Delegation members pose for a picture at the Comprehensive National Science Center in Guangming District.
The China-Switzerland Innovation Cooperation Time Valley Seminar was held in Guangming District on Sept. 4. It marked a significant event in international exchange and cooperation between China and Switzerland in the watch industry.
The conference focused on the development of Shenzhen's watch industry, the construction of agglomeration bases for the watch industry, and the establishment of joint Sino-Swiss platforms for talent cultivation and technological exchange.
The seminar was organized by the district's Industrial and Information Bureau, in collaboration with the Shenzhen Watch Industry Association. A delegation of 27 alumni from the Executive MBA program of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland was invited to participate in the seminar.
The delegation visited the Guangming District Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, the Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy (Shenzhen), and the Time Valley Watch Industry Agglomeration Base.
The delegation gained a deep understanding of Guangming District's development process and expressed optimism about its future development.
At the Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy (Shenzhen), the delegation gained insights about blockchain financial technology, intelligent sensing and precision medicine, machine learning and intelligent systems and smart cities. "In Guangming, we deeply feel that the innovation genes have been integrated into the district's bloodstream," a member of the delegation said.
At the Time Valley Watch Industry Agglomeration Base, the delegation learned about the development process of China's watch industry and its brands, with FIYTA representing them. Subsequently, a seminar was held at the FIYTA Building.
During the seminar, the district's Industrial and Information Bureau provided a detailed introduction to the overall development of Shenzhen, as well as the business environment in Guangming District. They presented the district's comprehensive supporting facilities, industry support policies and services, and answered guests' questions regarding talent introduction policies and how cutting-edge technology research and development can empower business development. The bureau expressed a warm welcome to talents and companies from all over the world to gather in Guangming.
A representative from the Shenzhen Watch Industry Association elaborated on the current development status of Time Valley, the collaboration and exchange process with Switzerland, and the future development plans for Time Valley.
The association emphasized that the Shenzhen watch industry occupies an important position globally, with Time Valley being the main industrial base for the Shenzhen watch industry. They hoped to further enhance exchanges between China and Switzerland in various aspects, including watchmaking and precision manufacturing.
The modern fashion industry, represented by the watch industry, is a key cluster for Guangming's development. The Time Valley Watch Industry Agglomeration Base has a planned total area of 1.14 million square meters, and it has been recognized by the country as one of the first batch of professional demonstration bases for foreign trade transformation and upgrading. It has gathered 10 industry brand enterprises such as FIYTA and EBOHR. It is a domestic watch industry cluster with a complete chain, strong industrial concentration, excellent business environment and a favorable industry ecosystem.
In the future, Guangming District will fully leverage its scientific resource concentration and solid industrial foundations to enhance the watch industry agglomeration base. It aims to strengthen international exchange and cooperation, attract and nurture a batch of high-quality domestic and foreign enterprises and renowned brands, and accelerate the development of Time Valley.