Helen Deng

    deng.hneng@gmail.com

    AN international makers’ platform was established yesterday at the China High-Tech Fair (CHTF), offering makers a platform to receive training, exchange ideas, receive technical support as well as incubate projects.

    The platform, named Shenzhen Makers’ College, is co-sponsored by Nanshan District Government and Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT).

    “The college uses a tutorial system in which each maker will be coached by a technical tutor and a commercial tutor,” said Xue Jingping, head of the college.

    The college cooperates with Berlin Steinbeis University to provide various courses for makers. It also makes use of the wide network of scientists and enterprises of SIAT to help them, said Xue.

    Makers can either bring their own projects or join a project provided by enterprises, she said. Electronics giant TCL funded eight projects within three months during the trial run period of the college and ended up taking six of them. “This is very low-cost innovation for an enterprise,” said Xue.

    The college welcomes expatriates to join, too, Xue said.

    “As long as you have a good idea or a good piece of technology, we welcome you to join us,” she said, adding that the college has an international staff who are fully capable of serving expat makers (for inquiries, email hf.zhang@siat.ac.cn).