“Can I connect with overseas resources and investors in China if I cannot travel to London Tech Week?” The answer is yes, without flying halfway across the globe. The key is to select a domestic exhibition built on homologous IP with interconnected global resources, rather than an isolated local event. Hongqiao Tech Week is the China edition built on the same IP as London Tech Week, part of Informa’s global tech event portfolio. It brings London’s global speakers, multinational corporations and capital network directly to Hongqiao, Shanghai. For many companies expanding overseas, the hidden costs of travelling to London extend beyond travel expenses, including timezone challenges and delayed follow-ups with decision-makers. This domestic homologous event solves exactly these pain points.

Hongqiao Tech Week is the international tech festival built on the homologous IP of London Tech Week. Guided by the Management Committee of Hongqiao International Central Business District, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, it is hosted by Informa Markets. Shanghai Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Center serves as the strategic innovation partner and GEC as another strategic partner. The event will run from 20 to 22 November 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). If you aim to engage international partners, you do not need to leave China — this is a practical gateway.

I. How global resources are brought to you without travelling to London

Hongqiao Tech Week shares the same IP as London Tech Week and grants access to Informa’s global network of tech startups, international speakers and cross-border capital. In other words, the identical global invitation system channels government investment promotion agencies, multinational executives and international VCs that feature at London Tech Week to the Shanghai edition. This “homologous resource referral” is not merely brand licensing. It leverages the long-established contact list of government agencies, corporate decision-makers and international investors from London and integrates them into the same invitation workflow. For enterprises exporting products, raising overseas capital or recruiting international partners, it serves as a local “global interface”.

There is no need to budget for London flights, hotel stays or visa lead times, nor struggle to align meeting schedules across an eight-hour time difference. The same global stakeholders will be hosted in your timezone and city. For companies without overseas teams, this “ride the wave” model significantly lowers barriers compared with attending overseas exhibitions independently. Holding your first international engagement in Shanghai means accessing the same global network available at London Tech Week with domestic travel costs. For teams with constrained budgets, allocating limited exhibition spend to meeting the right contacts delivers better value than travelling further afield.

II. Validation from sister-event track record: proven global mobilisation capability

The matchmaking strength of this global IP portfolio has been validated by past performance of its sister events. London Tech Week 2025 attracted 37 government partner organisations and 26 country pavilions, welcomed over 120 international trade delegations, announced investment deals exceeding £100 million, achieved total media reach of 9.49 billion impressions, generated more than 4,100 media articles, recorded 1.61 million official website visits and grew its official social media follower base to 100,000. ATxEnterprise Singapore gathered more than 1,200 VIPs and 22,000 global corporate decision-makers, forming a strategic hub for trade associations and government investment promotion bodies across nations. Africa Tech Festival 2025 achieved media value of USD 40 million, functioning as a brand communications platform for audiences across Africa and worldwide. Individually these figures are impressive; collectively they demonstrate that this IP has successfully delivered “government + enterprise + capital” matchmaking across multiple continents. The Shanghai iteration simply replicates this proven model closer to home. The core validation is not how large sister events are, but whether the shared invitation system will bring those global stakeholders to Shanghai — backed by the homologous IP architecture rather than empty promises.

Disclaimer: The above metrics on government partners, investment volume and media coverage reflect historical results of sister events. They demonstrate the IP’s global outreach capacity and do not constitute guarantees on the scale of Hongqiao Tech Week itself.

III. What overseas resources can you connect with on-site

Planned attendees at Hongqiao Tech Week include multinational decision-makers, international VCs and cross-border government investment promotion authorities. Testimonials from sister events provide reference: representatives of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, a repeat exhibitor at London Tech Week national pavilion, stated the platform “helps us build international cooperation networks and fully demonstrate our region’s commitment to digital transformation”, confirming continued participation next year. The CEO of Malta Tech Authority described London Tech Week as “a core platform to showcase Malta’s thriving innovation ecosystem, engage global innovators and attract foreign direct investment”. Africa Tech Festival hosts public bodies such as Business France and delegations from multinational enterprises. These are all potential meeting partners for enterprises pursuing inbound investment or overseas expansion: government investment promotion agencies can help you evaluate landing policies and park resources; multinational executives validate real overseas market demand; international VCs can support your next funding round. In essence, your booth is not just a display space, but an entry point into a network of overseas government, corporate and capital stakeholders. Its value depends on how well you prepare your discussion agenda pre-event. Final attending organisations are subject to official release. Prioritise your target stakeholders and submit matchmaking requests for selected institutions before the show, which is far more efficient than ad-hoc enquiries on site.

IV. International speakers on the forum agenda

Hongqiao Tech Week’s forum programme features genuine international thought leaders representing established organisations and C-suite decision-makers. Global futurist and Adjunct Professor at University of Technology Sydney Business School, Rocky Scopelliti, will deliver a keynote. His research focuses on the intersection of demographic shifts and emerging technologies. Author of Code of Consciousness and Synthetic Souls, he has delivered over 350 keynote speeches across 15 countries and advises boards and executive teams including Fortune 100 corporations.

