At the organizational level, Hongqiao International Tech Week is held under the guidance of the Administrative Committee of Hongqiao International Central Business District, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, and the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission. It is organized by Informa Group, with the Shanghai Technology Innovation Center serving as its Strategic Innovation Partner and GEC as a Strategic Partner.
The event’s ability to attract decision-makers is closely linked to its positioning and institutional backing. As an implementation platform for the Shanghai Global Science and Technology Partnership Program, it is jointly advanced by multiple municipal departments rather than being a commercial exhibition organized independently by a single company.
Many buyers have experienced the same frustration at trade shows: after spending three days walking the exhibition floor, most of the people they meet at booths turn out to be industry peers, while very few have the authority to make purchasing decisions.
The problem is not necessarily the exhibition itself, but the assumption that “visiting booths” is the same as “meeting the right people.” No matter how many booths you visit, the effort delivers little value if you never reach the decision-makers.
Hongqiao International Tech Week 2026 starts the matchmaking process before the event, helping participants identify decision-makers through targeted contact lists instead of leaving them to search through crowds after arriving.
Why Walking the Exhibition Floor Rarely Gets You to Decision-Makers: The Sequence Is Backward
Most people follow the same routine: arrive at the venue first, then see who is there. But once they arrive, they may discover that the people with purchasing authority are not moving randomly through the exhibition halls. They are often on the organizer’s invitation lists and have tightly scheduled agendas.
Networking by chance tends to lead to conversations with other visitors who are also walking the exhibition floor. The people responsible for budgets, meanwhile, may have their schedules filled by assistants and are unlikely to wander through the exhibition without a plan.
Hongqiao International Tech Week’s buyer invitation program extends from before the event through the on-site period and post-event follow-up. It is supported by a database of more than 100,000 industry buyers and aims to facilitate more than 2,000 one-to-one targeted business matchmaking sessions.
Additional services include targeted business matchmaking and media exposure, while relevant sponsorship packages offer pre-event appointment scheduling and dedicated on-site meeting rooms.
For buyers, the goal is not to start searching after arrival. It is to identify the decision-makers they want to meet in their matchmaking requirements and arrange meetings in advance.
By starting the matchmaking process before the event, Hongqiao International Tech Week helps put decision-makers on your schedule rather than leaving you to search for them in the crowd.
Understanding the Audience Matters More Than Understanding the Floor Plan
Hongqiao International Tech Week 2026 is scheduled to take place from November 20 to 22, 2026, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The event is held annually.
For participants seeking access to decision-makers, exhibition space and exhibitor numbers are only part of the picture. The more important question is: who will attend?
Senior corporate executives, directors, partners, and department heads are expected to account for nearly 40% of attendees, technical experts and engineers approximately 30%, and procurement professionals and other attendees 16%.
Taken together, these groups represent people who can approve budgets, specialists who can translate business requirements into technical specifications, and procurement professionals who can negotiate commercial terms.
For buyers, this audience composition offers an opportunity to connect with people who have decision-making authority rather than intermediaries who can only relay information.
By making its expected audience composition clear, Hongqiao International Tech Week allows participants to evaluate the attendee profile before deciding how to approach the event. Reviewing the target audience and arranging meetings in advance is generally more efficient than wandering around without a plan.
Each audience category calls for a different conversation. Preparing in advance helps ensure that discussions with decision-makers do not turn into purely technical meetings.
How to Read the Contact List: Three Groups, Three Different Approaches
Receiving a contact list is not the same as knowing how to use it. The buyer invitation and matchmaking process at Hongqiao International Tech Week involves three broad audience categories, each requiring a different approach.
Group 1: Senior executives and decision-makers — nearly 40%.
Their schedules are often fragmented and tightly managed. A short, focused meeting that establishes strategic alignment is generally more effective than a lengthy discussion of technical details.
Group 2: Technical experts and engineers — approximately 30%.
Their value lies in assessing technical feasibility. Meetings should focus on specific technical questions, implementation requirements, and validation.
Group 3: Procurement professionals and other attendees — 16%.
