Generative artificial intelligence in China: a rapidly expanding technological revolution

Generative artificial intelligence (AI), a technology that enables the creation of textual, visual, audio and other content, is developing rapidly in China. With applications ranging from artistic creation to scientific research, not forgetting improved business services, this technology is becoming a strategic pillar of innovation. At the forefront of patent filings and research initiatives, China is positioning itself as a major player on the global generative AI scene, consolidating its ambition for technological leadership.

China leads the way in generative AI patent applications

China has been investing heavily in AI for several years, particularly in generative applications. According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), China has filed more patents than any other country in the field of AI over the past decade, accounting for around 60% of worldwide filings.

The patent landscape in China is dominated by large companies such as Baidu, Tencent and Alibaba. These companies are working closely with universities and research centres to develop new applications for generative AI. The synergy between the private sector, academic institutions and the government creates a favourable environment for rapid innovation.

The role of Chinese companies in generative AI

Tech giants such as Baidu, Huawei and Tencent play a central role in China’s generative AI ecosystem. Baidu, for example, has developed its own language model, Ernie, which aspires to rival Western models such as GPT. This model is used for a variety of applications, including automatic content generation, translation and the creation of intelligent chatbots.

Emerging uses and applications of generative AI

Advances in generative AI in China are finding applications in many sectors of the economy.  In marketing, for example, Chinese companies are exploiting generative AI to create tailor-made advertising campaigns tailored to consumer behaviour and preferences. These applications enable greater automation and optimisation of production costs. Huawei is integrating generative AI into its cloud infrastructures, offering solutions for automating processes such as generating reports or creating personalised content.

AI and the cultural and creative industries

AI is also being used in the cultural and creative industries. Tencent has invested in generative AI applications for entertainment, such as script creation and virtual art. In media and entertainment, platforms such as iQiyi and Bilibili use AI models to create content tailored to user preferences, such as animated series or podcasts. There are numerous projects and tests of specific applications, which are gradually being rolled out.

AI, education and scientific research

In the education sector, generative AI is being exploited to develop personalised learning tools, such as chatbots capable of proposing exercises tailored to the level of each student. Applications in the medical field are also promising: AI-based diagnostic systems assist doctors in interpreting medical images or generating complex clinical reports. Start-ups such as SenseTime are exploring applications in the health and finance sectors.

Conclusion: A promising future for generative AI in China

Generative AI represents a strategic opportunity for China, which is establishing itself as a world leader in this field. With massive investment in research, a dynamic technology development ecosystem and applications with high economic potential, China is shaping the future of generative AI. By continuing on this trajectory, China could redefine industry standards, play a central role in the evolution of artificial intelligence on a global scale and make it an asset of its economic and technological power.

The calendar of holidays in China for 2024

The Chinese year is rich in celebrations that present real opportunities for businesses. Traditional festivals, celebrations and commemorations are special occasions for people to come together. These key dates in the Chinese calendar are accompanied by a peak in consumption of refined foods, cosmetics and other luxury goods, which are often bought and given as gifts. The economic dynamism is also linked to the numerous trips across the country to gather and celebrate these moments with family and friends. These celebrations are complemented by commercial events. These annual marketing operations are very successful, with record sales. Here’s an overview of the most important dates to remember when planning your marketing activities and campaigns in China this year.

Traditional Holidays

Chinese New Year – February 10th, 2024

The Chinese New Year marks the beginning of the lunar year, which this year is under the sign of the Wooden Dragon. The New Year is followed two weeks later by the Lantern Festival. This period is characterized by an extended holiday season preceded by intense commercial activity. Tourism is also at its peak. However, during this week-long holiday, the productive economy slows down: most shops and factories shut down.

Qingming Festival – April 4th, 2024

This festival, held on April 4th, is dedicated to the memory of the deceased. Families visit graves to care for them and make offerings. A short holiday is granted on this occasion.

Dragon Boat Festival – June 10th, 2024

The Dragon Boat Festival, a tribute to the poet Qu Yuan, is marked by boat races and the tasting of zongzi, traditional rice cakes.

Mid-Autumn Festival – September 17th, 2024

Also known as the Moon Festival, this celebration is an opportunity for families to get together and enjoy traditional moon cakes. The two days before are public holidays for family reunions and tourism.

Qixi – August 10th, 2024

Celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th moon, this love festival is comparable to Western Valentine’s Day. (In China, May 20 can also be considered Love Day, as the pronunciation of this date (520) is phonetically close to “I love you” in Chinese).

Commercial Days

E-Commerce Day (18.06) – June 18th

This date is marked by promotions and special offers on e-commerce platforms, attracting the attention of consumers.

Singles’ Day (11/11) – November 11th

Initiated by Alibaba, Singles’ Day has become the world’s largest e-commerce event, offering massive promotional opportunities.

Double 12 Festival – December 12th

December 12 is another opportunity for promotions after Singles’ Day, prolonging the commercial frenzy.

Holidays and working days

In China, in order to take advantage of consecutive days off for certain holidays, working days are compensated by weekend days that are exceptionally worked. This year, for example, the Chinese will work on Sundays February 4th and 18th, April 7th and 28th, Saturday May 11th, Saturday September 14th, Sunday September 29th, and Saturday October 12th.

