On March 18, 2025, the Shandong Representative Office of the German Federal Association of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (BVMW) and the Jinan High-Tech Zone Approval Service Department held a meeting in Room 1302 of the Science and Technology Innovation Financial Building. The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation in economic, technological, and educational fields and promote exchanges and collaboration between Chinese and German enterprises.
The meeting was chaired by Liu Yin, Chief Representative of BVMW Shandong Office. Attendees included Xu He, Administrative Deputy Director of BVMW Shandong Office; Liu Hongwen, First-level Senior Host of Jinan High-Tech Zone Approval Service Department; Xu Li, Head of the Enterprise Service Center Office of Jinan High-Tech Zone Approval Service Department; and staff members Jiang Shu and Zou Zhe.
During the meeting, both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on multiple areas of cooperation. Liu Yin introduced BVMW’s extensive resources in Germany and proposed a “1+3” cooperation model, where one Chinese enterprise partners with three foreign enterprises to foster mutual benefits. Additionally, BVMW plans to further advance Sino-German economic collaboration through events such as the China Future Day and Hannover Messe.
The Jinan High-Tech Zone Approval Service Department highlighted three key German cooperation hubs: Dülmen (electronics industry), Esslingen (automotive industry, headquarters of Festo), and Heidelberg. These hubs serve as vital bridges for collaboration between Jinan High-Tech Zone and German enterprises. Both sides also explored the feasibility of establishing R&D centers in Germany to leverage local talent for technological innovation, thereby reducing the high costs associated with overseas production.
Specific cooperative projects were discussed, including opportunities in children’s clothing agencies, new energy vehicles, sanitation trucks, and patrol vehicles. Notably, potential partnerships with hardware enterprises in Changzhou and Ningbo, as well as board enterprises in Linyi, were recommended to supply materials such as engineering machinery, screws, nuts, and steel bars for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.
Educational collaboration was also addressed. Since 2010, the dual education system partnership between Jinan Vocational College and Germany’s AKA has trained numerous professionals for local enterprises. Martin Wortmann, BVMW’s Education Director, expressed interest in expanding educational cooperation in China, particularly in specialized fields like automotive technology.
The meeting concluded with discussions on cooperation in stainless steel and bearing industries, along with plans to engage more enterprises in international collaboration through industrial clusters and leading companies.
This meeting laid a solid foundation for future Sino-German enterprise cooperation, with both parties committed to deepening collaboration and advancing project implementation.