstrations, and in-depth discussions.

Researchers at SIAT guided us through several key exhibition spaces. Notable observations included:

• The medical robotics team demonstrated a multi-modal perception surgical robot system integrating real-time imaging navigation and force feedback control, achieving sub-millimeter operational accuracy. The system has been validated in animal trials and is currently undergoing clinical trial applications.

• In computing and data platforms, SIAT has developed a heterogeneous computing architecture supporting the training of large-scale AI models with hundreds of billions of parameters. Their high-throughput data processing platform handles petabyte-scale scientific data daily, providing computational support for multidisciplinary research.

• On the industrial application front, collaborative robotic arms developed with enterprise partners have entered mass production, and intelligent rehabilitation equipment incorporating brain-computer interface technology can automatically adjust training protocols based on patient conditions.

During the exchange, Dr. Tan Weijia highlighted three key advantages underpinning SIAT’s innovative capabilities: the well-established industrial chain in the Pearl River Delta, abundant real-world application scenarios, and an open international talent network. She also invited our team to attend the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Exhibition in Shenzhen in April 2026, where more innovative outcomes will be showcased. 

The next stop on our study trip to China's Greater Bay Area was a visit to the innovative company Filmbase on the afternoon of September 10th, 2025. This appointment fit perfectly into our previous insights into the region's high-tech landscape, which we had already gained at leading companies in the fields of AI, robotics (such as SIAT and UBTech Robotics on the same day), and autonomous mobility (Pony.ai). Filmbase used various examples in its showroom to impressively demonstrate how technological progress and new materials are pushing the boundaries of traditional construction and display technologies.

Filmbase, founded in 2017, presented itself as a young company with the slogan “Smart visual land” or “Make glass do more.” Although the company itself is still young, the team has employees with up to 40 years of experience in this business area. Filmbase is a high-tech and “new material company” specializing in technological glass. They combine precision manufacturing, materials science, and system integration to create products that are set to transform entire industries such as media, urban lighting, and new building materials.

Key products include Media Glass and Smart Film. Media Glass is a revolutionary glass that integrates display chips and control software. See-through technology enables buildings themselves to become media, disseminating information and playing 3D videos while still allowing people to see outside. It achieves transparency of up to 85%. Smart Film uses PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) technology to switch from opaque (OFF) to transparent (ON) at the touch of a button or via an app, providing dynamic privacy protection for facades and interiors.

The intensive Q&A session, which took place both before and after the showroom visit, allowed us to delve deeper into the practical and strategic aspects of the products. Our questions ranged from the product's lifespan, which was of particular interest to us given the complexity of the material, to maintenance and repair, to recycling and sustainability.

For those who are now curious: the LED light has a service life of 100,000 operating hours, which corresponds to about 15 years of normal use of the smart film. Maintenance is very simple and repairs are easily possible, as the electrical parts are well sealed and the PDLC material used is recyclable. After its service life, the film can be easily removed and recycled.

The visit to Filmbase provided an inspiring insight into the future of building materials and demonstrated how quickly new technologies are brought to market maturity in the Greater Bay Area. Each and every one of us is very interested in Filmbase's products, if not before then certainly after the discount offers made in jest. We would like to express our sincere thanks for the openness and appreciative atmosphere we were shown and are returning to Europe with new ideas on how living, working, and leisure spaces can be designed and experienced.

Our visit to the Futian Service Station for Foreign Enterprises (福田区国际企业服务站) on Thursday morning was an insightful key moment of our trip. First in the event hall and later on site at the station, we gained practical insights into Shenzhen's business environment and the various services offered by the service platform, which operates in physical form. The station serves as a physical hub and comprehensive point of contact for international companies and talent looking to enter the Chinese market.

The Service Station was established by the People's Government of Futian District to help international companies that often face challenges such as legislation, regulations, and cultural differences. Its goal is to be the first point of contact for the development of foreign investment in the region and to act as a bridge between the international business world and local development. The focus is on “International + Innovation.”

The station uses the “1+10+N” model (1 main station, 10 substations, and N service points) to build a dense service network throughout Futian District. As a “one-stop service system” that includes resource pooling, project selection, and customized “one-to-one” services, companies are accompanied from the initial contact to complete settlement and rapid development.

At the time of our visit to the company, we had already been traveling around the Greater Bay Area for two weeks and had gained an insight into the complex and diverse business world of the region. The friendly staff at Futian Service Station answered our questions in detail, patiently and competently, covering topics ranging from the bureaucratic effort involved in setting up a new company in Futian (through the "One -stop platform" available online and on mobile devices and can be carried out virtually) to the optimal personnel strategy for internationally operating companies (keywords: cooperation and coordination between branches) to the feasibility of individual support for exporting companies (which is also offered).

