On December 16 the 2g@there program "Point-One goes China" was signed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Innovation Program Point-One, SenterNovem en the Agency for International Business and Cooperation (EVD). The program is also co-signed by two relevant networks to further strengthen this initiative: the Business Cluster Semiconductors East Netherlands (BCS) and the materials innovation program M2i.

Point-One is a Dutch national strategic innovation program on Nanoelectronics, Embedded Systems and Mechatronics, aiming to gain a worldwide leadership via private and public partnership. This ambition is based on the fact that the Netherlands is one of the three countries in the world, with leading knowledge infrastructure, intellectual properties and industries covering the whole value chain of Semiconductors, embedded systems and high tech equipment.

China is emerging as a significant market for high tech companies and home to a large number of important technology based manufacturing and outsourcing partners. China also offers an important talent pool for Point-One industry and academia. Chinese companies are fast developing into potential innovation partners for Point-One members and are becoming a prospective investor for the Netherlands.

Approaching China by joining forces and strengths (large companies, SME, Academia, government) under the Point-One umbrella, will increase business success rate of Dutch companies doing business in and with China. The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), East Netherlands Development Agency and Brabant Development Agency (BOM) are partners in the program for the promotion of the Netherlands as a strategic location for technology activities for Chinese companies accessing the European market.