Bristol’s burgeoning business links with China are to be mapped for the first time in a major research project.
The Bristol and Bath Chinese Ecosystem Analysis, which will be published next spring, will track all business, investment and academic connections between the area region and China, offering a definitive guide for years to come. 
While many connections with China are known and celebrated – such as Bristol’s strong link with its sister city Guangzhou – in many instances they are hidden.
The report has been commissioned by The Bristol and West of England China Bureau with UWE Bristol joining as a key sponsor.
It will be based on an online survey and one-to-one interviews and is being compiled on behalf of the Bureau by Stuart Harrison, founder and director of FinTech West.
Bristol and West of England China Bureau chief executive Dianne Francombe OBE, pictured, said: “Our aim is to nurture the business relationship between the West of England and China in order to help grow our local economy and foster local and international collaboration at a time when the Chinese government has recently launched its next five-year economic plan. 
“We will also seek to understand the impact on the relationship of issues such as Covid-19 and changes in the visa system that will hopefully encourage more overseas entrepreneurs to set up businesses in the UK.”
UWE Bristol pro vice-chancellor Jo Midgley said that while there were many thousands of Chinese students attending the region’s universities, the levels of graduate retention in the economy and their involvement in employment, innovation and entrepreneurship, were less well known.
“This groundbreaking research will rectify this situation, as well opening up all sorts of other avenues for new co-operation and collaboration between our region and the world’s second largest economy,” she added.
Additional sponsors and contributors are being sought for the report. To find out more visit https://chinabureau.report/
