London Hosts Sanya Yazhou Bay Science & Technology City Investment Conference Highlighting Opportunities in the Hainan Free Trade Port
3/13/2026 12:00:00 AM
The Sanya Yazhou Bay Science & Technology City Investment Opportunities Conference was held in London on 11 March 2026 at Six Park Place, the home of the Royal Over-Seas League, an international non-profit organisation founded in 1910 and recognised by Royal Charter. The event introduced the innovation ecosystem and investment opportunities of Sanya Yazhou Bay Science & Technology City and aimed to promote international cooperation between China and the United Kingdom within the framework of the Hainan Free Trade Port.
The conference brought together representatives from around thirty institutions and companies, including participants from technology, agriculture, life sciences, investment institutions, universities, and professional service firms. It provided a platform for dialogue between Chinese and international organisations, with discussions focusing on potential collaboration in areas such as agricultural innovation, digital technology, deep-tech, life sciences, and cross-border investment.
In his opening remarks, Qingsong He, Deputy Head of the Industry Development Division of the Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City Administration, welcomed guests and highlighted the long-standing cooperation between China and the United Kingdom in technology, scientific research, and industrial development. He noted that as China continues to advance high-level opening-up, the Hainan Free Trade Port is emerging as an important gateway linking China with global markets. Located in the southernmost part of China, Sanya is widely recognised as a tropical coastal city and a major agricultural research centre, particularly in crop breeding research. Leveraging these advantages, Sanya Yazhou Bay Science & Technology City has developed into a key platform for scientific and technological innovation within the Hainan Free Trade Port.
The science city focuses on strategic sectors including the seed breeding industry, deep-sea technology, life sciences, and the digital economy. Nearly fifteen thousand enterprises have already been registered in the park, forming an increasingly dynamic innovation ecosystem supported by favourable policies and an international business environment.
During the conference, Toby Zhang, Investment Manager at the Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City Administration, presented the city’s innovation ecosystem, policy incentives, and development opportunities. His presentation outlined the science city’s open innovation environment, intellectual property protection framework, and a range of support services designed to facilitate international collaboration and technology commercialisation. Representatives from companies already operating in the science city also shared their experiences and perspectives, introducing the development of their businesses in the region and highlighting the opportunities created by the city’s growing innovation ecosystem.
Representatives from Peneson Offshore Tech Sanya Co., Ltd., Hainan CathayBot Technology Co., Ltd., and Hainan Hengsheng Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. shared practical insights on operating within the Hainan Free Trade Port and demonstrated how the region is fostering the development of emerging technology companies.
The event attracted a wide range of international organisations and companies, including universities, venture capital and financial institutions, technology companies, and professional service providers. Participants included representatives from organisations such as Anglia Ruskin University, Medicines Discovery Catapult, HSBC Innovation Banking, Seraphim Space, Fuel Ventures, Intralink, Boston Scientific, and Johnson & Johnson, alongside agricultural innovators, technology startups, and cross-border business advisory firms.
The conference concluded with a networking session in which attendees exchanged views on scientific research collaboration, industrial investment, and international market development. Discussions demonstrated strong international interest in Sanya Yazhou Bay Science & Technology City and its role within the broader development of the Hainan Free Trade Port. The conference also strengthened connections between Chinese and British enterprises, research institutions, and investors, highlighting the potential for further cooperation in science, technology, and industry. Looking ahead, Sanya Yazhou Bay Science & Technology City aims to deepen international partnerships, attract global innovators and investors, and continue building an open and internationally connected innovation ecosystem within the Hainan Free Trade Port.