“2026 China Innovation Tour for CEECs” (Central and Eastern European Countries) set sail in Ningbo, China on September 9. This activity was co-organized by the China-CEEC Innovation Cooperation Research Center and the Ningbo University of Technology, under the framework of the “2026 China-CEEC Conference on Innovation Cooperation”, with a delegation from the University of Pécs attending.
Representatives from universities, research institutions, technology companies, and professional service organizations in China, Hungary, Greece, and other countries attended the event. Participants shared their perspectives on scientific and technological innovation, technology transfer and commercialization, industrial collaboration, and expansion into international markets. Activity featured Ningbo City specific investment promotion briefing, outbound investment opportunities and challenges for Chinese enterprises, Central and Eastern European companies’ roadshows, business matchmaking events and field trip visits.
Zsuzsanna Helyes, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation of the University of Pécs. Photo: China-CEEC Innovation Cooperation Research Center
Attending the events, Academician Helyes Zsuzsanna, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation of the University of Pécs, Member of Academia Europaea and Member of the Translational European-Asian Network (TEA-NET) highlighted that “Ningbo has strong innovation potential in fields such as life sciences and healthcare, new energy technology, and materials science, and aligns closely with the University of Pécs. Further collaboration is expected in scientific research, technological development, and the commercialization of research outcomes.”
Ningbo citiy center. Photo: Wikipedia, Cz4523
During business matchmaking sessions Chinese innovative entities and foreign counterparts conducted several rounds of negotiations in the fields of new energy, healthcare, intelligent transportation as well as Science and Technology collaboration, and achieved initial cooperation intentions. “Open Collaboration” and “Complementary Strengths” were the two key themes at the focus of the conference.
The “2026 China Innovation Tour for CEECs” hopes to see the collaborative chain between the Asian giant and its European partners further extended to turn more such exchanges into tangible projects between China and Central and Eastern European countries, creating a better and more open innovation ecosystem.
Featured Image: China-CEEC Innovation Cooperation Research Center