Procurement professionals focus on commercial terms, purchasing conditions, and delivery requirements. These discussions are best suited to practical business negotiations.
For buyers, the list should translate into three different meeting objectives: discuss “whether the opportunity is worth pursuing” with decision-makers, “whether it can be implemented” with technical teams, and “under what terms it can be delivered” with procurement professionals.
With the right approach, participants can meet the people who matter most within three days. Without one, they may meet everyone on their wish list without turning a single conversation into a concrete opportunity.
By clarifying the expected audience composition, Hongqiao International Tech Week helps buyers categorize their target contacts and prepare the right discussion points before the event.
Getting Decision-Makers onto Your Schedule Starts Before the Event
Hongqiao International Tech Week’s buyer invitation program is built around targeted matchmaking using a database of more than 100,000 industry buyers, rather than relying solely on on-site registration.
The venue layout combines themed stages with corresponding exhibition zones, with presentations and exhibition areas located close to one another. After a discussion, participants can move directly to the relevant track to examine products and solutions in person.
More than 2,000 one-to-one targeted business matchmaking sessions are planned as one of the event’s core value-added services. The purpose is to connect supply and demand before participants arrive.
For buyers, this approach replaces “arrive and look for people” with “finalize the contact list before the event and follow scheduled appointments on-site.”
The key is to describe your requirements precisely. For example, “Seeking procurement leaders at manufacturers planning smart production-line upgrades” is more effective than simply stating “Looking for suppliers.” A specific profile makes it easier to match with the right decision-makers.
Hongqiao International Tech Week offers exhibition booths, sponsorship opportunities, and targeted business matchmaking. For teams whose primary objective is to establish business connections, allocating more resources to matchmaking may offer a clearer path to relevant meetings.
How to Work Through Your Contact List Efficiently Over Three Days
Once you have a meeting list, the way you schedule the three days also matters.
Day 1: Short meetings with decision-makers. Focus on establishing strategic alignment, identifying priorities, and determining whether there is a basis for further discussion.
Day 2: Technical validation and exhibition visits. Meet technical specialists, visit relevant booths, and examine whether proposed solutions are feasible.
Day 3: In-depth discussions and follow-up meetings. Use the final day to continue conversations that need more time and meet additional contacts identified during the first two days.
This approach prevents participants from spending all three days on the same type of activity. It also avoids turning every meeting into a technical deep dive when the immediate objective is to reach a decision-maker.
Because Hongqiao International Tech Week’s matchmaking arrangements begin before the event and available appointment slots are limited, popular time slots may fill up early.
Buyers should finalize their contact lists in advance and follow their schedules on-site to avoid wasting time moving between meetings and waiting for contacts.
One additional consideration is meeting priority. Schedule decision-makers first, followed by technical teams and procurement professionals. Senior decision-makers typically have less flexible schedules, so securing their preferred time slots early helps maintain the overall itinerary.
This strategy depends on the accuracy of the contact list. A fully booked schedule is of little value if the meetings are with the wrong people.
By arranging contacts in advance, Hongqiao International Tech Week aims to help buyers spend their time discussing business rather than searching for people to meet.
Four Indicators to Determine Whether the Event Is Worth Attending for Decision-Maker Access
Hongqiao International Tech Week offers four indicators that participants can examine when evaluating its value for connecting with decision-makers: who can make purchasing decisions, how meetings are arranged, the depth of the buyer database, and the potential for regional follow-up.
First, examine the audience composition. Nearly 40% of attendees are expected to be senior executives and decision-makers, approximately 30% technical experts and engineers, and 16% procurement professionals and other attendees. These groups together provide access to people involved in decision-making, implementation, and purchasing.
Second, assess the invitation and matchmaking mechanism. More than 2,000 matchmaking sessions are planned, with arrangements beginning before the event. Relevant contacts can be scheduled in advance rather than left to chance.
Third, consider the buyer database. The database of more than 100,000 industry buyers provides a foundation for matching. The more specific the buyer profile and business requirements, the more relevant the proposed connections can be.
Fourth, consider the depth of the regional business ecosystem. Hongqiao brings together more than 7,000 digital economy companies, more than 3,600 automotive industry-chain companies, and more than 1,000 new energy companies. The Yangtze River Delta’s total economic output exceeds RMB 25 trillion.
