A new China-Austria international innovation center will be set up in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, to bridge Austrian technology firms with China's advanced manufacturing sector.
The proposed China-Austria (Ningbo) International Innovation Center aims to connect Austria's strengths in research and specialized technologies with Ningbo's advanced manufacturing capabilities and established industrial supply chains, according to Sebastian Kovacs, president of the Austrian Technology and Entrepreneurship Association (ATEA) and a representative of Vienna Neustadt.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 Global Mayors Dialogue held from Monday to Thursday in Ningbo, Kovacs said the initiative would help Austrian technology companies gain easier access to the Chinese market, including through investment support and local operational assistance.
"I mean since I'm coming here, and based on my background in Austria, I'm always working with technology companies, right? And as you can imagine, when it's a good technology, it needs to grow, right? And it needs maybe capital from outside stakeholders, investors. Usually they go to the West, they go to the United Kingdom or to go to the United States, because the barrier for entrance is lower than maybe go to China. And I want to solve this. I want to give the Austrian tech companies the opportunity to go into China, much easier, much faster. And this is where we support with people and teams on the ground, but also with capital to invest into," said Kovacs in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Ningbo's industrial strengths could also offer Austrian businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, opportunities to expand their operations and develop partnerships in China. The city is home to a major international port and well-established manufacturing clusters, including in the automotive and battery sectors.
Kovacs told CGTN that these industries also align with areas of expertise in Austria, creating opportunities for the two sides to build on their complementary strengths.
"You have the biggest regarding transaction volume port in the world. Logistically, geographically, you're very perfectly situated. As you mentioned, you have a lot of manufacturing hubs here in Ningbo, especially in automotive and battery. This is also one of our strengths in Austria. So we naturally have an overlap. We are aiming to use this more into the future," he noted.
China, Austria seek closer technology, manufacturing cooperation through new innovation center
Fueled by a booming global pet economy, convenient and hassle-free pet products addressing common care pain points have emerged as a major sourcing hotspot at the China Import and Export Fair or Canton Fair in south China's Guangzhou City.
A total of 240 participating enterprises have set up 390 booths in the pet products exhibition section, drawing heavy foot traffic from buyers.
At the exhibition hall, buyers gathered around booths showcasing smart cat litter boxes. Cleaning litter and washing boxes is an unavoidable daily task for cat owners, yet non-detachable boxes leave dead corners that are impossible to clean thoroughly. Exhibitors demonstrated innovative solutions to address this frustration.
"We made some convenience-focused innovations for cleaning this product. Right here at the cat litter pad, we can pull out the pad with a single tug. Once pulled out, the entire roller drum can be washed with water. After drying, you just install the litter pad back in, which is very convenient. It solves many user pain points, and we expect prospective orders to reach several thousand units," said exhibitor Yu Youkai.
Beyond litter box cleaning, another common headache for pet owners is shedding fur that lands on sofas, clothes, and floats in the air. At a booth featuring a pet grooming and vacuuming kit, exhibitors demonstrated how to tackle this issue.
"This is an all-in-one grooming and fur-vacuuming product we brought to this year's Canton Fair. This attachment is used to clean gaps, like those in household sofas. It comes with five adjustable speed settings, making it more convenient for us to clean hard-to-reach dead corners and helping most pet owners solve the trouble of excess loose fur," said exhibitor Lyu Junhua.
In addition to shedding, odor elimination -- both at home and inside vehicles -- is another major concern for pet owners. In a nine-square-meter booth, an exhibitor introduced a dedicated deodorizing device.
"One of the biggest headaches for pet owners is household odor. We developed a new product for this purpose. Although it looks like an ordinary mat on the surface, we subjected it to special treatment. With our mat, when pets poop, it can quickly eliminate the odor," said exhibitor Ni Jufen.
The exhibition hall also featured pet strollers, cat trees, and smart feeders, offering virtually everything pet owners could imagine. While the product forms vary, they all point to one underlying trend: pet owners are increasingly willing to pay for convenience and peace of mind -- a trend that is driving vibrant business opportunities at the Canton Fair.
The third and final phase of the 140th Canton Fair opened Saturday in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, focusing on the theme of "Better Life." This phase highlights how Chinese enterprises and products are breaking new ground while transitioning toward greener and smarter development.
Pet care innovations take center stage at 140th Canton Fair as global pet economy booms
