A major research project is underway which will map Bristol and Bath’s burgeoning links with China for the first time.

The Bristol and West of England China Bureau has commissioned the Bristol and Bath Chinese Ecosystem Analysis, with UWE Bristol joining as a key sponsor.

The study, which includes an online survey and one-to-one interviews, will be the first project to track all business, investment and academic links between Bristol and Bath on the one hand, and China on the other.

The report, being compiled on behalf of the China Bureau by Stuart Harrison, who is best known as founder and director of FinTech West, will be published next spring.

“There are many obvious connections with China – Bristol’s link with its sister city of Guangzhou being the most obvious - but in many instances, the links remain hidden. This is why we have decided to commission such a wide-ranging project that will provide a definitive guide for years to come,” said Dianne Francombe OBE, chief executive of the Bristol and West of England China Bureau.

“Our aim is to nurture the business relationship between the West of England and China in order to help grow our local economy and foster local and international collaboration, at a time when the Chinese government has recently launched its next five-year economic plan.

“We will also seek to understand the impact on the relationship of issues such as Covid-19 and changes in the visa system that will hopefully encourage more overseas entrepreneurs to set up businesses in the UK.”

Jo Midgley, Pro Vice-Chancellor at UWE Bristol, added: “There are many thousands of Chinese students attending our local universities but the levels of graduate retention in the economy and their involvement in employment, innovation and entrepreneurship, are less well known.

“This groundbreaking research will rectify this situation, as well opening up all sorts of other avenues for new co-operation and collaboration between our region and the world’s second largest economy.”

Additional sponsors and contributors are being sought for the report. If you or your organisation would like to take part, please visit https://chinabureau.report/