EUROPEAN PROJECTS AND INTERNATIONALISATION
ZGC Forum – Zhongguancun Forum & ZGC Enterprise Service Representative Office in Italy
focus
International Cooperation · Science and Technology · Innovation · Internationalisation · Advanced Manufacturing · Innovative Startups & SMEs
Partner / Financier
• Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology • Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST) • Beijing Municipality • Zhongguancun District
Project Status
Ongoing Activity - In Progress
The Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) is the main Chinese platform for international cooperation in Science, Technology, and Innovation, as well as a key global event for dialogue among institutions, universities, businesses, research centres, and actors in the innovation ecosystem. The Forum is promoted and organized by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST), and the Municipality of Beijing, with the aim of fostering international dialogue, industrial collaboration, and technology transfer.
SPICI participates in the ZGC Forum as a strategic partner for cooperation between Italy and China, playing an active role in the selection and coordination of experts, startups, innovative SMEs, and university spin-offs, as well as participating in panels, thematic seminars, and evaluation activities. During the editions of the Forum, SPICI has accompanied Italian academic and institutional delegations, contributing to the promotion of national excellence in the fields of advanced manufacturing, digital innovation, and applied research.
In 2025, in recognition of its role in strengthening bilateral relations, SPICI was selected by the Municipality of Beijing and the Zhongguancun District – known as the "Chinese Silicon Valley" – to open and manage the ZGC Enterprise Service Representative Office in Italy. The Office serves as a reference point for scientific-technological cooperation and internationalization, facilitating matchmaking between Italian and Chinese operators, supporting delegations, scouting for innovative companies, and promoting the opportunities offered by Beijing's ecosystem.
The ZGC Enterprise Service Representative Office in Italy is located at the incubation spaces of Fabbrica Italiana dell’Innovazione and was inaugurated on 28 March 2025 during the Scale Up Act event, endorsed by the Campania Region, thereby consolidating SPICI's role as a hub connecting innovative ecosystems in Europe and Asia.