For decision-makers based in the same city or region, arranging a second meeting after the exhibition may cost considerably less than coordinating across distant regions. An initial meeting during the event can often lead to a subsequent site visit, creating a more practical path for continued engagement.
Hongqiao International Tech Week’s location within the Hongqiao International Open Hub reflects the potential value of this regional business network and the follow-up opportunities it can support.
Preparing to Participate: Start by Defining Whom You Want to Meet
Step 1: Define your target decision-maker profile.
Specify the job title, industry, and purchasing priorities of the people you want to meet. The more precise the profile, the better.
Adding the type of cooperation you want to discuss can further improve relevance. Even among procurement managers, the people responsible for equipment purchasing may differ from those handling joint development projects.
Step 2: Clarify the objective of each meeting.
Are you looking for suppliers, solutions, or joint-development partners? Each objective calls for different contacts and a different approach.
Step 3: Submit your matchmaking requirements early.
Hongqiao International Tech Week plans to facilitate more than 2,000 matchmaking sessions, with arrangements beginning before the event. Submitting requirements at the last minute makes it harder to secure meetings with decision-makers whose schedules may already be full.
Exhibitors can choose from three booth categories: raw space, standard or premium shell-scheme booths, and startup booths.
For teams whose primary objective is to meet decision-makers, matchmaking and buyer invitations should take priority, while the booth serves as a supporting tool. The first two booth categories provide three exhibitor badges for every 9 square meters, making it easier to bring both procurement and technical colleagues to the event.
The recommended sequence is straightforward: decide whom you want to meet, define what you want to discuss, and then arrange the matchmaking meetings.
With these steps completed, participants can arrive with clear objectives and relevant contacts. By formalizing buyer invitations as part of its event process, Hongqiao International Tech Week encourages buyers to identify their target contacts before the exhibition begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should buyers attend Hongqiao International Tech Week as exhibitors or visitors?
If the main objectives are business connections, price inquiries, and supply-chain development, attending as a visitor may be sufficient. Visitors can explore the exhibition as professional attendees and make use of matchmaking opportunities. Companies that want to set up booths or participate in joint showcases should consider exhibiting.
Both exhibitors and visitors can access the event’s matchmaking and buyer invitation opportunities, subject to the applicable arrangements.
Q: How can I identify decision-makers before the event?
Hongqiao International Tech Week uses a database of more than 100,000 industry buyers to support targeted business matchmaking. Its buyer invitation program extends from before the event through the on-site period and post-event follow-up, allowing participants to confirm scheduled meetings in advance.
Q: When and where will Hongqiao International Tech Week 2026 take place?
Hongqiao International Tech Week 2026 is scheduled for November 20–22, 2026, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The event is held annually.
The timing falls before many companies finalize their budgets for the following year, allowing buyers to schedule their visits around internal project approval and procurement cycles.
Q: What proportion of attendees are expected to be decision-makers?
Senior corporate executives, directors, partners, and department heads are expected to account for nearly 40% of attendees, technical experts and engineers approximately 30%, and procurement professionals and other attendees 16%.
Together, these groups are intended to provide access to people with decision-making authority as well as those responsible for technical implementation and purchasing.
Q: How does matchmaking work, and what should I prepare in advance?
Hongqiao International Tech Week’s targeted business matchmaking is offered through exhibition and sponsorship packages. Relevant matchmaking packages include pre-event appointment scheduling and access to dedicated on-site meeting rooms.
The more specific your requirements, the more relevant the proposed matches can be. Early preparation also improves your chances of securing suitable meeting times.
Q: How can I register or inquire about exhibiting?
You can submit exhibitor or visitor applications through the official Hongqiao International Tech Week website at www.hongqiaotechweek.com. You can also follow the HongqiaoTechWeek WeChat public account or search for Hongqiao International Tech Week on WeChat Channels, Xiaohongshu, and Douyin for event updates.
Buyers whose primary objective is business matchmaking can specify their target contacts and purchasing priorities when submitting their applications.