China giving MNCs strategic forte
Q3 China's innovation ecosystem has become an increasingly important engine of growth. How do you assess the contribution of artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies to China's productivity growth, industrial upgrading and long-term economic resilience? More broadly, what significance does China's innovation have for global technological progress and the opportunities available to multinational companies?
PRASANNAN: AI and other cutting-edge technologies are reshaping China's industrial growth. Digitalization, alongside decarbonization, represent Everllence's two core strategies. Our CEON Cloud Platform, the core of our digital system, collects full operational data in real time to offer end-to-end services like predictive maintenance and dynamic energy efficiency optimization. Integrated with tools including PrimeServ Assist and Asset+, it helps customers achieve quantifiable carbon cuts without heavy hardware investment. CEON TechBot is a dedicated AI assistant for Everllence equipment, delivering fast, reliable guidance to crews in any on-board scenario. Linked to the CEON platform, it helps maintenance teams troubleshoot faster, streamline workflows and ensure 24/7 safe, efficient vessel operations.
CHENG: AI is moving beyond productivity gains and becoming a new operating system for global commerce. At Payoneer, we see AI helping businesses navigate market research, localization, customer acquisition, financial operations and cross-border expansion more efficiently. From our work with SMEs around the world, we see three major shifts. First, AI is lowering the barriers for smaller businesses to participate in global trade. Second, AI-powered hardware and digital services are emerging as new growth engines for Chinese companies expanding internationally. Third, as AI agents become increasingly involved in commercial transactions, the financial sector will also need to rethink how identity, trust and compliance are managed in an AI-driven economy.
XIA: Technologies such as AI, automation and digitalization are already playing important roles in the chemicals industry by helping shorten innovation cycles and support more precise, customized solutions for customers.
More broadly, China offers a unique combination of technological progress, strong market demand, a complete industrial base and fast commercialization capabilities. For multinational companies, this creates valuable opportunities to co-develop solutions with local customers and partners.
Evonik's approach is to combine our global technology platforms with local customer insights and local innovation capabilities. A good example is our innovation fund investment in China, which is designed to strengthen our open innovation network and support technologies in bio-solutions, energy transition and circular economy.
YIN: AI ranks high on China's national strategic agenda, with the nation achieving world-leading progress in AI development. According to the 2025 Global AI Innovation Index Report, China ranks second globally in AI development, holding a notable lead over the third-ranked economy. At AkzoNobel, we closely track AI breakthroughs and have full confidence in China's strengths in AI. Partnerships with innovative Chinese tech players enable us to better adapt to shifting customer needs, speed up the development and commercialization of new technologies, and replicate proven solutions throughout our global footprint. Moving forward, we look forward to deeper cooperation with Chinese AI tech providers to deliver greater value to customers worldwide.
