Global ICT leader Huawei and think tank ThinkYoung are building bridges between Europe and China for the next generation of global innovation leaders. The ‘Head East’ project, which kicks off today, is organising a discovery trip for talented young people from Europe to the leading Chinese innovation strongholds with a view to fostering exchanges and co-creation.

This process will be shared and amplified online.

 

The young participants from across Europe, aged 20 to 25 years, have been selected through the InnoApps competition which challenged young developers to design innovative mobile applications to foster social inclusion.

 

The best young European app developers are now being taken on a tour of China (11 to 21 March 2014) during which they will discover Huawei’s R&D centres in Shenzhen and Shanghai as well as other key innovation and cultural sites including Hong Kong, Beijing and Hangzhou.

 

Through a series of activities with both a cultural and a technical focus, the initiative will foster creativity and intercultural exchanges through an inclusive approach following the maxim that ‘It’s a small world for big ideas’.

 

The project promotes information sharing, networking and cooperation between young people with an innovative mindset and organisations working in innovation on both continents. Importantly, it offers a stepping stone for young Europeans aiming to market their project to Chinese investors.

 

The tour will also build a personal, yet openly accessible archive of materials created by the young people themselves and posted online offering insights into their first-hand impressions of the people and places they will discover.

 

Short videos, photos and other multimedia content will be uploaded as the journey unfolds. Following the trip, a road movie will highlight the memorable moments of the adventure, putting the youngsters’ experiences into perspective.

 

Further information on the project: www.headingeast.org

 

- See more at: http://www.huawei.eu/press-release/heading-east-young-eu-talent-discovers-innovative-china#sthash.9R9S4rpM.dpuf