DLR CEB is the Irish partner in the EU-funded European Project Incubation Centre
[EUPIC] programme, based in Chengdu.
As the only EU-supported business incubation centre project in China, EUPIC’s role is to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises from the EU and China to co-operate.
The good news Ireland is that EUPIC can help Irish companies wishing to do business in China. Through our Enterprise Board, Irish businesses can avail of modern, centrally located office facilities in Chengdu’s Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone for a six month period without any charge.
The benefits for businesses taking up this offer are enormous. With a population of over 11 million, Chengdu’s local economy has flourished in recent years and its access to Europe has been enhanced by the establishment of direct flights from Amerstam’s Schiphol airport. The city has long been established as an important national centre for the Information & Communications Technology (ICT) sector and its Hi-tech Zone is now home to over 10,000 domestic companies as well as some of largest Fortune 500 companies in Intel, IBM, NOKIA, Motorola, SAP, Siemens, Canon, HP, Xerox and Microsoft.
By taking up subsized office space, Irish companies keep their overhead to a minimum whilst exploring the huge potential of the Chinese market. In addition to office space, Irish companies can also access the services offered by the EUPIC staff including language services, legal and financial advice, and a full range of office services. They can also arrange accommodation at reasonable rates in either the Hi-tech Zone or in central Chengdu.
EUPIC is involved in arranging annual matchmaking events where Irish companies are matched with their Chinese counterparts and are assisted in developing fruitful business relationships. These events have proved to be very successful. In autumn 2007, over 20 Irish companies visited Chengdu, many of whom are now trading successfully with Chinese companies they met through EUPIC.
At the time of this visit, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Chengdu High Tech Zone signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance to economic co-operation between the two regions.
Mr. Declan Kelleher, the Irish Ambassador to China, is pictured below visiting the EUPIC office in Chengdu in early December 2008.
