A city lens on China: A narrow focus to address big opportunities

Synopsis

The research seminar will share some insights from key city cluster in China. City clusters are emerging as primary drivers of economic development, fuelled by concentrated R&D, startup activity, and infrastructure investment. Internal migration bolsters growth, attracting human capital from both rural areas and less-dynamic cities. Trends like digitalization and greening policies are more pronounced in these clusters.

The insights of the presentation are based on a report funded by the North Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPE), drawing on both desk and primary research. During the seminar, we provide insights into the dynamics of key city clusters in China, and on the experience of Western SMEs and entrepreneurs doing business in Chinese cities, with a focus on how they embed themselves in ecosystems in China.

Date: Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Time: 1-2pm

Venue: Case Room 1 (OGGB-5), Level 0, Sir Owen G. Glenn Building, University of Auckland Business School, 12 Grafton Road (paid parking available beneath the building)

Bios:

Dr Benjamin Fath

Dr Benjamin Fath is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland Business School, where he has been involved in the MBA capstone course since 2014. His interest in growing New Zealand businesses has led to over a decade of research into innovation, internationalisation, and the competitiveness of SMEs. He focuses on how markets evolve, strategic management capabilities, and evidence-based decision-making. He has deep knowledge about how entrepreneurs can combine and leverage elements from different contexts to create conditions for success.

Ben has led many workshops on competing in Asia and technology-based internationalisation of SMEs across New Zealand, both in person and online. His work is published in international, peer-reviewed journals, and he serves as the social media editor for the International Small Business Journal, a leading international journal dedicated to topics that help SMEs thrive.

Dr Antje Fiedler

Antje Fiedler (PhD, University of Auckland, NZ) is Senior Lecturer in Management specialising in entrepreneurship and International Business. She is also the Associate Director of the New Zealand Asia Institute (NZAI) at the University of Auckland Business School, and a Director of the Board of the Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand (SEAANZ). She is passionate about conducting research that is relevant to practice. Her research interests centre around how SMEs can productively engage with Asia. Her research has been informed courses at the Business School (University of Auckland) and practitioner workshops around New Zealand. She is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Small Business Management and serves on the editorial review boards for Small Business Economics and Critical Perspectives on International Business.

The authors warmly acknowledge the support of the North Asia CAPE (Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence).