This past week, 19 Catalan clusters participated in the Strategic Cluster Week in China, organized by ACCIÓ. The main objective of the mission was to explore the innovation ecosystems of key regions such as Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Shanghai, and to identify business opportunities for Catalan companies. Throughout the week, visits were made to companies, incubators, technology centers, and distributors, with special attention to the emerging sectors of e-commerce and automotive, as well as the wine market.
The trip began with an immersion into the profile of the Chinese consumer. Professor Coral Puig highlighted the importance of food safety and the interest in local values and traditions. She also emphasized the growing strength of social networks and livestream shopping, a key trend for brands looking to enter the Chinese market.
The delegation also visited two major tech companies: OPPO and Tencent. At OPPO, the focus was on collaboration with over 100 startups, such as projects working on water collection from the air or artificial vision with virtual reality glasses, an innovation with great potential for training and task automation. For its part, Tencent showcased the future of artificial intelligence and image recognition technologies, key elements for accelerating processes across multiple sectors.
In Shenzhen, the participants got a close look at the Chinese entrepreneurial ecosystem with a visit to InnoX, an incubator founded in 2021 that is already launching products to market. With a model that combines universities, companies, and government, InnoX stands out for its incubation methodology, which emphasizes selecting creative and motivated students. The incubator offers comprehensive support, from mentorship to prototyping and financing, a formula that has proven successful in a highly competitive environment.
Another highlight of the mission was the visit to the FICOSA plant, a Catalan automotive company with a presence in Shanghai. The general manager, Ignasi Claret, discussed the main trends in electric vehicles, which are already predominant on Chinese streets. FICOSA, which arrived in the country following European car brands in the 1990s, now has the mission of helping Chinese automotive companies enter Europe with innovative and high-quality components. Claret also highlighted the support that the Chinese government offers for the development of R&D&I projects, an opportunity for companies in the technology sector.
The last day of the mission focused on the wine market, with visits to JOYMAX, a BtoB and BtoC wine distributor, and Wajiu Group. Both companies highlighted the challenges of the Chinese market, with a slowdown in domestic consumption that has even led to the uprooting of vineyards in the country. Despite this, they pointed out that there are niche opportunities for imports, especially in restaurants and specialty stores.
JOYMAX shared how they use QR codes to ensure product traceability and emphasized the growing importance of online commerce, which already represents more than 20% of sales and is expected to reach 30% thanks to the use of influencers and livestream shopping. At Wajiu Group, expert Eric Arroyo, area manager for Torres in Southeast Asia, offered an interesting reflection on the need for the premiumization of small wineries to access exclusive niche markets.
ACCIÓ's mission has provided great insights for Catalan companies looking to establish themselves or grow in the Chinese market. Despite current economic challenges, China is consolidating itself as a powerhouse in innovation and competitiveness, with sectors such as e-commerce, technology, and automotive offering great opportunities. The Catalan clusters have had the chance to connect with a vibrant ecosystem and explore how to apply these lessons to their own growth.
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