China’s uniqueness lies in its ability to blend ancestral traditions with contemporary influences. The Chinese calendar combines traditional holidays such as Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival with modern commercial events such as Singles’ Day and E-Commerce Festival. By understanding and incorporating these traditions into their marketing strategies, companies can not only strengthen their relationships with Chinese consumers, but also increase their sales and visibility in this dynamic market. In fact, every holiday is an opportunity for companies to offer attractive promotions and build strong relationships with Chinese consumers. By strategically planning your activities around these dates, you can maximize your impact on this market.

[PODCAST] Medical innovations in China Mainland and HK : The opportunities for foreign companies

Irénée Robin, Managing Partner at VVR Medical was present during the third Asia Summit on Global Health, in Hong Kong which brought stakeholders from healthcare experts to renowned academia and influential business leaders to explore opportunities in the healthcare sector.

Irénée Robin was one of the speakers at a session focused on medical technology at the event. On this occasion, he was invited by Radio Television Hong Kong for an interview about opportunities in the healthcare sector in Mainland China and HK.

You can listen to the replay of this interview by following this link:

• RTHK website
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify

First of all, how healthy would you say the level of investments into the healthcare industry in Mainland China is?

In Mainland China I tend to think that it’s never enough […] but it is increasing and it’s refocusing. The Chinese government has made the health of their own population a priority that they want to address with their own solutions. This strategy is leading to the integration of the whole manufacturing line of every medical device, product, medicine that is needed. In the healthcare sector, the cheapest consumable to the highest end implant tends to be made in China by China, for the Chinese people. This integration will actually generate affordability and eventually decrease the amount of investment or the amount of money needed to take care of the people.

These market dynamics are observable mainly in the day-to-day problems of healthcare in China, but not necessarily in Innovation scope.

About innovation, what are the sort of innovations you’re talking about here and where do we stand with those and what needs to happen to make those go ahead?

Over the past 20 years, China has been very good at scaling up and enabling as many people as possible to have access to basic healthcare. […] During the pandemic, especially the early stage, we saw a few of returnees having spent between 10 and 20 years in Europe or in the US, coming back to China to bring overseas innovation and trying to incubate it in China as well. Now the innovation mindset and spirit is strongly on the rise in China. A growing number of biotech and metric industries and companies are resolutely committed to innovation and introducing new technologies to the Chinese market. China’s gap in medical innovation is closing, but the challenge remains for foreign innovators wishing to penetrate the market. Indeed, this can prove difficult as the government focuses on mass production in China for the Chinese at the expense of innovative products which may not have the best commercial opportunities on the market […]. In this context, I work daily to find a way for the most innovative products to find their place on the Chinese market.

About some of these innovations, what are the most exciting developments that you’re keeping a watch on more broadly around medical technology […]?

Overall, everything related to AI and big data is at the forefront right now. But if we focus on China, […] big data innovations related to diagnosing diseases at an early stage are particularly interesting. A lot of China’s health problems could be solved by earlier diagnosis, but this is complicated by the sheer numbers of people and the way healthcare changes are organized, so the prospects for diagnostic innovations in the Chinese market are promising for years to come.

[…] You mentioned a lot about how China is very much focused on making things domestically and having them available domestically. Are there still opportunities for foreign enterprises to get involved in the sector?

A lot. […] For newcomers, if it’s a company offering an innovation that can solve a patient problem, a doctor problem, a problem related to hospital operations, or a problem related to health economics, or several of these problems at once, there’s a way forward. […] In addition, the legislation applicable in China may in some cases give an advantage to certain imported products: their registration may be faster than that of domestic products. Moreover, if products are registered as import devices, the company can make full use of its data abroad, including clinical data, which is not possible if the product is registered domestically.

Let’s take our attention now to Hong Kong and the greater Bay Area. […] What role do you think Hong Kong in the greater Bay Area can play in helping save the mainland companies’ expansion to a more global market?

Hong Kong has many roles to play for the medical industry. […] In terms of culture and relationships, Hong Kongese have a good understanding of the players and how the mainland market works. As a result, they are able to grasp the needs of Chinese companies wishing to go abroad. They can provide this cultural insight, but also in terms of investment capacity and the ability to mobilize local financial resources to ensure that these companies have a very strong and solid international arm.

You are interested in the opportunities offered by the Chinese Healthcare market? Irénée Robin and the dedicated team of VVR Medical experts can advise your company and help you realize your development project in China.

Contact us

VVR International team wish you all the best for this Chinese New Year of the Metal Ox!

Dear Friends, dear Partners,

According to the Chinese calendar, 2020 was the year of the Rat, as we have not lost our sense of humor, we will say that 2020 was the year of the Pangolin… or the year of the Bat…

Despite an unprecedented and difficult context, the year 2020 was for VVR International’s teams a symbol of solidarity, cohesion, resilience, recovery, and innovation.

We hope that 2021 will be synonymous of new projects, freedom, travel, and exchange.

Once again, an excellent year 2021 to all of you.