The Sant Cugat del Vallès City Council has positively assessed the institutional mission in Changzhou, which aims to promote investment agreements, business collaboration, and university exchange.
The delegation from Sant Cugat del Vallès has returned from Changzhou with a framework collaboration agreement and an eye on future joint projects. The mission, led by Mayor Josep Maria Vallès, included representatives from the council, Sant Cugat Empresarial, the Terrassa Chamber of Commerce, Esade, and support from Acció. The goal: to open a stable door to the Asian giant for companies, universities, and local talent.
Changzhou, a reference industrial hub in Asia
Changzhou, with 5.4 million inhabitants and located near Shanghai, is one of the economic engines of the Yangtze River delta. The city hosts more than 300,000 active companies, nearly 900,000 economic activities, and a GDP equivalent to about 135 billion euros. Its Wujin district leads Chinese industrial development in sectors such as electric mobility, new energies, robotics, and biomedicine.
For Mayor Vallès, this mission “places Sant Cugat in direct contact with one of the most powerful industrial and technological ecosystems in Asia.” The signed agreement aims to translate into “real investment agreements, business collaboration, university cooperation, and talent attraction.”
The ambassador of Changzhou, Yang Di, highlighted that they have focused on Sant Cugat due to their similarities: “a business ecosystem with highly developed sectors such as healthcare and high-level university centres.” According to Yang Di, the Chinese industrial base complements the knowledge and talent of the Vallès city.
Changzhou University: 29,000 students and an international vocation
One of the key aspects of the mission was the visit to Changzhou University, which has 29,000 students and 26 faculties. The institution hosts over 600 international students and maintains agreements with more than 50 universities from 20 countries. Its model focuses on applied innovation, business incubators, and technology transfer, a profile that aligns with the Sant Cugat ecosystem.
Oriol Alcoba, director of Innovation and Knowledge Transfer at Esade, noted that the school has agreements with 237 universities worldwide, 30 of which are in China. “Changzhou is part of one of the most emerging territories on the planet, and it is very important to establish a presence there,” he stated. He anticipates promoting collaborative research, student exchanges, and joint academic programs.
The councillor for Business, Innovation, and Internationalisation, Albert Salarich, explained that internationalisation is not an end in itself but a tool to generate opportunities. “Opening new pathways for businesses, universities, and talent will allow us to create a city of opportunities,” he emphasised.
A step towards the Sant Cugat of the future
Mayor Vallès emphasised that, although everyday issues are managed day by day, “we also have the obligation to build the Sant Cugat of the future.” Cooperation with Changzhou aims to generate more employment, economic activity, and resources for residents. The mission has enabled contacts with leading institutions and companies and initiates the new Framework Collaboration Agreement between Cities for Economic Promotion and Innovation.
For the residents of Sant Cugat, this alliance could translate into more job and business opportunities in the medium term, as well as potential university exchanges and joint research projects. The next step will be to formalise the first sectoral agreements in the coming months.
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