By Chen Ke

  On 16th June, Plug and Play Nantong International Innovation Center opening ceremony and global resource matchmaking conference was held. After the event, a cross-border business project fast-track roadshow was held. More than 10 foreign science and technology enterprises that have achieved initial success brought their own ‘masterpieces’, and expected to seek cooperation opportunities in Nantong. 

  ‘Hey, bro, I love the pattern of your T-shirt. I love Chinese culture.’ David Chausse from the United States gave an ‘American’ opening speech in fluent Chinese. He majored in Chinese language and culture in university. Now he has established a new logistics company based on artificial intelligence. ‘To put it simple, you can see it as the US version of “Lalamove” or “SF Express”. Of course, there are a lot of differences in detail.’ He introduced that although it was his first time to come to Nantong, after two site visits, he could feel that the economic development and environment of Nantong are very good. 

  Gernaz Abdullahian also shared the same feeling as Chausse. The powerful woman from the United States worked in globally renowned enterprises including Microsoft and Apple. Now she has founded an artificial intelligence production selection enterprise. While praising the environment of Nantong, she also mentioned that Nantong’s attitudes towards opening up to the outside world is admirable. ‘I cannot speak Chinese, but I have no difficulty in basic communication here. Whether it is the investment promotion staff of Nantong Development Zone or the corporate personnel we have contacted, they can communicate with us in fluent English, and their perspectives are also international.’ 

  While good soft and hard environments are the foundations, the most important is the industry compatibility. It is also what foreign talents value. Aaron Daniel Capa, a Canadian, founded a pharmaceutical research and development company based on artificial intelligence. ‘There have been a globally renowned pharmaceutical company Merck and other relevant pharmaceutical companies in Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area, which means the biopharmaceutical industry here is very mature, and it has also a high degree of compatibility with our industries.’ Although it was Capa’s first time to visit Nantong, he obviously did a lot of ‘homework’. ‘Moreover, we also plan to expand into the field of agricultural technology. I have checked, and Nantong is also very advanced in agricultural technology. There is great potential for future cooperation.’ 

  New technologies and new projects from overseas also opened up new opportunities for many Nantong enterprises. Once the roadshow on the stage was finished, some enterprises went to communicate with the exhibitors offstage. ‘Our company is also seeking new tracks for development. The projects which presented this time are all very good. There will be many opportunities for cooperation in the future.’ The person in charge of technological research and development of a listed company located in Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area said. And ‘the China expert’ Chausse shrugged, and said with a smile, ‘Nantong is very “nice”, and our projects are also very “attractive”. I believe that in the future there will be more exchanges, maybe I can also create a new world in Nantong.’ 

【背景阅读】

“南通非常‘耐斯’，我们项目也很棒

——跨境企业项目极速路演见闻

    6月16日，璞跃南通国际创新中心启动仪式暨全球资源对接会举行。活动结束后，一场跨境企业项目极速路演接着举行，10多个已经初见成效的国外科创企业，带来自己的“得意之作”，并希冀在南通寻求合作机会。

    “嗨，兄弟，我喜欢你T恤的图案，我喜欢中国文化。”来自美国的大卫·乔苏用极其流利的中国话，来了个“美式”开场白。乔苏大学主修的就是中国语言与文化，目前创办了一家基于人工智能的新型物流企业。“简单来说，你可以看作是美国版的‘货拉拉’或‘顺丰’，当然具体还是有很大区别的。”他介绍说，虽然是第一次来南通，但通过两次实地考察，可以感觉到南通的经济发展和环境非常好。

    和乔苏有着同样感受的，还有格尔纳兹·阿布杜拉希安。这位来自美国的女强人先后在微软、苹果等国际知名企业任职，目前创立了一家人工智能选品企业。在赞美南通环境的同时，她还特别提到，南通对外开放的态度令人赞叹。“我不会说中国话，但在这里基本交流没有障碍，无论是南通开发区的招商人员，还是对接过的企业人员，都能用流利的英语和我们交流，眼界也都是国际化的。”

    软硬环境好是基础，更重要的是产业匹配度，这也是国外人才的重视之处。加拿大人阿隆·丹尼尔·卡帕创立了一家基于人工智能的医药研发企业。“南通开发区有世界知名药企默克制药以及相关医药企业，这也意味着这里生物医药产业成熟度很高，和我们的产业匹配度也就高。”虽然卡帕是首次来南通，但显然做了不少“功课”。“而且，我们还有向农业科技领域拓展的打算，我查过了，南通农业技术力量也很强的，未来合作机会非常大。”

    来自国际的新技术、新项目也让不少南通企业看到了机遇。台上的路演一结束，就有企业与展示者在台下交流起来。“我们企业目前也在寻求发展的新赛道，这次展示的几个项目都挺好，后续还能有不少合作的机会。”位于南通开发区的一家上市企业科技研发负责人说。而“中国通”乔苏也耸耸肩，笑着说：“南通非常‘耐斯’，我们的项目也很‘来事’的，相信以后会有更多的交流，也许我也能在南通开创一片新天地。” 

    作者：陈可