Understand China innovation,
the Western way.

Al+ Materials / Industrials / New Energy

The 2024 Innovation China Conference explored frontier applications of AI technologies in material discovery, smart manufacturing and grid optimization. Themed "AI+", it focused on 3 areas where AI will drive progress: Materials, Industrials & New Energy. Held at Crowne Plaza Shanghai Fudan, this year’s conference continues to have Mitsubishi Corporation (Shanghai) as a lead sponsor for SEIF. This year’s event was also supported by Shanghai Yangpu Technology & Innovation Group (STI), Chang Yang Campus & Cloud Valley (office property development). It was attended by Forbes 500 companies, LPs, CVCs, startups, policymakers and partners, with MNC speakers such as BAT (Matt Hodgson), L’Oréal (Valentin Peuch-Lestrade & Dr Yue Qiao), Nomura Research Institute, Huawei and more. We also had special live presentations all the way from USA and Japan: Citrine Informatics (USA), Greg Mulholland and Zeroboard (Tokyo, invested by Mitsubishi corp). The event was opened by Mr Takamasa Wakaki, Chairman and GM of Mitsubishi Corporation (Shanghai), Vice-Chairman of the Low-Carbon Economy Service Committee of Shanghai Modern Service Federation, and member of SEIF Foundation. Click below to see a sampling of the speaker presentations for the event.

Renewable Carbon

A sustainable future calls for making use of resources in abundance. One of these areas is carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS). The 2nd edition of Innovation China Conference 2024 explores new thinking and breakthroughs to support carbon mitigation, by making use of an element that earth isn’t short on: carbon. Notable companies speaking at the event included: British American Tobacco, Bloomberg NEF, Veolia, CICC, Shanghai Environment & Energy Exchange, Herbert Smith Freehills, and more. For the first time, the event also featured 10 renewable carbon exhibitors on-site, and a Battery Material Decarbonization Challenge sponsored by BAT with 8 startups participating. The event rounded up with a wine & cheese event sponsored by Penfolds Australia. The event was opened by our lead sponsor, represented by Mr Takamasa Wakaki, Chairman and GM of Mitsubishi Corporation (Shanghai), Vice-Chairman of the Low-Carbon Economy Service Committee of Shanghai Modern Service Federation, and member of SEIF Foundation.

Momentum

A smaller-scale China Innovation Conference was held for the second time in 2023 at two of CM Venture’s leading portfolio companies: Guofu Hydrogen and Global Power Technologies (GPT). The two day event (13-14 Nov), “Materials in Hydrogen Economy” on day 1 & “3rd Gen Semiconductors” on day 2, was kicked off on-site at their respective headquarters in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu and Liuyang, Hunan by CM Venture CEO Dr Min Zhou. Invited industry audiences had the chance to meet and discover insights from a curated list of influential speakers from Fortune 500 companies such as Air Liquide, Arkema, Heraeus, Cummins Inc, and more. Leading speakers from domestic authorities such as China Solid State Lighting Alliance and 48th Research Institute of the CEC were also present. Leaders from CM Venture portfolio companies Guofu, GPT, Nanotop & Dynamic Hydrogen were also present to share the latest findings in the hydrogen industry and the 3rd generation semiconductor space in China. To discover the insights, watch some of the selected presentations below, or follow our Youtube channel!

Revitalize

With the opening of China’s borders after a 3-year hiatus from the pandemic, Innovation China resumed with its 2023 (15th May) event held at Qube Hotel in Anqing, Anhui Province China. With a focus on Health & Sustainability, representatives from BASF, Samsung, BASF, Petronas, BTV, Heraeus, GE and more attended the event. Over a hundred attendees from MNC companies, venture firms, corporate venture capital arms, and start-ups joined in to share name cards and viewpoints on issues like carbon capture, to plastic recycling, to open innovation and more. It started with special opening speeches from Mitsubishi China and CM Venture Capital, as well as a launch ceremony to commemorate the inauguration of CM Venture’s Fund 3. View some of the presentations below.

Innovation China Conference — 2020

The Innovation China Conference 2020 was held at Grand Kempinski Shanghai. Six multinational companies and a number of start-ups and investment firms gathered to share the industry trends and insights on Circular Carbon Economy & Digitization. The conference was held both online and offline simultaneously for the first time, and attended by over 200 people from MNC companies, venture firms, and corporate venture capital arms, and start-ups. View some of the presentations below.

Circular Carbon Economy & Digitization

The 2019 Innovation China Conference was held at JW Marriott Beijing. Four multinational companies, eight start-ups, and a number of investment firms gathered to discuss on the topic of Functional Materials. The conference was attended by over top-level executives from MNC companies, venture firms and corporate venture capital arms, and start-ups. View some of the presentations below.

New Materials

The 2018 Innovation China Conference was held in Shanghai. The focus was on CM Venture’s founder’s expertise: material technology (CM Venture co-founders Dr Min Zhou and Dr Patrick Berbon are material scientists by training and experience). Four multinational companies, nine start-ups and seven VC firms in the field of new materials spoke at the conference. The conference was attended by over 200 people from MNC companies, venture firms and corporate venture capital arms, and start-ups. View some of the presentations below.

Digital Industrial

The 3rd Innovation China Conference in 2017 was held in Shanghai. The theme focused on the power of digital transformation across industries. Attended by over 200 people from MNC companies, venture firms and corporate venture capital arms, and start-ups across multiple fields. Plus an exclusive summary of the conference, authored by Dr. Min Zhou, CEO of CM Venture Capital.

Innovation China 2017 Highlights

Advanced Manufacturing

The 2nd Innovation China Conference in 2016 was held in Shanghai. Titled ‘Advanced Manufacturing’, the theme was focused on how digital technology and connectivity were driving the evolution of modern manufacturing. It was attended by over 150 executives from MNC companies, venture firms and corporate venture capital arms, and start-ups. View some of the presentations below.

Venture Capital in "Hard Technologies"
Forum on Battery Material/Energy Storage

The inaugural Innovation Conference China 2015 event was held in Shanghai. The interest was overwhelming: over 200 executives, entrepreneurs and VC professionals gathered to hear from leading VCs discussing venture in “hard technologies”, from Professor Josh Lerner of Harvard Business School on corporate venture capital, and from experts as well as seven start-ups in the energy storage space. View some of the presentations below.