Spark09 promotes China as innovation powerhouse

Nanotechnology scientists shared ideas with customer service experts, environmentalists and microfinance managers during the Shanghai seminar.

By Jin Zhu

“China is not known as an innovation center, but that perception will soon change,” said Andy Anderson, founder of Spark09, a conference series that brings tether human resources industry leaders, non-profit organization pioneers and creative thinkers seeking to promote China as an innovation powerhouse.

After Hong Kong and Shanghai, Beijing will be the venue of Spark09’s hird conference this year, to be held October 23. The event will feature 15 speakers who have found remarkable solutions to problems in fields like the environment, business and the sciences.

The series takes pride in bringing together “unlike-minded” individuals to share their varied experiences, Anderson said, adding that this will help attendees learn innovative problem-solving techniques.

“There are three steps in the innovationprocess. First, people need to be aware what problems exist, then assess what tools they have to overcome them, and finally, try to find ways to solve the problems,” he said. “The speakers will provide examples from eir life to demonstrate this.”

Next week, Gunnar Snorri Gunnarsson, ambassador of Iceland to China, will talk about how his country recovered from the economic recession and reclaimed its title as “one of the happiest places on Earth,” as well as its top spot on the United Nations Development Prramme (UNDP) Development Index.

“Iceland was the first victim in the global recession. After being severely hurt, how the country recovered has attracted attention,” said Gunnarsson.

“To develop a new and scientific way to cooperate with China, which has a huge untapped market, can be regarded as a great innovation in the business field,” he said.

Eric Schmidt, president and founder of BDP Green Technology Company, will discuss how green technology can successfully enter the mainstream.

“China’s biodegradable plastic factories are combining revolutionary technology with low production anresearch and development costs. Whether affordable green tech could be developed here is my biggest focus,” Schmidt said.

Spark09 in Beijing, co-organized by Clark Morgan corporate training company, expects at least 500 attendees. Profits from the conference will be donated to two Chinese charities: The Library Project and 51SIM.

“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it,” Anderson said. “ proud to help develop that consciousness while assisting local charities.”

Spark09 in Beijing
Where: Hilton Hotel, 1 Dongfang Lu, Dongsanhuan Bei Lu, Chaoyang District
When: October 23, 9:30 am – 6:30 pm
Web site: spark09.org (to book tickets)