Suzhou technology team looks to build links
with Kiwi digital media companies
22 May 2008, Wellington – New Zealand’s thriving digital media industry will have the opportunity to develop closer
links with China’s technology powerhouse during a high-level visit later this month.
A delegation from China’s Suzhou Industrial Park’s (SIP) Suzhou International Science Park (SISPARK), will be in
Wellington for X|Media|Lab, an internationally acclaimed digital media think-tank and creative workshop.
Located 80 km from Shanghai, SIP is the largest co-operation project between China and Singapore government and one of
the most successful and fastest growing economic zones in China. SISPARK is an international incubator and campus for
hi-tech and creative industries in SIP. It is home to 270 hi-tech companies with over 14,000 employees.
Leading the delegation will be SISPARK Deputy Director, Ms Li Gao (Daisy), who is responsible for promotion of the
hi-tech, digital media and creative industries and selecting projects that might be interested in expanding into Suzhou.
She has worked with many Fortune 500 companies, including 3M, Bosch, GE, and Ingersoll-Rand.
“New Zealand’s digital media companies have a reputation throughout the world for great ideas and technical excellence.
We are looking forward to meeting New Zealand’s top digital media innovators, finding out more about their projects and
exploring ways in which we can build closer ties with them,” says Ms Gao.
The delegation will also include two of her colleagues from SISPARK, Senior Supervisors Mr Nan Xiao and Mr Jin Zhang.
“X|Media|Lab is a unique opportunity for NZ digital media companies to explore co-operation and business opportunities
with China, the world’s most dynamic digital media market. We are honoured to bring the first digital media delegation
from China to Wellington since the historic signing of the NZ – China FTA last month,” say X|Media|Lab Director Megan
Elliott.
Ties between Suzhou Industrial Park and New Zealand’s digital media industry were boosted on 8 May when Wellington film
and entertainment lawyer Michael Stephens was made an Honorary Adviser of the animation industry for the Suzhou National
Animation Industry Base.
“Increasingly, the world of digital media is looking to Suzhou and New Zealand for leadership and innovation. The
potential for co-operation on 2D and 3D Animation and Games projects between these two digital media hot spots is
immense,” says Mr Stephens.
Mr Stephens is a Board Member of a number of the New Zealand film production and digital post facilities for the Wingnut
Group of Companies, the producers of the Academy Award-winning Lord of the Rings film series.
He has an interest in the future of East-West co-productions and funding for film and other digital media projects. Mr
Stephens is currently Chairman of the New Zealand-Asia Pacific Film Fund, Co-Chairman of the Korean Cinerama Trust of
New Zealand (www.koreanfilmfestival.co.nz ) and an Honorary Adviser for the New Zealand-China Film Festivals.
Fourteen companies from across New Zealand have been selected to participate in X|Media|Lab’s two-day intensive
workshop. They will be mentored by some of the world’s leading digital media powerbrokers who will help them develop
their ideas and get their products to market. Companies from Germany and Australia will also be taking part.
X|Media|Lab Wellington begins with a one-day Keynote Conference on Friday 30th May at Te Papa, where the International
Mentors will present on “Commercialising Ideas”.
The international mentors include Tom Duterme, Head of New Business Development at Google; Chris Deering, Chairman of
Codemasters and formerly President of Sony Computer Entertainment – Europe; Chris Adams, new media pioneer and
Co-founder of Participant Productions (Syriana, Murderball, North Country), and Sam Morgan, Founder and General Manager
of TradeMe.
X|Media|Lab is supported by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, as part of its work to help grow New Zealand’s digital
content industry and build its international competitiveness.
Registration for the Keynote Conference can be done online at: www.xmedialab.com
About X|Media|Lab
X|Media|Lab is the internationally acclaimed think tank and creative workshop for digital media professionals across the
emerging digital media disciplines in computer games, animation, digital cinema, interactive content and entertainment,
and mobile applications. X|Media|Lab brings together the world’s leading digital media practitioners, power-brokers, and
innovators in a unique creative environment that helps local companies and project teams improve their own digital media
ideas, get their products to market and achieve commercial success.
In 2008 X|Media|Lab will be held in Suzhou, Wellington, Seoul, Melbourne, Singapore, Shanghai, Mumbai and the Middle
East.
X|Media|Lab was created in 2003 and has been held at some of the world’s most iconic venues including the Sydney Opera
House and the Great Hall of the People, Beijing. It has been held in conjunction with the Sydney Film Festival, the
Melbourne International Film Festival, the Asia Media Festival, the Asia Games Developers Summit, Broadcast Asia, FICCI
FRAMES - Asia’s largest Entertainment Event, Virtual Worlds Forum Europe, and China’s International Cultural and
Creativity Expo in Beijing.
ends