HSP Joins Hands with Gartner to Jointly Mastermind the Internationalization of the Hi-Tech Businesses in the Park

As the first one-stop pilot for "hi-tech businesses to go international" of the National Science and Technology Department of China", Haidian Science Park plays a key role in the internationalization of the park via iBridge platform. In 2004, on behalf of the Administrative Committee of Haidian Science Park, Yu Jun, deputy mayor of Haidian District signed a cooperative agreement with Gartner, INC. in the US, thereby determining the strategic cooperative partnership.

Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A. As the most authoritative global IT research and consultation company, Gartner's researches cover the entire IT industry. Gartner provides clients with objective verification reports and market research reports in such fields as IT research, development, assessment, application and market, and helps clients conduct market analyses, technology selections, projects verifications, and investment decision-makings. Gartner also helps investors make the right decisions by providing them with key proposals on such major issues as investment risk and management, marketing strategy, and development orientation.

From July, 11 to 12, 2005, senior consultants of Gartner, INC. held a special forum on internationalization strategy for the medium and small-sized businesses in Haidian Science Park. The forum aimed to help businesses broaden their horizons, get to know the law of the international market, and to help the businesses in the park formulate and adjust business development strategies. The "Special Forum on Internationalization Strategy for Medium and Small-Sized Businesses" is oriented toward hi-tech businesses in the park. At the forum venue, lecturers of Gartner, INC. who are very experienced in the field of development strategy for global medium and small-sized businesses would answer questions on the spot, and would discuss the following issues: main IT and commercial trends having impacts on small-sized businesses, technical investment power, purchase behavior influencing medium and small-sized businesses, and mastery of proper channels for planning.

On a Friday in the midsummer of 2005, the news "Gartner will hold a special forum on internationalization strategy for medium and small-sized businesses in Haidian Science Park!" spread to each and every corner of Haidian Science Park. To the surprise of the employees of Haidian Science Park, only one hour after the start of online registration, the number of applicants outnumbered the upper limit, and the advertisement had to be cancelled. Even without an advertisement, countless query telephone calls kept pouring in till the last minute prior to the opening of the forum.

This is just one example that showcases the eagerness of the businesses in Haidian Science Park to go international. Along with the development of the businesses in Haidian Science Park, more and more businesses have been going international, and the modes for international cooperation and exchanges have also been changing. However, soon after going international, the majority of the businesses have to return home, as they can not adapt themselves to local conditions of their host countries. This is chiefly due to the fact that before going international most of the businesses do not know how to follow the international practices or make use of such resources as foreign consultants, suppliers or agents; nor do they know the market cultures or legal environments of Europe and the US.

At the venue of the "Special Forum on Internationalization Strategy for Medium and Small-Sized Businesses", the general managers of many companies were very excited and kept on asking questions, demonstrating the eagerness of the businesses to go international. As a part of the cooperation, Gartner made a proposal to seek sponsors, and promised to give any sponsor a 2-hour free consultation, hoping to take this opportunity to find the businesses with real interest in Gartner. Wensi Innovation Software Co., Ltd situated in Haidian Science Park eventually became a sponsor. At first Wensi Innovation Software Co., Ltd only wanted to have a try and did not start the 2-hour free consultation immediately after the forum. Instead, this company made full preparation before inviting Gartner consultants to deliver the consultation. It was proved by facts that Wensi Innovation Software Co., Ltd did the right thing, at that time, the people of this company were going all out conducting business in the software outsourcing field in Europe and the US, and were eager to get advice on internationalization, so this 2-hour consultation greatly benefited them. Additionally, to their surprise, this cooperation with Gartner brought them more cooperative opportunities. Wensi Innovation Software Co., Ltd became the top-grade sponsor of Gartner when Gartner Summit was first held in China in 2006. "We have the largest booth, and all the sub-forums are available to us. Let's know the world and let the world know us. This is more effective than any advertisement. I think the small forum we sponsored at that time is more than worthy." said Fu Shan excitedly, the manager of the business development department of Wensi Innovation Software Co., Ltd.

The successful cooperation with Gartner indicates the new work thought for international cooperation and exchanges, although the internationalization progress of Haidian Science Park has been just initiated, and there are probably not many people who can really understand the forum of Gartner that has created such a great sensation. In following the international practices, iBridge has been making unremitting efforts to build a recognition platform, hold relevant activities in a bid to let businesses know international information, enable them to have a clear picture of the internationalization before going international, in addition to letting the outside world know the development opportunities of Haidian Science Park.