Deloitte China launches Greater Bay Area Innovation Camp

Deloitte China will organize the first Greater Bay Area (GBA) Innovation Camp on 26-30 May 2022 in Shenzhen. Bringing together governments, businesses, talent, scholars, experts, and think tanks within the GBA, the program promotes cross-sector exchange and cooperation in the region to empower further integration of the 11 cities. 

As organizer of the GBA Innovation Camp, Deloitte China is joining forces with supporting organizations the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Office of Shenzhen Municipality (Municipal Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office), the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Guangzhou Municipal Government, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office of the Hong Kong SAR Government, and the Economic and Technological Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; and co-organizer the China Resources Research Institute of Science and Technology. Other partner organizations include key enterprises in the region: Guangzhou Yuexiu Holdings Limited, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

Rotating among the 11 GBA cities, the annual program adopts an innovative training model to develop innovative solutions for the GBA's key development areas, build a top talent platform in the region, and establish a socially influential framework for government-enterprise cooperation. 

Deloitte China CEO Patrick Tsang speaks at the GBA Innovation Camp press conference

"Talent is key to GBA development, especially for innovation in institutional advancement. With the launch of our GBA Innovation Camp today, we hope to provide a unique platform for governments, businesses, scholars, experts, and think tanks, promoting exchange and collaboration among talent of the 11 GBA cities in areas such as finance, innovation and technology, and professional services," says Deloitte China CEO Patrick Tsang. "By building innovative solutions in key development areas and enabling local governments and organizations to grasp opportunities arising from the GBA, we can achieve the goals of empowering further development and integration of the GBA, and nurturing future leaders."

Deloitte China Southern Region Managing Partner Edward Au, Deloitte China Chairman Dennis Chow, and Deloitte China Growth Academy Dean Jennifer Xu at the event

"Deloitte has been actively participating in the GBA initiative and contributing to China's overall development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period," adds Deloitte China Chairman Dennis Chow. "After the announcement of our three new strategic initiatives in the GBA last month, today we are pleased to launch the GBA Innovation Camp with governments and key enterprises in the region, offering an important platform for regional exchange and collaboration for governments, businesses, and talent."

The program comprises activities from professional training courses and industry insights seminars, to study labs and company visits. Based on a series of topics surrounding the GBA's future development, such as life sciences, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and infrastructure, participants will form groups to discuss and devise feasible solutions under the guidance of scholars and coaches. They will then present their work to the judging panel, with all innovative solutions consolidated and shared with the governments of the 11 GBA cities for reference and study. 

"The GBA Innovation Camp not only offers innovative solutions to governments in the GBA, but is also a platform for businesses to collaborate," says Dr Xie Jikang of the China Resources Research Institute of Science and Technology. "Leveraging our competitive advantages in technological research and industry matching at our state innovation and entrepreneurship pilot zone, we can open up China Resources' industry scenarios to support the program and the implementation of innovative solutions by matching them with our diverse range of assets."

Deloitte China Southern Region Mainland Managing Partner Tom Kwok speaks at the GBA Innovation Camp press conference

"Shenzhen is a driver of innovation in the GBA, with advantages in sustainable development, innovation and technology advancement, industry-finance integration, and transport and logistics convenience. With the first GBA Innovation Camp in Shenzhen as a starting point, we hope the program will propel government-enterprise cooperation, unleash the potential of the region's innovation ecosystem and enable sustainable, high-quality development of the GBA," says Deloitte China Southern Region Mainland Managing Partner Tom Kwok. 

Deloitte China Macau Managing Partner Sidney Cheng at the event

Deloitte China Southern Region Mainland Central Business Development Leader Gerry Yuan, Deloitte China Guangzhou Deputy Managing Partner Edison Zuo, Deloitte partner Cathy Xu at the event

The GBA Innovation Camp welcomes applications from representatives of companies from the 11 GBA cities that are committed to furthering GBA development and have investments and operations in the GBA's key development areas. Applicants should be future leaders of their companies and aged between 35 and 50. The program is now open for applications and the deadline for enrolment is 31 December 2021. For more details and how to enroll, visit here (available in Chinese only).