The visit made it clear that Futian, as the economic and administrative center of Shenzhen, not only shines with its concentration of resources and its location as the gateway to the Greater Bay Area but also wants to create a welcoming home for global talent and companies through proactive services such as this service station. We would like to thank our contacts for the warm welcome and the in-depth insights they provided!.

Thursday afternoon, we went to the Hetao 河套 (hetao)  area located in the Futian 福田 (futian) district of Shenzhen深圳 (shenzhen). This area was planned in 2017 and created in 2020 as a special zone for technological development and international corporations, especially for the Hong Kong 香港 and Shenzhen 深圳 residents and scientists. Creating easier pathways for cross boarder corporation in the two banks, one river, and the "two systems, one country" policy. We listened to how and why this zone was created and heard firsthand experiences of three companies specializing in AI technologies, ranging from infrastructure, e.g., local AI Models, medical AI to combat Cancer, and multi-model LLM to reduce bias of one particular LLM, providing more reliable answers.

On Thursday, September 11, our team visited the Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch (HKSTP). Its core mission is to combine Hong Kong’s strengths in basic research, international outreach, and intellectual property protection with Shenzhen’s capabilities in industrial chains, mass production, and market application. This creates a “two-way bridge” for technology enterprises in the Greater Bay Area.

For Hong Kong and international companies, HKSTP serves as a gateway to the mainland market, helping them access supply chains, funding, and customers.

Meanwhile, for Mainland companies, it provides a platform to globalize, connect with international R&D talent, and expand overseas.

The park offers a supportive innovation ecosystem through tailored policies and services:

• Cross-border policy support, including special Hetao Zone policies such as a “White List” system, cross-boundary research funding, streamlined customs clearance, and cross-border data flow pilots.

• End-to-end industry services covering R&D, incubation, financing, clinical trials, and mass production. 

• Lifestyle support for overseas talents, including help with housing, visas, and education, allowing them to focus on R&D in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

During the visit, three tech companies shared their experiences, reflecting the park’s strategic focus:

• SP Infinite: Specializes in AI-driven cybersecurity, using advanced algorithms for proactive threat detection and protection.

• Jiying Tech: Focuses on AI-powered medical imaging analysis to improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency.

• Wiener Intelligence: China's first pioneer in using LLM-generated interactive data to power enterprise-grade closed-loop Agentic AI.

Key insights from the visit:

HKSTP serves as a testbed for aligning innovation policies between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, supporting regional integration. The park concentrates on cutting-edge fields like AI, medtech, and data security, hosting companies with strong growth potential. The companies highlighted the park’s effective support in policy guidance, resource matching, and cross-border coordination. HKSTP enables rapid translation of research into products, helping companies move from idea to market efficiently.

In summary, HKSTP effectively brings together innovation resources from Shenzhen and Hong Kong and serves as a catalyst for commercializing R&D outcomes, providing essential support for nurturing world-class tech companies.

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On Friday, September 12, we had the chance to visit Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen. The visit was arranged through Hu Yu from Huawei Switzerland, who was our main contact and made the program possible.

Our schedule started at 9:00 with a tour of the Darwin Exhibition Hall (9:00–9:45). The hall is essentially Huawei’s large showroom for their latest projects and technologies. A big focus was on their 5G infrastructure — how it works, where it is already in use, and what it can mean for everyday life. They showed us how the network is set up and introduced different types of antennas they use. What we found especially interesting was their work on rural connectivity: compact solutions that can provide stable mobile internet to remote areas or even boost network coverage for individual households.

Alongside this, we also saw some more playful innovations with AI, such as tools that can generate entire videos, create fully animated characters from a scanned face, or track body movements for fitness solutions.

At 9:50, we had a meeting with company representative Lin Yanqing. The meeting took place in a beautiful building, and we were served tea. He gave us an overview of Huawei’s strategy with AI and beyond. What stood out to me was how intelligent and well-read he came across. He spoke very openly about how China, and Huawei in particular, are moving ahead in areas like AI and robotics, strongly supported by the state. He also explained one of the reasons why: fewer young people want to work in factories, so robotics are increasingly being used to fill that gap. This was one of the most insightful parts of the visit.

From 11:00 to 11:30, we visited Huawei’s flagship store, where we got to see their full range of consumer products — smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and even their latest smart cars. 

After the store, we continued the day’s program with a transfer to Huawei’s R&D center and then lunch.

After visiting Huawei’s headquarter, we moved to the Ox Horn Campus (Songshan Lake R&D Centre, Dongguan) with a striking impression of scale and dedication. Located in one of China’s industrial powerhouses, the campus houses approximately 30’000 to 40’000 employees. It is benefitting from a mature local supply chain and a rich talent ecosystem, which allows Huawei to prototype and iterate far more rapidly than its competitors. 

