10 Venture Leaders pitch to Chinese investors and enterprises in fourth Swiss-Sino Pitchinar

The fourth China-Switzerland Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pitchinar showcased the two nations’ innovation potential while fostering the exchange between Swiss and Chinese startups. The event included 22 startups, and online matchmaking opportunities after the pitching allowed 45 startups and innovators to strengthen relationships and facilitate collaborations. The program was hosted by the China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC), the Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau, the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, and Venturelab.

The participants of the one-day pitchinar were welcomed by renowned Swiss and Chinese experts and industry leaders. Host Zha Li (Director, Department of International Science and Technology Cooperation, Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau) introduced the speakers: Zhao Jing (Deputy Director General, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China), Zhuang Jia (Deputy Director General, China Science and Technology Exchange Center), Lei Hong (Deputy Secretary General of CPC, Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau), Chen Xuehua (Deputy Director General, Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province), Conny Camenzind (General Consul, Consulate General of Switzerland in Chengdu), Stefan Steiner (Co-Managing Director, Venturelab).



“The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle is located at the intersection of ‘the belt and road initiative’ and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. This area has dense scientific and educational resources, high-tech enterprises, and high-quality, innovative resources in the fields of big data intelligence, aerospace, electronic engineering, and biomedicine. China and Switzerland have many common needs in the above areas,” said Deputy Director General Zhao Jing.“We look forward to in-depth exchanges and discussions between Chinese and Swiss enterprises, universities and research institutes participating in today’s matchmaking meeting. We also look forward to fully tapping the potential of cooperation, providing better scientific and technological support for the high-quality economic and social development of the two countries, and contributing more scientific and technological achievements to Chinese-Swiss innovative strategic partnerships.”  

Examples of Sino-Swiss cooperation emphasized the goal of the pitchinar: advancing bilateral connections. The relationships and shared visions of the research collaboration illustrated the two countries’ innovative potential and ambitious growth goals that are facilitated through partnerships and knowledge exchange.



“The Sino-Swiss Pitchinar provides entrepreneurs with critical exposure and exclusive networking opportunities,” said Stefan Steiner, co-managing director at Venturelab and one of the hosts of the pitchinar. “This is our fourth pitchinar, and we have established valuable relationships that help open doors for investors and startups and advance the collaboration between Switzerland and China.”

Ten Swiss and ten Chinese startups pitched their innovations and answered questions for an international audience, including entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts.


Salvatore De Benedictis, co-founder and CEO of KOMP-ACT: “Participating in the CSTEC Pitchinar will help to reach potential innovative partners to strengthen our supply chain as well as our global market presence in a top-leading country of machine builders and end-userss aiming to impact their businesses and the environment through the implementation of green electric actuation technology.”

Frederic Falise, Director at Scientific Visual: “Through contacts established through the CSTEC pitchinar organized by Venture Leaders China [2020], Scientific Visual has successfully inspected the biggest pieces of sapphire produced at an industrial scale. The 260 kg bulk of sapphire came from a leading company in China and can be used for producing optical components for the optic industry and wafer substrates for LED. The inspection is a world premiere, and it is the first step to fully digitalizing the quality control for industrial crystal. It will help the industry save EUR 200 million per annum by avoiding the process of the initially defective material.”


The program was hosted by the China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC), the Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau, the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, and Venturelab. CSTEC supports Swiss startups in China beyond the pitchinar: For the second time, CSTEC produced and distributed the Chinese version of the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Magazine.


Learn more about the ten Swiss startups that participated in the pitchinar: