Technology

British companies like Harrods and Jaguar Land Rover have dipped their toes into “the Metaverse”. But what actually is the Metaverse, and could it help companies that want to succeed in China? Tom Pattinson investigates The emergence of the Metaverse has captivated the imaginations of millions and revolutionised the way we perceive and interact with digital realms. Originating from science fiction, this virtual universe concept has quickly evolved into a …

The launch of ChatGPT has made AI a global talking point, and while many debate the pros and cons of this novel technology, China’s social media and e-commerce enterprises have been hawkish about incorporating it into their ecosystems, writes Qing Na from Dao Insights The recent China market entry by Midjourney, a world-renowned AI-generative painting application, through Tencent’s messaging app QQ caused a buzz in China’s digital sphere. However, the …

As TikTok fights for its life in the West, and pundits sling mud at the app’s differing treatment of children at home and abroad – does any of it matter if it ultimately leads to better outcomes for young people using social media? From Liz Truss’ tirade against TikTok as a “threat to children’s safety”, to American senator Richard Blumenthal’s concern that “TikTok’s policies and practices for children and teens …

With a value of over £17 billion and companies like Tencent and NetEase leading the way, China’s e-sports market is ripe with opportunities for British businesses – from technology companies to consumer brands and beyond. Jack Forsdike finds out more It is no secret that China’s games industry is colossal, but there’s also a specific market within the games industry that is becoming too big to be ignored: e-sports. E-sports …

Lin Zhang’s new book Labor of Reinvention: Entrepreneurship in the New Chinese Digital Economy (2023, Columbia University Press) traces the myriad local entrepreneurs, often in obscure and remote rural locations, using technology to reinvent their businesses and themselves. Paul French finds out more Whether you are a villager using e-commerce to find new and more profitable markets or a middle-class urban woman reselling luxury goods, the entrepreneurship journey is never …

Without crossover between China and the UK in everything from education to manufacturing, the medical technology pioneered by Beijing X-Magtech Technologies might never have existed. Sarah Keenlyside spoke to co-founder Bin Cai to find out more You don’t need a science degree to understand the life-saving benefits of Beijing X-Magtech Technologies’ commercial-grade atomic magnetometer. Possessing sensitivity about a billionth of earth’s magnetic field, it acts like a tiny microscope with …

Last year was another remarkable year for intellectual property (IP) in China and around the world. Peter Mumford, senior associate with Potter Clarkson LLP, provides a brief overview of some of the top IP developments from 2022 that may be of interest to businesses in China and the UK China Joins WIPO’s Hague System And The Marrakesh Treaty Two of the most significant developments of 2022 were the coming into …

Zhongguancun is the birthplace of some of China’s (and the world’s) biggest tech companies, including Lenovo, Bytedance – the company behind Tiktok – and Didi. But what role does ‘China’s Silicon Valley’ have to play in the future of the country’s tech sector? Anyone involved in tech in China has probably visited Zhongguancun,  the major technology hub in Beijing’s Haidian District that’s been dubbed ‘China’s Silicon Valley’. The area’s scientific …

China may not be keen on crypto, but the launch of a new state-backed marketplace for digital assets suggests that it is more open to the idea of NFTs. Qing Na from Dao Insights looks at what the future holds for NFTs and cryptocurrency in China As non-fungible tokens (NFTs) continue to expand their global foothold, even China could not resist embracing these digital assets, with the recent launch of …

China has one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies, presenting a golden opportunity for British tech. CBBC’s Kiran Patel explores how British companies can take advantage of the opportunities in fintech, software as a service, education and more China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology published the 14th Five-Year Plan for Information Communication Development in November 2021, following on from the national 14th Five-Year Plan. The macro trend for technology …