At the beginning of July, I embarked on an inspiring week in China, as part of a China Tech Tour (organised by INNO-APAC). In this immersive week-long journey, alongside 30 participants from diverse countries, I explored cutting-edge tech ecosystems across Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Kunshan (Suzhou).
We visited various industrial sectors, including biology, cosmetics, wastewater treatment, Photovoltaic (PV) panels, metaverse etc. Some of the companies I found the most impressive included e-commerce giants like Alibaba, GCL Perovskite, who make solar panels which are over 26% efficient, and Visionox, who produce flexible AMOLED screens. PV panel producers in China are piloting mechanical, physical, and chemical processes to disassemble decommissioned solar modules and recover high-value materials for reuse.
I was also very impressed by the ambitious developments in the Fengxian District and the Future Science City. These cities are being built specifically to accommodate tech companies and start-ups, while also aiming to create an enjoyable and sustainable place to live for people working in these companies. The concentration of industries in these hubs creates opportunities for industrial symbiosis, where the by-products of one process can become the input for another, a core principle in circular manufacturing.
There are great regional schemes, support and opportunities for such companies and people to come and set up their business in these areas. It was also fascinating to learn about the mindset driving this – where people with ideas which can benefit society are heavily supported. The processes to get started are highly streamlined.
For example, you can get all of your paperwork done in a single visit. If it takes another visit to finish things, the administration reviews its processes to improve efficiency. Such speed and responsiveness could offer valuable insights for European approaches, where more extensive regulatory processes can sometimes lengthen the timeline for implementing sustainability projects, including remanufacturing initiatives.
The pace and scale of innovation in China is also on another level., In 2014, the idea to build the Future Science City in Hangzhou was born, and by 2015, the construction had begun. In Europe, where remanufacturing policy is advancing but implementation is often slower, this capacity for rapid execution could help pilot new circular economy models at scale.
Chinese society is also deeply technological. Platforms like WeChat integrate communication, commerce and payments. In a remanufacturing context, such digital ecosystems could track products across their lifecycle, supporting Right to Repair goals by making repair histories and refurbishment details instantly accessible.
China has a population of over a billion people, which makes the Chinese market a very big one, with a lot of competition. But despite this, scientists and businesses are open to collaborating. This is a valuable trait when addressing shared challenges like electronic waste, PV panel recycling or battery refurbishment.
Chinese companies and universities are also highly open to international collaborations. I met and talked to numerous researchers and local government officials who expressed genuine interest in collaboration with Europe. For universities, there are specific grants to encourage these types of collaborations and partnerships. There are also companies which specialise in linking so-called “Talents” from abroad to researchers and leaders in China. In the field of remanufacturing, this could mean joint R&D projects, shared standards for refurbished goods, and knowledge exchange on consumer engagement strategies.
Overall, this trip was eye-opening. The diversity, speed and scale at which China is developing its tech industry, combined with its openness to collaboration, make it a key partner in the global shift toward remanufacturing and the circular economy. By combining China’s capacity for rapid scaling with Europe’s strong regulatory frameworks and quality standards, both regions stand to accelerate the move toward products the last longer, waste less, and serve more people for good.
