Shanghai to use fair for hub goal

SHANGHAI will use the sixth China (Shanghai) International Technology Fair next month to help the city build up its manufacturing and service brands as it bids to transform into a global innovation hub, authorities said yesterday.

The fair, whose theme is “boosting innovation, protecting intellectual property and promoting trade,” will also focus on services to boost collaboration between companies to commercialize latest technology, said Dong Chao, president at Shanghai International Technology Exchange Center, a division of Shanghai Commission of Commerce.

This year’s fair has added an area for companies to launch their latest products and technologies, while an officer from the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration said a “service booth” will be set at the fair to help companies deal with disputes over intellectual property.

Chi Hong, CEO at Donghao Lansheng (Group) Co, said the key difference of the Shanghai fair is that it is “focusing on latest high-technology results.”

“Instead of expanding the fair by number of exhibitors, we’ve selected applicants to ensure all the projects to be presented are latest results or newest launches,” Chi said.

The fair will be held from April 19 to 21 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center.