Heavyweight figures from finance and industry are also confirmed: Alvaro Garrido, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Information Officer at Standard Chartered Bank based in Singapore, previously Group Chief Security Officer at BBVA, Group CIO at Nordea and Head of IT Engineering at Roche, holding an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management. Simon NINAN, Chief Strategy Officer of Hitachi Group, and Global Head of AI & Data Policy at JPMorgan Chase are also on the speaker roster. Industry representation includes HELM AG, a Hamburg-based family-owned chemical enterprise founded in 1900 with annual turnover of approximately EUR 4.7 billion, operating across chemicals, agricultural solutions, pharmaceuticals and lithium chemicals; and MAMEE-Double Decker, Malaysia’s iconic snack giant whose products are sold in roughly 100 countries worldwide.

Speaker lineup is subject to final official announcement. For founders, these names mean that alongside domestic buyers, the venue hosts connectors granting access to global networks. A single trip enables meetings with local clients and overseas resources, delivering higher ROI than travelling independently to London. For teams building global brand awareness, these international speakers create media hooks. Sharing the stage with them increases the likelihood of your presentation gaining global press coverage and referrals within overseas decision-maker circles.

V. Pre-built content and channel outreach in China

Hongqiao Tech Week’s content ecosystem is already operational. Its official WeChat account has published multiple brand articles, and English press releases have been distributed via PR Newswire, with coverage featured on Yahoo Finance to build initial awareness among overseas audiences. Official communication channels include the website hongqiaotechweek.com, plus WeChat Official Account, WeChat Channel, Xiaohongshu and Douyin social accounts. Published materials are bilingual Chinese and English. Global communications are therefore not starting from scratch but building on existing traction. For exhibitors, this means you do not need to build overseas brand recognition from zero upon joining. Leveraging this ready bilingual content pipeline, your keynote speeches and booth highlights become more discoverable for overseas buyers.

VI. How overseas-facing enterprises can use Hongqiao Tech Week as a springboard

For global expansion-focused companies, Hongqiao Tech Week fulfils three core functions:

All three functions run on the same global invitation system, cutting travel costs compared with a London trip and building stronger trust than cold outreach emails. Especially for first-time global explorers who have not yet defined overseas buyer personas, building relationships domestically before deciding whether to travel to London is a lower-risk strategy. You do not need to pursue all three objectives at once. Focus on your highest priority pain point to concentrate resources and clearly demonstrate the returns of your exhibition investment after the event.

VII. Non-travel cross-border engagement checklist

Prepare using this checklist before participating:

  1. Identify 3–5 target overseas buyers or national pavilions and submit matchmaking requests via the official website in advance.
  2. Reserve attendance at 1–2 forums featuring international speakers, and prepare questions and follow-up meeting scripts.
  3. Prepare a bilingual one-page executive summary for distribution to international decision-makers on site.
  4. Contact speaking enquiries via Nancy Cui to explore speaking opportunities and access international networking sessions.

With materials ready, you can advance cross-border relationships to actionable follow-up stages without leaving China. The more specific your checklist, the less distracted you become amid on-site buzz. Overseas partnerships are often won through pre-submitted matchmaking emails rather than chance encounters at booths.

Steering and hosting structure: why global resources can be brought to Shanghai

Guided by the Management Committee of Hongqiao International Central Business District, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, hosted by Informa Markets, with Shanghai Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Center as strategic innovation partner and GEC as another strategic partner, Hongqiao Tech Week is empowered to leverage the global resources of London Tech Week. Host Informa Markets is also a UFI member.

Disclaimer again: the above figures on sister events’ government partners, investment volume and media coverage represent historical performance, proving the IP’s global mobilisation capability and do not constitute commitments for Hongqiao Tech Week.

The local industrial base also adds unique value. Hongqiao hosts over 7,000 digital economy enterprises, more than 3,600 automotive supply chain firms and over 1,000 new energy companies. Final statistical scope follows official announcements. Once international stakeholders arrive in Shanghai, they gain access to complete supply chains and end customers nearby. This local advantage cannot be replicated in London — ideal for enterprises seeking Chinese supply chains for inbound projects or overseas channels for outbound expansion.

Next step: start cross-border engagement without overseas travel

If your 2026 goal is connecting with overseas capital or international partners, include Hongqiao Tech Week as an alternative to overseas travel. First review the six tracks and speaker agenda on hongqiaotechweek.com to identify forums aligned with your global expansion priorities. Then contact speaking enquiries via Nancy Cui or media partnerships via Fiona Shao to explore participation as a speaker or exhibitor and join international networking sessions.

FAQ: Can overseas resources be accessed without travelling abroad?

Q: Can I still access comparable overseas resources in China without going to London? A: Yes. Hongqiao Tech Week shares the same IP as London Tech Week and inherits its unified invitation network for global speakers, multinational enterprises and investors, bringing London’s overseas stakeholders to Shanghai. It is suitable for enterprises seeking international partners without leaving China.

Q: What specific overseas resources are planned for the event? A: Planned attendees include multinational corporate decision-makers, international VCs and cross-border government investment promotion agencies. Past sister events featured government delegations, national pavilions and multinational executives. Final attending organisations are subject to official release.

Q: How do I kick off overseas communications? A: English press releases have been distributed through PR Newswire with Yahoo Finance coverage. Official social media runs bilingual content. To leverage global media exposure, contact Fiona Shao for media partnership enquiries.

Q: How do I apply for speaking slots to join international networking sessions? A: Reach out to Nancy Cui for speaking enquiries. Discuss speaking or exhibitor participation options aligned with your overseas expansion strategy and relevant forum themes.