Business ties strengthened in China-UK Forum backing innovation
Innovative business ideas took centre stage at a University of Chester event held to strengthen co-operation in emerging technologies between the UK and China.
The two-day 2025 China-UK Cross-Border Innovation Forum, held at the Riverside Innovation Centre and at science parks and industry partner sites, was jointly organised by the University and leading technology incubation and acceleration platform, Sinnobator. It connects universities, R&D (Research and Development) institutions, venture investors, and deep-tech enterprises to explore pathways from innovation to global commercialisation, and was chaired by Associate Professor Alex Fenton, Associate Dean for International for the Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise.
The delegation from China was led by Jia Ren, Chairman of Sinnobator and a key figure in the Yangtze River Delta innovation ecosystem, bringing over a decade of experience in technology incubation, investment, and international entrepreneurship training.
He was joined by tech start-up founders with globally scalable technologies, including Mario Ronquillo of shoewear company Pas, Michael Cropper of business digital solutions firm ArchiTech360, Saul Truman and Wotjek Woznicki of messaging app Relai, and Louis M of B2B growth partner for UK education services Doxa.
Also present was University of Chester student Keren Isaiah, of culturally inclusive vending machine firm Kairos Unlimited. For this, Keren recently won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 Award at Chester Business Club.
National competition judges and enterprise mentors, along with innovation ecosystem professionals supporting tech transfer and incubation, were also in attendance.
The forum featured presentations from the Innovation Project tech start-ups, a talk on the award-winning Chester Business School by its Dean, Associate Professor Kirstie Simpson, a talk on the University of Chester’s China strategy by Professor David McGravie, a visit to the Grosvenor Hart Homes business incubator and – as part of a tour of Chester – a greeting from the Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Sherin Akhtar.
Associate Professor Alex Fenton, Associate Dean for International for the Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise, said: “It was our great pleasure to host this exciting and groundbreaking event at the University.
“It was a key step forward in our connections and strategy to strengthen our ties in UK-China relations and trade as part of our Silk Road Centre initiative and we look forward to creating more valuable relationships, cultural exchange and partnerships promoting positive UK-China relations in the future.”
For more information about Chester Business School, visit: https://www.chester.ac.uk/about/faculties/science-business-and-enterprise/chester-business-school/
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Images - from top:
- Attendees in front of Churchill House at the University of Chester.
- Associate Professor Alex Fenton, Associate Professor Kirstie Simpson, Professor David McGravie and Professor Kurt Allman from the University welcome Jia Ren, Chairman of Sinnobator, and guests.
- Professor David McGravie and Jia Ren.