On 21 September, the 2026 Global Pitch, jointly hosted by the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) and the European Business & Innovation Centre Network (EBN), officially opened in Ningbo. A series of activities will also take place in Hangzhou, Shanghai and Wenzhou, running through 25 September.
The conference brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders from 11 countries and regions under the theme “Connecting Global AI Innovation, Empowering Future Industry Ecosystems”.
During the conference, the Ningbo Higher Education Technology Transfer Centre and UNNC International Science Park were officially launched, marking the opening of another international platform for innovation and technology transfer.
A new home for innovation and collaboration
Building on UNNC’s international innovation network and platforms including the Li Dak Sum Incubator and Ningbo Future Technologies International Proof-of-Concept Centre, the new centre will support innovators from early-stage ideas through to technology development, incubation and commercialisation.
“Today, we are not simply unveiling a building or launching a centre; we are opening a new chapter in cooperation between the university and the city, and between Ningbo and the world,” said Professor Jon Garibaldi, Provost of UNNC.
The conference also saw the Li Dak Sum Incubator formally recognised by EBN as an EU|BIC-certified incubator. Having received the certification in 2025, it is the first and currently only incubator in China to hold this international quality accreditation. It has already incubated nearly 60 start-ups, with technology-driven companies accounting for 84.8% and 43.6% having international teams. More than 80% of the companies remain in operation.
Connecting innovation across borders
UNNC’s partnership with EBN is creating new pathways for innovation to move in both directions — helping Chinese innovators connect with international markets while bringing international projects and expertise to China.
The conference featured a China–Europe incubator cooperation roadshow, with 14 innovation platforms from countries including Switzerland, Spain, Italy and the UK, alongside a global innovation project roadshow showcasing 11 projects in areas such as AI healthcare, autonomous robotics, sustainable products and photovoltaic energy storage.
For UNNC, international collaboration is not simply about bringing people together — it is about creating opportunities for ideas to grow. By connecting global innovation with Ningbo and the wider Yangtze River Delta, UNNC is strengthening its role as a bridge between universities, industry and international innovation ecosystems — helping ideas cross borders, reach the market and create impact.
Published on 22 September 2026