Danes have designs on Shanghai

Denmark's Innovation Center in Shanghai was opened yesterday on Qinzhou Road in Xuhui District.

Opened by the visiting Danish Minister for Research, Technology and Innovation, Helge Sander, the center will assist Danish companies and research institutes to work with their Chinese counterparts to strengthen innovation in design.

It will also help Chinese companies with investments and establishment in Denmark.

The Danish Design Network was set up to create awareness of Danish design and fashion in China and to promote the Danish-Chinese collaboration on design and fashion.

The Shanghai center is the second innovation center Denmark has established after the first was launched in America's Silicon Valley last year. A third innovation center is planned to open early next year in Munich, Germany.

"Like Denmark's Innovation Center in Silicon Valley, the Shanghai Center will help Denmark and China become world leaders in innovation," said Sander.

Sander is visiting China with a delegation of scientists and academics from Denmark's leading universities.

The opening ceremony was followed by an "Innovation by Design" seminar at which representatives from leading Danish design companies such as Designit, CPH Design and Scandinavian Design Lab, presented designs and their broad modern approach to design.