中国的投资促进伦敦的科技行业

Chinese companies will make record levels of investment into London this year, according to economic development organization London & Partners. And London's tech sector is expected to be one of the main beneficiaries.

Over the last nine months, 28 Chinese companies, worth 220 million RMB (U.S.$33million) to the city's economy, pledged to set up in England's capital city. And London & Partners expects that figure to rise to nearer 40 by the end of the financial year in March 2016. The previous best year for Chinese investment in London was in 2011/12 when 30 Chinese companies came to the city. 

Seeking further financial backing from China, London & Partners brought internet tech investments projects with an estimated combined worth of 5.2billion RMB (U.S.$75million) to the Beijing-London Tech Venture Forum held in Beijing Jan. 19.

Gordon Innes, CEO of London & Partners, said at the forum that improved diplomatic relations are helping to boost business collaborations between China and the UK. 

"We had President Xi in London in October, we had my boss, the Mayor of London here [in Beijing] the previous year, and the Prime Minister," Innes said.

"We’re forecasting this year will be a record year for into London—an increase of around 25 percent and we’ve seen significant investments by Chinese venture funds, as well as Chinese corporates, in London start ups in areas such as peer-to-peer lending."

"London is the fastest-growing and the largest tech cluster in Europe, you have phenomenal tech companies here in Beijing, down in Shenzhen. And what we’re seeing is increasing collaboration being supported by both of our governments and by both of our government leaders. So it’s—I think, as the President said—a golden era for UK-Chinese relations."

While London’s tech industry reaps the rewards of financial backing, China benefits from access to innovation, according to Cha Li, founder and managing partner of technology incubator and angel fund iStart Ventures.

"The Chinese economy is vastly in need of innovation, which comes from either competition in the domestic market or from international inspiration. In this respect, London is a good source of international trends and aspiration in technology and cultural creativity," Li said.

To promote technology collaborations between China and the UK, Cocoon Global, backed by the China Equity Group and Hanxin Capital, announced at the forum that it is launching a London-based 4.7 billion yuan (U.S.$720 million) investment fund.

Cocoon, in partnership with University College London, is also setting up Europe’s biggest incubator space.

"The fund will provide capital to help the development of some excellent tech and innovative projects in the UK and Europe,"said John Zai, Cocoon co-founder and CEO.

"The fund and incubator program will bring awareness for more Chinese investors to invest in the technology sector in Europe."

The UK will hold a referendum by the end of 2017 on whether to exit the European Union. In recent survey, 87 percent of Tech London Advocates, a group championing the capital's tech sector, said leaving the EU would negatively affect London’s digital business.

But Innes believes that a possible British exit from the EU should not affect international investment into London’s tech sector.

"I think one of the great advantages that London provides is its international reach, so the European market—500 million people—but also its global reach," Innes said.

"Many companies use London as a headquarters to access North African markets, the Middle East markets, because of the historic trading links that we have with those economies as well."

"What we’ve seen over the last few years—with a time of global uncertainty, with financial uncertainty, with the global financial crisis—investment into London has increased. So despite that uncertainty, the fundamentals that London can offer are so strong, it’s such a great proposition for companies—access to the talent, access to the markets."

"I can’t see a situation that would lose us access to those international markets. London will remain the world’s international business center, so no matter what happens with the European referendum—this year, next year—when that takes place, London will remain an international global trading center, and that won't change."