Digitalisation in the Water Sector | Aquatech China 2021

​Dear Members and Friends,

China is a nation that is prone to water shortages and in 2021 it experienced a particularly drought stricken year. The rapidly developing Chinese economy, steadily increasing rate of migration to cities and rising hygiene and health concerns amongst China's rising middle class are stoking demand even further. At the same time, industry and agriculture need a steady supply of water to fulfil the growing demands of the population. In a country where the growing demand for water exceeds the supply, the Chinese water sector is facing great challenges.

Even though the utilization of digital technology has increased in the water sector, in recent years, it is still behind other industries with regard to integrating new smart technologies and digital transformations. Digitalisation can help water and sanitation companies as well as government bodies to address many of the challenges they face. On the other hand, the digitalisation of the sector also provides solutions to the challenges.

The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to participate in a hybrid seminar co-organised with the EU SME Centre, the China-Europe Water Platform and the China IP SME Helpdesk for this year's Aquatech China 2021.

This hybrid seminar, 'Digitalisation in the Water Sector' will be a side event held during the fair, both offline (Shanghai) and online from 14:00-15:20 (CN). Exhibitors and visitors from European companies present at the fair are also invited to join the offline panel discussion at the seminar. 

During this seminar, a range of topics will be discussed, including:

• identifying the local level development strategies in China for digital transformation of the environment sector, 
• which are the prioritised policies, 
• how is the digitalisation of the water sector serve the overall digital transformation strategies of the local municiple governments, 
• how to outstand in the already very fragmented and competitive market in China? 
• how to protect your IPR when preparing a digitalisation strategy?

Agenda:

14:00 - 14:10 Liam Jia, EU SME Centre - Overview: Main findings of EU SME Centre/CEWP Urban Water webinar series 2021 
14:10 - 14:35 Guillaume Gimonet, Siveco China – Digitalisation of the Water Sector in China - Market overview, policy updates, market demand, access barriers (FR)
14:35 - 14:45 Matias Zubimendi, IP SME Helpdesk - IPR Protection in Digital Transformation
14:45 - 15:05 Jason Jie, Kruger A/S – Case Sharing (DK)
15:05 - 15:20 Q&A and Panel Discussion

Interested in joining? Sign up here.

About the speakers

LIAM JIA
OPERATIONS MANAGER, EU SME CENTRE
Mr. Liam Jia has the past 6 years been advising European businesses on market access and business strategies to China. Solid working experience in project and operations management in the EU context. Experienced speaker and author of publications on a range of topics.

GUILLAUME GIMONET
COO - OPERATIONS DIRECTOR OF SIVECO CHINA
Mr. Guillaume Gimonet is a Business and Operations executive who leverages smart technologies to improve industrial assets and infrastructures performance in Asia and on the Belt & Road. His areas of expertise include enterprevierurial leadership, business development and business digital transformation / smart industry. He is fluent in French & English, has obtained an HSK 4 in Chinese and knows the basics in German.

MATIAS ZUBIMENDI
IP BUSINESS ADVISOR, CHINA IP SME HELPDESK 
Mr. Matias Zubimendi is the IP Business Advisor at China IPR SME Helpdesk, where he advises European SMEs on intellectual property rights matters. Mr. Zubimendi holds a Master’s degree in Chinese Civil and Commercial Law from Peking University as well as a Master’s degree in Intellectual Property Law from Austral University in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organisation. Mr. Zubimendi has a strong background in both business development and intellectual property rights protection, having previously worked as a China Business and Legal Consultant at Terragene, where he focused on business development and as a Director of Legal Affairs at Conquer Europe. Previously, he has also worked as a Patent and Trademark Attorney at Phoebus Abogados and Mazzeo & Canet, where he represented SMEs as well as Fortune 500 companies

JASON JIE 
SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, KRÜGER A/S
Mr. Jason Jie has been involved in Wastewater treatment sector for more than 20 years at technical and commercial development, Kruger is the world leading professional engineering & technology environment company based at Denmark.

Kind Regards,

CICC Team