The city's links with China are being strengthened from Cambridge Innovation Park

Links between Cambridge and China are being strengthened by a new organisation based on Cambridge Innovation Park in Waterbeach.

The Cambridge Innovation Park China Centre (CIPCC) aims to facilitate two-way investment and international expansion of Cambridge and Chinese countries.

The centre is a partnership between Incubyte, Cambridge Accelerate and the Cambridge Innovation Park. It was launched yesterday (Tuesday) by Cambridge mayor George Pippas.

Incubyte founder and CEO Rob Precious said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Incubyte to forge stronger relations with our Chinese partners and we’re excited to be able to offer the businesses that we’re working with the ability to work alongside some of the innovative businesses coming out of China.

“As the UK moves into a new era, Incubyte is delighted to be taking the lead with forward-thinking global partnerships.”

Incubyte offers collaborative working space for start-ups and generates opportunities for inward investment. It also helps with marketing plans, financial advice, mentoring and networking.

Cambridge Accelerate helps entrepreneurs enter the Chinese market, finding them office space and investment opportunities.

Already Incubyte and Cambridge Accelerate are providing a platform for apprentices from both Cambridge and China to experience working life in the other country.

Rob said this is just the start of what’s planned at the centre.

“CIPCC will also be facilitating the investment of Chinese and UK (Cambridge) equity in ventures originating in the opposite country,” he continued. “It will consult on the physical expansion requirements of businesses on both sides of the partnership and will facilitate the locating of those new office facilities in the other country.

“CIPCC also has senior strategic relationships in both China and Cambridge that it will be leveraging to assist with the expansion of the businesses within the programme.”

The collaboration signifies the start of what CIPCC hopes will be a long and fruitful partnership between Cambridge and China and will lead the way in global investment partnerships as the UK prepares to exit the European Union.

Jenny Wong, founder and CEO of Cambridge Accelerate, added: “We’re thrilled to be joining forces with Incubyte to help develop some of the fantastic technology being developed in both the UK and China.

“There’s never been a better time for our two nations to be collaborating more closely.”