China is getting a new technology transfer center this October - the first it has cooperated with a foreign partner, in fact - at the high-tech Zhongguancun Haidian innovation zone, in Beijing, where it will connect science parks with high-tech companies.

The China-Italy Technology Transfer Center will be located in the Zhongguancun Dinghao Electronic Mall and will increase communications between China and Italy, as well as interactive development, according to Beijing's Technology Exchange and Promotion Center.

Italy and China expect the center to integrate education, research, and production to help them form a long-term cooperative mechanism. It will also support a creative alliance, joint R&D center, and laboratory, according to China's science and technology minister, Wan Gang, who spoke at the inaugural ceremony in April.

The center's major responsibility is to increase opportunities for tapping into each other's markets and Wan highlighted the help they had from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in both of the countries.

He also emphasized the cooperation in intellectual property rights protection, which they expect, as well as the sharing of technology.

The bulk of the work is being shouldered by the Beijing science and technology commission and Italy's Innovation Technology Promotion Department.

Over next three years, the two departments will establish three ways to carry out technology transfers and sharing of information. They will also provide consulting services in IPR, investment, and financing for Chinese and Italian enterprises.

Some 100 Italian science organizations, such as science and technology zones, universities and SME incubators, have already been invited to visit China.

Another visit for 150 Italian SMEs will be arranged for October, according to the Chinese sponsor.

Meanwhile, also in Zhuangguancun, work on an International Technology Transfer Zone has begun, a Technology Exchange and Promotion Center department chief, Xia Wenhuan, has said.

It is scheduled for completion in two to three years, on a 20,000-square-meter tract of land.

Xia explained that the international zone will bring together a group of institutes engaged in global technology transfers and innovative services.

"It is expected to attract 50 institutions by 2012, and many relevant foreign organizations have shown an interest, such as the Denmark Innovation Center and EU SME Center."

The international zone will include a club for members and will have a number of novel project promotions and technology exhibitions.

(Source: China Daily)