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BUSINESS WEST – CONNECTING BUSINESSES INNOVATION News and information on innovation in the South West Creating connections to China


Enterprise Europe Network South West (EENSW) recently welcomed an official delegation of Chinese government and key maritime industry officers from Qingdao, Shandong province of China to Bristol, to discuss future collaboration with the region’s Environmental Technologies, Marine and Information Technologies sectors. The delegation was taken to GENeco’s multi-


award-winning recycling and renewable energy site in Avonmouth. Here they got to see first- hand how the circular economy model has been adopted by the company with treated waste water and food compost being turned into agricultural fertilisers and enriched biomethane which is then piped into the local gas distribution network. Presentations from the South


Coast Marine Cluster, the UK’s leading marine industry hub and the Cornwall Marine Network provided the opportunity to


Members of the Chinese delegation at the GENeco facility


introduce officials to south west businesses and create valuable connections for collaboration between two key world locations in Marine Technology and Innovation. Sam Winters, marine innovation mentor of


‘The Chinese government is really pushing co-operation with the rest of the world’


the Cornwall Marine Network, said: “Cornwall Marine Network are pioneering the first global commercially focused marine network and alongside our Marine Offshore Renewables group (MOR) we were delighted to be invited to present the work of our network to the delegation from Quingdao, China.”


The delegation’s visit was


part of the “One Belt and One Road” programme, launched by the Chinese government it aims to create the world’s largest platform for economic cooperation, including policy coordination, trade and financing collaboration, and social and cultural


cooperation. Qingdao is one of the most important


independent coastal regions and leading marine economy in China and has experienced rapid growth over the last decade. With a regional population of over 9.2 million and a port ranked seventh in the world in 2010, Qingdao is an important trade partner.


Getting to grips with new data protection guidelines


By Paul O’Collins, Regional manager EEN South West


Many large organisations will have already taken on board the implications of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) but the majority of SMEs are yet to learn about the new legislation and understand its impact on their business. GDPR represents the biggest shake-up in


data protection legislation for decades – bringing new responsibilities, roles and the potential for heavy fines for non-compliance or breach. This new legislation aims to create conformity


across the EU and is automatically effective in EU member states and – irrespective of Brexit – we in the UK need to comply. Adopted back in April 2016, GDPR will


replace the Data Protection Act (DPA) of 1998 18 insight NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017


and be effective from May 2018. If your business already complies with the


Data Protection Act your approach to compliance should remain largely valid under the GDPR and is certainly a good place to start from.


Over the next few months the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is planning to issue new guidance and tools to assist businesses in meeting the new requirements, however, it is generally considered good practice that you begin your compliance activity as early as possible and in particular, by reviewing the GDPR’s new transparency and individuals’ rights provisions. The ICO have produced a helpful 12-step approach to preparing for GDPR which can be viewed at:ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/ documents/1624219/preparing-for-the-gdpr-12- steps.pdf


Chris Lyons, EENSW environmental sector


lead who organised the event, said: “The Chinese government is really pushing co- operation with the rest of the world. Enterprise Europe Network is working hard to promote closer collaboration between the South West region of the UK and China. “Links have now been formed across the Qingdao region to exploit future partnership and learning opportunities. “Hosting this delegation is just one of many


ways our South West team is supporting businesses looking for partners in China. We are also helping businesses through signposting them to China focused events such as the Business & Technology Cooperation Fair, as well as providing connections through EEN platform.”


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