on november 4, 2014, the first meeting on business innovation ecosystem was co-sponsored by invest shenzhen, the science & technology innovation commission of shenzhen, the people's government of longgang district, and tian'an cyber park group. xu qin, mayor of shenzhen, and ray mueller, mayor of menlo park, california, attended and addressed the meeting. also attending was chen biao, deputy mayor of shenzhen, wang youming director general and jia changsheng, deputy director of invest shenzhen. in addition, representatives from over 500 innovative enterprises, universities, scientific research institutes, venture capital companies and other institutions in shenzhen, had dialogues with top innovators from silicon valley, california usa (known as the world's paradise for innovation and entrepreneurship).
mayor xu qin expressed that innovation is the primary gene and lifeblood of shenzhen and the city will stick to its commitments for reform, opening up and innovation; take quality-led and innovation-driven approaches, and actively evolve into a bridgehead and center for the 21st-century maritime silk road. this will be accomplished by developing the greater bay area comprised of guangdong, hong kong and macau. mr. xu stressed that shenzhen will further improve its comprehensive innovation ecosystem, encourage and support grassroots and public innovations, build an internationalized and rule-of-law-based business and innovation environment, and strive to become a fertile ground for innovation and an ideal place for makers.
mayor ray mueller said that shenzhen, as the window and frontier of china's reform and opening up, has impressed the world with its development speed and vitality of innovation. the city's technology development strategy, strong innovative atmosphere, and local young people's passion for innovation and pursuit of new technology have filled people with eager anticipation for future development. this also provides infinite opportunities and huge potential for further strengthening innovation cooperation between menlo park, silicon valley and shenzhen.
the construction ceremony of two major platforms – "express train to silicon valley" and "venture boulevard" was launched at the meeting. by relying on the university town of shenzhen in longgang district, all kinds of innovation elements can be aggregated, realizing real-time interconnection with the capital, talent, information, technology and education resources in silicon valley. this will create stronger innovation and entrepreneurial atmosphere and inject new vitality to the city's innovation ecosystem and construction of an innovation demonstration area. deputy director jia changsheng then explained in detail the construction of an innovation ecosystem in the city, especially the launch of the "express train to silicon valley".
since its founding, invest shenzhen has always integrated investment promotion with facilitating the city's innovation and development. in august this year, invest shenzhen staged a promotion of the innovation and entrepreneurial environment of the longgang district and an exchange meeting on the tian'an cyber park – silicon valley express train. it was co-sponsored by the district government of longgang, china silicon valley, and tian'an cyber park group, which has preliminarily established the silicon valley – shenzhen (longgang) express train for innovation and entrepreneurship. invest shenzhen also launched a series of investment promotional events in the united states and shenzhen, and facilitated the closing of a number of investment cooperation deals.
