BEIJING, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- From abstract concepts to market-ready goods, many global innovations are undergoing transformation in China.

At the just-concluded ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, HaptonTech demonstrated how a programmable touch pad helps bring closer a future in which online shoppers will be able to feel the texture of what they see through touch-responsive screens before placing an order.

Originally conceived to help visually impaired people interact with digital devices, this technology enables flat surfaces to change shape and produce tactile sensations, with potential applications in sectors ranging from digital interfaces to robotics and medical equipment.

For Mert Orhan Astam, founder of the four-person Dutch startup, making the CIIE debut was about finding partners to commercialize the technology. China, in his view, is an obvious destination. "People here are willing to try new things," he said.

The company is in talks with a Chinese robotics firm regarding a joint project and is seeking manufacturing and research partners to explore commercial uses of the material.

This example illustrates a broader story unfolding among early-stage ventures from abroad coming to China: if ideas can find the right partners and industrial ecosystems here, they have much better chances of becoming real products.

SMALL TEAMS, BIG ECOSYSTEMS

At the ninth CIIE, the world's largest import-themed expo, which concluded on Tuesday, many exhibitors displayed prototypes, sought feedback and tested whether China's industrial landscape could help them move faster and further.

Hanray Tech, a chip startup assisted by British-funded business incubator Entrepreneur Groundwork Guide (EGG), was one of them. Its founding team, which includes PhDs from the University of California and the University of Oxford, started with just three people.

"When the project first came to China, we helped it connect with government resources, financing channels and industrial partners," said Deng Junyin, international director of EGG China.

The company is now valued at around 1.7 billion yuan (about 253 million U.S. dollars), and its team has grown from three people to more than 80. It plans to build a mass-production base in Shanghai's Jiading District to take advantage of the local industrial ecosystem.

"What stands out first is China's openness and inclusiveness. The country welcomes technologies from around the world and helps them take root, continue R&D and scale up here," said Deng, adding that targeted policy support, efficient services and mature manufacturing bases also make a big difference.

"Besides a massive market, China also offers full industrial-chain support and abundant application scenarios," said Jiang Wen, a researcher at the Korea Innovation Center, which was set up to help Korean innovative enterprises tap into overseas markets.

Many Korean companies excel in software, but often lack hardware platforms capable of carrying their innovations at scale, said Jiang. "For them, China is a good place to promote their technologies and expand sales channels."

WHEN "EXTREME SPEED" BECOMES NORMAL

The rapid speed of turning ideas into finished products has become a new normal in China's manufacturing sector, which in turn benefits the country's exports. Yiwu, the world's largest small-commodity market in east China's Zhejiang Province, epitomizes this trend.

Walking through the Yiwu International Trade Market, one can often find people from around the globe seeking swift realization of new designs. This sprawling market sells over 2.1 million types of commodities to more than 230 countries and regions.

Tao Yang, a Yiwu merchant, specializes in insulated tumblers and rhinestone accessories. She recently received an unusual request from a long-term U.S. client: embroidered denim jackets. The client had previously bought insulated tumblers from her, then moved on to rhinestone-studded caps and embroidered caps.

"The U.S. buyer found that no matter what idea came up, Yiwu could make it happen," Tao said. "Over the years, we've worked with more and more clients who have come to China to explore its boundless possibilities."

When the client suggested patterns like bees and mahjong tiles, AI instantly generated drafts, allowing Tao to refine details with the client on the spot. "I have to say, the rapid advances in AI technology are having a fundamental impact on production efficiency," Tao noted.

Except for the base denim jackets, which were sourced from Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province, every other step, including sourcing accessories and production, was handled efficiently in Yiwu.

Details discussed with the client overnight, such as color corrections or pattern adjustments, could be addressed in Yiwu the next day. What might seem like an "extreme" operation is, in Tao's eyes, just business as usual. "Only with this kind of response speed can you keep up with the ever-changing market demands," she said.

The deal for embroidered denim jackets was for more than 2,000 pieces. For Tao, the amount was not the most important part. "We have opened a new door," Tao explained. "We saw the vast potential created by the deep integration of AI and a complete industrial chain."

A trend going viral online might appear as a physical product in Yiwu by the next day. This is especially true for small business operators, who are often sharp enough to seize fleeting opportunities and down-to-earth enough to turn them into actual orders.

"China is helping foreign companies bring their ideas to life," said Zhang Linshan, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission.

Zhang noted that by leveraging local expertise to develop and manufacture products in China for both domestic and global markets, international firms are tapping into what is increasingly described as "China Opportunity 2.0."