Isis Innovation, the technology commercialisation company of the University of Oxford, has established a pilot support programme for automotive engineering companies looking for Chinese partners.
Under the programme, Isis consultants will help selected companies, especially SMEs, find appropriate partners for development of new products for the Chinese automotive supply chain. In addition to finding customers or distributors, Isis will also help companies find investors with an appetite to invest in growing businesses.
Isis Innovation’s Dr David Baghurst said: “The Oxfordshire region of the UK is a centre of excellence for automotive engineering and motorsport. BMW and many Formula 1 teams are based here, as well as specialist suppliers.
"Isis has a lot of experience in evaluating new auto engineering products. Isis has been developing in China by establishing a network of collaborations with local government, investors and manufacturing businesses.
We realise that many of the partners in our collaborations are Chinese auto component entrepreneurs. These supporters are keen to identify next generation products to bring to fruition in the Chinese and overseas markets."
One auto-related Isis collaboration is in the Chinese National Level Liudong auto industry park in Liuzhou, southwest China.
With a population of 3.71m, Liuzhou is home to 3,000 companies including a number of joint ventures created by industrial giants such as General Motors, Nissan and Renault.
Huanquan He, Director of Liudong New District Administration Committee, said: “Liuzhou is developing into an international economy. With the ongoing development of the city we are committed to gaining access to the worlds’ best new ideas in vehicle and automobile components, new energy products, non-ferrous metal materials processing and other business fields.”
Professor the Hon Stephen Martin, CEO of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia said: “We are delighted that Isis has established a pilot Autoindustry Support Programme for Australian SMEs, which we view as a natural outcome of the Innovation Management Master classes that were delivered by Isis, and run by CEDA in Australia last year.”
Helen Ujvary, Isis’ Australia representative, said: “The automobile industry in South Australia has suffered a series of setbacks in the last few months with plant closures announced by the likes of Holden and Toyota. I hope that the introduction of this Support Programme will enable some SA businesses to find appropriate export partners.”