Our tour started with an excellent lunch in the company canteen, which was universally praised by our group as the best canteen food they had encountered. Energised, we moved on to the Cyber Security Lab, where Huawei’s structure for ensuring product integrity and trust was laid out in three core parts: 

• Standards & Compliance Operations: includes adherence to global regulations, certifications, auditing, etc. 

• Customer Verification Centre: where customers can bring their devices or products for testing together with Huawei. 

• Independent Security Lab: where all Huawei’s products are tested before market release. 

For example, Telefonica (a national mobile phone operator in Spain) is a big customer of them and had been on-site at Huawei’s campus for three years. They are very satisfied with the level of cybersecurity as well as the obtained regulations, certifications, and adaptation to almost every need. 

Key observations from our discussion: 

• Huawei estimates that cyber‐attacks cost the world more than USD 10 trillion annually. While AI opens up new defensive capabilities, it similarly expands the attack surface, something Huawei is grappling with. 

• The company invests heavily in research: over 20% of revenue goes to R&D annually, of which roughly 5% is allocated to cybersecurity, which is well above the industry norm (~1%).

• Security is clearly positioned above commercial interests. Huawei has amassed 600+ security certificates, operates under more than 190 security/relevant laws globally, and mandates annual examinations for employees in cybersecurity and data privacy. 

• Huawei is regularly audited by ENISA, the EU agency dedicated to enhancing cybersecurity in Europe.  

• Huawei claims compliance with standards in over 170 countries and maintains alignment with widely respected frameworks (e.g. NIST, NESAS, ITU, GSM/5G). For example, Huawei is regularly audited by ENISA, the EU agency dedicated to enhancing cybersecurity in Europe, which they regularly passed to comply with all EU requirements. The same is true for the GDPR compliance in Europe. 

• Their auditing and quality assurance processes are mature, Huawei shared that they learned and adapted from partnerships and benchmarking (for example from IBM) and have developed strong internal auditing and external verification capacity. 

Despite international headwinds and bans, Huawei emphasizes its transparency, its willingness to be tested, and its contributions to global standards. Both for infrastructure (ICT, cloud), terminals and mobile devices, as well as newer areas (solar power systems, intelligent vehicles). 

Visiting Huawei was illuminating in terms of how seriously cybersecurity is integrated at every level (product design, standard compliance, customer trust). What stood out most was how much strategic importance they place on regulation, certification, and employee training, elements sometimes sacrificed in more commercially driven tech firms.

Our field trip reached its symbolic culmination with an evening dinner on the 118th floor of the Ping An Finance Centre. Reaching 599 meters into the sky, this tower is not only Shenzhen’s tallest skyscraper but also a powerful testament to China’s rapid economic transformation. The illuminated urban landscape stretching below seemed to mirror the dynamic environment we had been exploring over the past two weeks. From this elevated perspective, our visits to tech leaders such as Tencent and Huawei, hands-on experiences with Pony.ai and Robo autonomous vehicles, interactions with robotics innovators like UB Tech, and inspiring sessions with founders at Hong Kong Science Park merged into one cohesive story of ambition and execution. The free-flowing conversations and Stephan’s closing reflections enabled us to synthesize our observations, leaving us with both a literal and intellectual overview of China’s tech landscape.

This memorable ending was made possible by a carefully planned journey through Shenzhen, Dongguan and Guangzhou. We gained firsthand exposure to advances in AI and autonomous driving, including test rides in cutting-edge driverless cars. In robotics, we witnessed demonstrations of humanoid and industrial robots that are nearing commercial deployment. At Hong Kong Science Park, we spoke with passionate founders who shared their journeys and the supportive role played by the incubator’s structured ecosystem. Furthermore, honestly discussions with university students in Shenzhen and Guangzhou offered us genuine insights into the aspirations and perspectives of the region’s young tech talent.

Several key insights emerged from these deep engagements. One was the strategic emphasis on integrated platforms over standalone technologies, companies like Huawei and Tencent are weaving 5G, AI, and big data into open yet interconnected ecosystems that accelerate innovation. Another was the astonishing speed of commercialization; technologies such as autonomous driving and advanced robotics are being tested, iterated, and deployed at a pace seldom seen elsewhere. The systematic support provided to startups, exemplified by HKSTP’s blend of policy incentives, funding access, and logistical backing, also stood out as a replicable model for de-risking venture building. Most importantly, direct dialogue with those driving these changes granted us a textured, real-world understanding of global tech trends, one that no report or article could fully capture.

What made this trip uniquely valuable was the accumulation of observed truths, tangible experiences, and personal connections. Beyond theories and headlines, we felt the rhythm of China’s tech pulse: the urgency, the scale, and the human energy behind it. These insights provide a grounded framework for assessing not only China's technological capabilities but also its growing influence on global innovation path.

As we concluded our journey surrounded by the towering achievement embodied by the Ping An Finance Centre, we shared one final look over the city from above, it was clear that this was more than a trip, it was a unique opportunity to witness tomorrow taking shape..