German firms increasing R&D, ecosystem-level ties

55 percent of companies operating here expect their Chinese counterparts to become innovation leaders within next five years

HEFEI — As China emerges as a global hub for smart manufacturing and technological innovation, German companies are ramping up their presence and partnerships in the country, moving beyond traditional technology transfer to embrace joint R&D and ecosystem-level collaborations.

At the Sino-German Smart Manufacturing Matchmaking Conference in Hefei, East China's Anhui province, in late June, nearly 100 German enterprises, including industry leaders like BMW and Siemens, gathered to explore new opportunities, signaling a renewed momentum in bilateral industrial cooperation.

The three-day conference included field visits, matchmaking sessions and in-depth exchanges, resulting in 28 trade and investment deals worth over 6.8 billion yuan ($947.5 million). These covered a wide range of sectors, from new energy and intelligent connected vehicles to high-end equipment, life sciences, environmental protection and artificial intelligence.