Event | Tech Transfer for European SMEs in China – A Crash Course

Transfer of technology – which is defined as the movement of knowledge, skills, know-how, and other valuable assets from one for-profit organisation to another – has been a common practice for foreign companies in China for years. When carried out properly, technology transfer has allowed foreign businesses to successfully gain market access in China. However, technology transfer in China is not without risk, and companies have faced situations where they have seen their technology stolen through inadvertent leakage of intellectual property (IP), due to their Chinese counterparts breaching their agreements or Chinese law. In spite of attempts by Chinese authorities to codify the ban on forced transfers of technology in pieces of legislation like the Foreign Investment Law, according to the European Chamber’s Business Confidence Survey 2021, 16% of respondents reported being compelled to transfer technology, with 65% saying that it took place in within the last two years and 31% stating that it was ongoing. Given the risks of loss of competitiveness and market share associated with technology transfer processes, is essential for European companies – and in particular SMEs – to think carefully about to guard against IP risk when transferring technology to China.

The European Chamber, the IP SME Helpdesk and the EU SME Centre are thus pleased to invite you to our next Working Group Meeting, where Mr Matias Zubimendi, the China IP SME Helpdesk IP Business Advisor will provide an overview of the newest technology transfer conditions as well as discuss the role of various contracts in protecting IP. The meeting will take place online and offline in Beijing on Wednesday, 15^th December from 15:00 to 16:00.

There will be a Q&A session at the end of the webinar allowing SMEs to pose questions to the speaker.