2025 China-Germany Automotive Innovation Cooperation Summit & Innovation Cooperation Matchmaking Event Held in TEDA

On July 28, the 2025 China-Germany Automotive Innovation Cooperation Summit & Innovation Cooperation Matchmaking Event was successfully held at Baoxin Building in TEDA. Under the guidance of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, it was co-hosted by TEDA Administrative Commission, China Auto Intelligent Manufacturing Technology (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. and AlphaHelden International GmbH, and supported by Tianjin Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment Industry Association and Tianjin Zhenwei International Exhibition Group Co., Ltd.

The event was joined by a German automotive industry delegation made up of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA) and over ten leading German companies in automotive components, intelligent manufacturing, electronics, and consulting, together with about 90 key enterprises from TEDA’s automotive and intelligent manufacturing sectors. 

The event featured meet-and-greet, strategic signing ceremonies, keynote speeches, free communications, and on-site visits. It aims to deepen pragmatic cooperation between China and Germany automotive industries in areas such as technological innovation, intelligent manufacturing, supply chain collaboration, and market expansion, while jointly exploring new opportunities amid global transformation in the automotive industry.

Strengthening Cooperation Foundation through Meet-and-Greet

Before the start of forum, Yang Lin, Vice Chairman of the TEDA Administrative Commission, met with the German delegation led by BWA Chairman Michael Schumann. Extending a warm welcome at the very beginning, Yang stated that Tianjin and Germany shared a long-standing history of cooperation, with over 480 German-invested enterprises currently operating in Tianjin, including Volkswagen, SEW Eurodrive Group, Vitesco Technologies, and BASF Polyurethanes, all achieving notable success. TEDA has a strong industrial foundation across sectors such as automotive, high-end equipment, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and electronic information. Meanwhile, BWA has set up representative offices in over 70 countries worldwide, influencing tens of thousands of enterprises. This event presents a valuable opportunity to further share resources and complementary advantages between enterprises in both China and Germany in areas such as technology R&D cooperation, supply chain manufacturing, and two-way market expansion.

Michael Schumann, Chairman of the Board of BWA, praised the efforts made by the two countries in promoting cooperation and the outcomes achieved. He noted that BWA facilitates German companies in seizing opportunities in overseas market and assists foreign companies in entering the German market by organizing various business trips and matchmaking events. The delegation had been impressed by China’s innovation momentum in mobility. BWA will play an active role in deepening cooperation between Chinese and German enterprises.

Representatives from TEDA Steering Office of Investment Promotion and Advanced Manufacturing Bureau also participated in the meeting.

Signing of Memorandums to Unveil New Chapter of Cooperation

The conference began with a keynote speech by BWA Chairman Michael Schumann, who emphasized that in coping with current international environment, there’s a growing need for cross-border cooperation while advancing ecological transformation in industry, addressing the digital transformation challenges, and safeguarding global stability in a multipolar world. The delegation’s mission in this visit to China is not only about sharing expertise, but also to explore new cooperation fields through on-site visits, technical discussions and dialogues in mutual trust. He expressed his eagerness to deepen existing cooperation and forging fresh ones.

Song Song, Director of the Germany Division under the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, stressed that Tianjin stands as a vital innovation hub for China's automotive industry in the north, boasting a strong industrial heritage and cutting-edge capabilities in intelligent manufacturing. It has established in-depth strategic partnerships with automotive powerhouses like Germany. She also expressed expectations and put forward proposals for deepening future collaboration in industrial innovation.

Person-in-charge of TEDA’s Advanced Manufacturing Bureau introduced in detail TEDA’s robust capabilities and promising prospects in the automotive sector.

After that, TEDA Administrative Commission, BWA, China-Germany Intelligent Manufacturing Technology Center (CGIMTIC), and AlphaHelden International GmbH jointly signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The four parties will commit to promoting the “Super Factory” standard system of China Auto Intelligent Manufacturing Technology (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. in both China and Europe, and deepening cooperation between China-Germany automotive industry in intelligent manufacturing, new energy, and intelligent connected vehicles. They will also facilitate German enterprises in setting up businesses in China while supporting Chinese automakers in their expansion into the European market. They will also build a two-way platform for the flows of technology, capital, and talents between the two countries, creating an internationally influential innovation ecosystem for automotive and smart-manufacturing industries.

The signing was followed by another four-party signing of Memorandum of Cooperation among BWA, China Auto Intelligent Manufacturing Technology (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., Prof. Ganiyusufoglu, Academician of Deutsche Akademie der Technikwissenschaften and Qingdao International Academician Park, and AlphaHelden International GmbH. It is expected to propel China–Germany collaboration in automotive intelligent manufacturing to a new level.

Global Authoritative Experts Share Insights 

During the keynote speech session, Prof. Liu Gang, Chief Economist of the Chinese Institute of New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies (CINGAI), gave an in-depth analysis of AI trends and its wide application in the automotive sector. Mr. Pan Xuelong, Director of Electrical Standards & Industry Development of Phoenix Contact (China) Co., Ltd, provided an in-depth analysis of the international standards and regulations in digitalization and intelligentization. Prof. Ganiyusufoglu, Academician of Deutsche Akademie der Technikwissenschaften and Qingdao International Academician Park, shared his insights into the latest developments in intelligent manufacturing and digitalization field.

Enterprises from China and Germany Seek Mutual Growth via In-depth Discussion

The event specially arranged a roadshow of German enterprises. German companies such as Bilstein, SYNOVA, AlixPartners, Bühler, and FIBRO introduced their technologies and engaged in productive talks with key enterprises from TEDA’s automotive and intelligent manufacturing sectors. Participants in the event agreed that China and Germany enjoy broad prospects for win-win collaboration in areas such as industrial chain collaboration and technological innovation. The forum provided a platform for communication and cooperation between enterprises of both countries, and tapped into the potential of cooperation in technological innovation and market expansion. It also injected strong momentum into the joint efforts to make global transformation in the auto sector and explore new development spaces.

After the event, the German delegation visited the TEDA Exhibition & Exchange Center on the 38th floor of Baoxin Building.They learned about TEDA’s industrial layout, openness, innovation, green development and internationalized business environment. The visit will lay a solid foundation for further cooperation.