Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk has attended a forum of over 100 UK and Chinese businessmen and academics in China to examine the ways in which both countries can drive forward low energy solutions worldwide.
The Enabling Innovation Leadership Forum, a strategic initiative launched in October 2008 in Beijing by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), was held on Monday in the Huawei Shanghai Research & Development Centre in Shanghai. It was designed to place the spotlight on how low energy solutions can be used to reduce the impact of the global telecommunications industry and to explore the ways in which both countries can work together more efficiently.
Minister of State for Business and Enterprise Mark Prisk said:
“Low energy design is crucial to achieve a low carbon economy, and the telecommunications industry is well placed to provide a step change in approach through new technologies and new business models.
“The UK is a world-leader in the research and development of low carbon ICT solutions. We look forward to building on our close partnerships with China to deliver viable solutions that can match increasing consumer demand and dramatically reduce energy use.”
UK and Chinese companies have been partnering together for many years with all of China’s major telecom operators having established their European headquarters in the UK, where they are able to benefit from the UK’s position as a global hub for technology innovation with world-renowned strengths in R&D.
Low carbon solutions key facts:
- Low carbon solutions are being promoted by UK companies such as BT and Vodafone which have set goals to reduce energy usage by 50% over a 10-year period.
- The UK is pioneering the development and deployment of marine energy technologies, through Wave Hub in the South West, where wave energy developers can demonstrate their devices in arrays with grid connection.
- The ICT sector is integral to energy efficiency across nearly all sectors of the economy and could enable approximately 7.8 GtCO2e of emissions savings in 2020.
- Applied globally, optimised motors and industrial automation would reduce 0.97 GtCO2e in 2020, worth £68 billion ($107.2 billion).
- An improvement of 10% in China’s industrial and manufacturing motor systems could deliver up to 200 million tonnes (Mt) CO2e savings.
- During the Shanghai leg of his tour, Mr. Prisk attended the opening of UK SME Sondrel Ltd’s office in the bustling Zhangjiang high tech park and met with William Xu, Senior Vice President of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, China’s largest networking and telecommunications equipment supplier.
- Mr Prisk was also due to deliver a keynote address at the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) 2020 Business Forum and to visit the award-wining UK pavilion at Shanghai Expo.
