ETA-Florence Mission to China: Exploring and Establishing Partnerships in Renewables and Bioeconomy
From October 24th to 30th, an ETA-Florence delegation visited China, engaging with leading industrial, academic, and institutional partners to strengthen collaboration in renewable energy, bioeconomy, and technological innovation. The mission — organized with the invaluable support of Prof. Shizhong Li, Chief Scientist of the Hydrogen Energy Center at the Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University — resulted in concrete discussions and promising opportunities for future partnerships.
Participation in the 2025 China Petroleum & Chemical International Conference
On invitation from the organizers of the 2025 China Petroleum & Chemical International Conference in Ningbo, M. Cocchi and H. Ossenbrink delivered well-received presentations on:
- Biomass for energy and materials in the European Union
- eFuels and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) as alternatives to fossil fuels
Their interventions prompted in-depth discussions on EU policies, especially regarding SAFs. China is investing heavily in SAF production and aims to meet both EU carbon-footprint certification requirements and IATA’s CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation). As the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, China faces the challenge of aligning with international standards. Together with the conference organizers, ETA explored the possibility of creating a dedicated “EU–China Innovation” session at the next edition of the conference.
Industrial and Research Visits
Following the conference, the delegation visited several companies and research organizations across the clean-energy sector, with a dual objective:
- Promote EUBCE 2026, encouraging participation in both the exhibition and scientific programme.
- Identify potential collaborations for future EU–China projects.
Key visits included:
- Yueda Group, Yancheng – a major state-owned industrial group operating advanced manufacturing sites, including a fully automated car factory and a robotic textile production facility.
- BBCA Group, Bengbu – a leading producer of polylactic acid (PLA) from agricultural residues and exhibitor at EUBCE 2024.
- Envision, Shanghai – a global clean-energy leader working on wind turbines, battery storage, smart grids, SAFs, meteorological forecasting, and next-generation perovskite PV.
These meetings highlighted China’s rapid and ambitious progress on clean technologies, particularly SAFs and biochemicals.
Engagement with Academia and Institutions
The delegation also gained insight into China’s research landscape:
- Shanghai Science & Technology Exchange Center (SSTEC) – which also offers grants for international students.
- Jiao Tong University, Shanghai – where the Bioenergy Department demonstrated advanced R&D in biomass intermediates and biochemicals.
A brief visit to the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) in Shanghai confirmed the support that Italian start-ups can receive when entering the Chinese market.
A Shared Commitment to Collaboration
Throughout the mission, ETA-Florence received a warm welcome and strong expressions of interest in deepening cooperation with Europe. Despite the current geopolitical context, all partners reiterated their willingness to strengthen scientific, industrial, and technological ties. This mission underlined the value of direct engagement and partnership building. By fostering dialogue between Chinese and European industry leaders, researchers, and institutions, ETA-Florence is contributing to shared progress in renewable energy and the bioeconomy. These collaborations not only accelerate technological innovation but also help build a foundation for long-term stability, mutual understanding, and prosperity between Europe and China.
ETA Florence delegation: Angela Grassi, Maurizio Cocchi, Heinz Ossenbrink
Overall organization, contacts and logistics: Sinuo Sun, ETA Florence
Host in China: Prof Shizhong Li, Hydrogen Energy Center at the Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, with Lijuan Yun