Opportunities 

Transforming from a traditionally low-cost, quantity-driven manufacturing economy, China is becoming a quality-focused technology innovation powerhouse. Continuing rapid urbanisation, a strong government investment programme and the largest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) market in the world, means China is becoming a hotbed for opportunity in the areas of advanced urban innovation and smart city solution development. China has over 160 cities with over 1 million or more inhabitants and its smart cities market is predicted to be worth USD$4.6bn by 2025.

The UK’s offering is likely to be in the areas of integrated approaches to planning and design, citizen engagement, smart city governance, standards development, sustainable development and regeneration. The Future Cities Catapult have identified the following opportunity areas for UK companies:

  • The UK is a leader in spatial planning and integrated ‘city systems’ approaches to urban challenges which will be valuable to a rapidly urbanising country like China.
  • Due to regulatory developments for green building, smart cities, open data, urban design, public service delivery and community governance, the UK has the capabilities to offer knowledge and good practices to China who are only just beginning to adopt these smart city standards.
  • China consumes more energy than every other country and has significant pollution and contamination problems that could be improved by the UK’s expertise in sustainability and green building.
  • China is home to 18 of the world’s 50 most congested cities (Shenzhen is ranked 15). The UK is a leader in intelligent transport and mobility.

Future Cities Mission to China


Innovate UK, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire SN21FL 
Telephone +44(0)1793 361 000 

www.innovateuk.gov.uk

View our Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2018 Innovate UK
Challenges

The following are urban challenges facing Chinese cities:

Rapid urbanisation: China’s urbanisation rate has risen from 31% to 55.6% in the past two decades resulting in over 700 million of its citizens living in cities. This rate is predicted to increase by a further 100 million individuals in the next 5 years, which will result in huge demand and supply pressures on land, energy, water and the environment.

Ageing Population: By 2050, the average age in China will be 46 making it one of the oldest societies in the world. This is due to longer life expectancies and the country’s previous ‘one child’ policy which has led to a larger older generation succeeding a smaller younger one.

Energy consumption: China is the world’s largest consumer of energy, much of which is produced by burning coal (it accounts for 48% of the world’s total consumption of coal). China's usage of energy is also less efficient than other leading economies putting further strain on energy production.

Inefficient transportation: China is home to 16 of the world’s 50 most congested cities which has been driven by increased vehicle ownership. In Beijing, in 2000, 20% of journeys were taken by personal cars with 25% using public transport. By 2010, journeys by car had risen to 35% with trips made by public transport also climbing to 40%.

Air quality: Taiyuan, Beijing, Urumqi, Lanzhou, Chongqing, Jinan and Shijiazhuang are all rated within the 10 most air-polluted cities in the world. The major causes are inefficient transportation, energy production and industrial activities. 

Destruction of local environment: China has struggled to improve its self-sufficiency of food supplies and is increasingly dependent on imported food. Approximately 25% of total arable land is unfit for farming and 16% of China’s soil contains high levels of pollutants.

Water Scarcity: Despite boasting the fifth highest freshwater resources per capita in the world, an estimated 70% of lakes, rivers and reservoirs in China are polluted and a staggering 54% of households are not connected to water pipelines. Water resources are concentrated in the south and west but water scarcity is a problem in the north of the country.

Resilience of Cities (Flooding): In China 641 cities have been identified as ‘prone to flooding’ and over 200 are routinely waterlogged during the annual monsoon season. Flooding is estimated to have cost the country over USD$300bn between 2000 and 2014 and the government plans to spend approximately RMB400bn (approximately USD$60bn) per year between 2011 and 2020 on water projects.


For more information

Please contact Kadir at futurecities@100open.com or +44 (0)203 889 5560.
Registration closed
Registration closed
Registration closed