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WHTF 2009 focus China
 World Hi-Tech Forum 2009
opened on the evening of 7 October with a dinner hosted by actor and former Dr Who, Peter Davison at the Science Museum in London. The after dinner speech was given by the Prime Minister of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov on “Emerging Markets.” The Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov was presented with the BITE / Infosys “Excellence in e-Governance” award at the WHTF dinner by Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham. Dr Zhores Alferov, the 2000 Nobel Laureate in Physics, received a “Championing of Technology” Award for his contribution to nano technology. The dinner, forum and awards were supported by the British Institute of Technology & E-commerce (BITE), Rolls Royce, Microsoft, KPMG & Infosys.
The aim of the Forum is to concentrate on a different ‘focus country’ each year, with presentations from government and leading companies providing valuable high-level, shared learning. The Forums bring the global community together to facilitate technological and business partnerships.
Chair of the World Hi-Tech Forum, Dr Muhammad Farmer said, “China has become one of the main destinations for manufacturing. Increasingly this is involving close international partnerships covering the whole product evolution process from concept to production. We will address technological innovation in this area with speeches from key representatives from China and the international business community.”
He added, “The Forum will explore how one of the significant factors in success in the future will be a clear vision of the whole process from technology to
market. Entrepreneurs must consider the global picture in all aspects of their planning, whether it is technology creation and development, production or marketing. Innovation is essential, whether it is in the form of new technology or in the approach to business development and partnering.”
Co-Chair of the Forum, Professor Terry Knibb said, “A key consideration of the Forum has been the rapidly changing balance of research, technology and manufacturing between developed and developing nations. It is no longer enough to develop a product and then look for ‘cheap manufacturing’ elsewhere. Developing nations have expertise in all stages of the process, and this must be harnessed efficiently.”
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