Third Better Design Award Matchmaking Event for State-Owned Enterprises Held in Guangzhou

On the afternoon of October 29, the Industrial Design Industry–Market Matchmaking City Alliance under the “Guangdong Products Go Global” initiative convened an event in Guangzhou, combining efforts to promote industrial innovation through design with the third Better Design Award (BDA) Matchmaking Event dedicated to State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). Around 100 guests attended, including heads of R&D, design and branding departments from municipal SOEs, representatives of SOE industrial design centers at various levels, and companies that had received awards in previous editions of the Better Design Award.

Aligned with Provincial Priorities

Creating a Dedicated Platform for Design–Demand Matchmaking among SOEs

The event was organized in accordance with the Work Plan for the City Alliance on Manufacturing Production and Sales Matchmaking under the “Guangdong Products Go Global” Initiative. Leveraging the provincial Industrial Design Industry–Market Matchmaking City Alliance platform, the event aimed to promote Guangdong products through design and facilitate the commercialization and practical application of outcomes from the third Better Design Award. It established a dedicated matchmaking platform to connect state-owned enterprises with design resources and business opportunities. Following the establishment of the Industrial Design Industry–Market Matchmaking City Alliance under the “Guangdong Products Go Global” initiative, Guangzhou became the alliance's first rotating host city and led the organization of its inaugural matchmaking event in August this year. This dedicated event for SOEs represents a further extension of the alliance's collaborative mechanism into the state-owned sector. By connecting SOEs with high-quality design resources, it aims to support product upgrades and brand enhancement, while establishing an integrated pathway linking design outcomes, enterprise needs and industrial transformation. In doing so, it provides sustained momentum for innovation and development among municipal SOEs.

Practical Insights Across the Entire Value Chain

Comprehensive Support through Design Cases, Innovation Ecosystems and Policy Guidance

The call for entries for the third Better Design Award is now officially underway. The event offered participants practical insights through case studies, competition briefings and policy presentations.

Wu Zhenhan, Senior Principal Engineer at Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited, presented an award-winning project from the 2025 competition, which received a BDA Grand Award, sharing practical insights into how design can drive enterprise development and business growth.

Mei Xiangyi, Secretary-General of the Guangzhou Industrial Design Association and a member of the BDA Organizing Committee, introduced the key highlights of the 2026 competition and provided guidance on the entry process. She also facilitated on-site matchmaking between previous award-winning teams and participating SOEs, helping enterprises identify suitable participation pathways and opportunities to commercialize design outcomes.

Guangzhou Consumer Goods and Services Group's Guangzhou Xinshicheng Enterprise Development Co., Ltd. introduced its T.I.T Rainforest Innovation Ecosystem, extending an invitation to award-winning companies and outstanding design organizations from the third BDA to establish a presence in the park. Dedicated incentive policies and comprehensive support services throughout the development process will be provided to foster design innovation through its strong industrial heritage. Representatives from the Guangzhou Municipal Financial Affairs Office also presented relevant financial policies designed to support industrial development, outlining comprehensive financial solutions for SOEs to advance design innovation projects and commercialize their outcomes.

The event also featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Zhao Bi, Founder of Designest Consulting and faculty member at Guangdong University of Technology, titled Building Brand Value and Elevating Product Design Aesthetics. Drawing on the concepts of aesthetics and brand identity, Dr. Zhao explored how manufacturing companies can move beyond competing solely on product functionality and elevate their offerings from simply being practical and durable to achieving stronger market recognition and consumer appeal.

Precise Two-Way Matching of Supply and Demand

A New Model: Industry Sets the Challenges, Designers Deliver the Solutions

Guided by actual industry needs, the event focused on the priorities of SOEs, including product upgrades, brand development, the opening up of application scenarios, policy support and financial services. It introduced an innovative “Industry Sets the Challenges, Designers Deliver the Solutions” matchmaking model. Dedicated display areas were set up for SOE design requirements and the design capabilities and project offerings of BDA participants. Guests could scan QR codes in advance to review supply-and-demand information and arrange meetings with potential partners.

The event also officially launched a new call for industry challenges, building a continuously expanding database of real-world industrial needs. This initiative aims to connect design resources with specific industry challenges, ensuring that design innovation translates into practical solutions at the front line of product development.

More than 30 state-owned enterprises participated in the event, including GAC Group, Yuexiu Group, Guangzhou Port Group, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings, Guangzhou Metro Group, Guangzhou Light Industry Group, Guangzhou Industrial Investment Holdings Group, Guangzhou Digital Technology Group, Zhujiang Brewery and Sunward Intelligent Equipment, etc.. These enterprises presented a range of design needs covering product innovation, appearance and design upgrades, application scenario development and brand enhancement. With broad industry participation and substantial business opportunities, the event established a high-quality bridge connecting professional design resources with the application scenarios and development needs of state-owned enterprises.

The Better Design Award Is Now Open for Global Entries!

Designers, companies and institutions worldwide are invited to visit the official competition website:

www.bdaward.com

Explore the competition guidelines and submission requirements.

We look forward to receiving your outstanding designs!