Hainan to Host China’s Blockchain Digital Talent Training Base

A joint effort made by Huobi Labs (火币英才) and China Hainan Ecology Software Park (海南生态软件园-RSC) established the Hainan Digital Talent Training Service Base (海南数字经济人才培养服务基地). The training center would work with the relevant ministries and commissions to create a conducive environment for laying a strong foundation for blockchain technology and its sustenance in China.

The Base Supported by Hainan Education Department

Hainan Blockchain Training Center Opening Ceremony – hi.people.com.cn

The base was launched on December 8th at Hainan where leaders across different learning institutions attended including Li Yuenan, Hainan’s deputy director in the education department. During his speech, he emphasized on the urgency and the importance of the training. Li also mentioned that the service base was among the first projects completed for tapping emerging scientific and technological talents. He showed extreme interest in resource integration among universities and other relevant enterprises to support Hainan Free Trade Zone digitally.

Li Yuenan Speech During Opening Ceremony – hi.people.com.cn

Technology is the Key For China’s Future

China’s digital economy has currently overseen tremendous growth, especially in employment. In 2017, it accounted for 32.9% of the GDP where 171 million people became hired. The country’s digital expansion supersedes that of other developed countries to secure a second position in the world.

Ideally, China’s economic development has become powerful due to the presence of various innovations like big data, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, cloud computing, and blockchain. The nation has integrated these technological inventions to create dynamic economic growth. The Hainan Provincial Government issued a 2018-2025 plan proposing significant support to Hainan Industries from high-tech enterprises.

According to Huobi Capital’s CEO Zhang Xiaoyuan, the training zone would apply the relevant blockchain standards and put China’s digital economy on a new track. He commended Huobi’s influence and the platform’s ability to empower the blockchain market. 

Context  Ant Financial's CEO Announces Promising Plans for Blockchain

Conclusion

Additionally, the Hainan Ecological Software Park will create a One Belt, One Road strategy to make the initiative an global concept for people to join. In the recent events, China’s crypto market has had several challenges, but Hainan’s Digital Training Base has a promising future in empowering blockchain technology across the country. The country is apparently on a journey to revolutionize its economy and prepare for the next generation.

Chinese Crypto Giant Huobi Launches Billion-Dollar Blockchain Fund

Huobi Labs, a blockchain incubator that is part of the Huobi exchange, has signed an agreement with Tianya Community to build a “Global Cultural and Creative Blockchain Lab” in Hainan Province, China, alongside the launch of a billion-dollar industry fund that aims to back the blockchain industry globally.

Under the background of the “new era of Chinese socialism characteristics,” the government has given Hainan Special Economic Zone a new mission of economic reformation. President Xi Jiping, personally planned, deployed and promoted the national strategy.

Huobi To Support National Strategy

Huobi China will support the national-level strategy and will use its technology, resources, talents and capital in the global blockchain industry to contribute to Hainan Special Economic Zone development and explore the construction of an international free trade port, the company announced on its website.

This year, the Huobi Group will:

1. Move Huobi China headquarters (Not Huobi Global, Nor Huobi Pro) to Hainan in the Hainan Ecological Software Park.
2. Build 10 global blockchain labs in collaboration with top global industry companies.
3. Build a global blockchain research institute with the world’s top universities.
4. Build a 40,000-square-meter blockchain incubator.
5. Create a billion-dollar global blockchain industry fund.

Also read: Huobi launches Ethereum standard token, but it ‘is not an ICO’

Huobi Seeks Government Partnership

Huobi was among China’s biggest cryptocurrency trading platforms prior to crippling domestic regulations that effectively curtailed the industry. After closing its Chinese trading platform in October, Huobi founder Leon Li summed up China’s curtain call as a “watershed moment” for the industry before launching Huobi Pro, its international trading platform headquartered in Singapore.

Huobi’s recent announcement to offer its own token, dubbed “Huobi Token” (HT), is another step in the former Chinese exchange giant’s diversification strategy, which includes an expansion into major cryptocurrency markets in South Korea and Japan.

The utility token is based on the Ethereum blockchain’s ERC-20 standard and will be capped at 500 million tokens. ‘Huobi Token, short for “HT”, is a token system based on Blockchain launching and management,’ the firm explained in a post on its website.

China Launches Licensed Blockchain ‘Pilot Zone’ to Further Tech Usage

China’s Hainan Province became the host of the country’s “first” officially licensed “‘blockchain pilot zone” Monday, Oct. 8, China’s official state-run press agency Xinhua reports.

With its base at the Hainan Resort Software Community (RSC), a dedicated tech space and software park, the pilot zone incorporates several partnerships, chief among which are a blockchain research institute and innovation center.

According to Xinhua, Wang Jing, head of Hainan's provincial department of industry and information technology, the zone will bring in international talent to China:

“The pilot zone will commit to attracting blockchain talent around the world and exploring the application of blockchain in areas such as cross-border trade, inclusive finance and credit rating.”

The research institute comes as a joint venture between RSC and the University College Oxford Blockchain Research Centre at Oxford University, U.K. Beijing’s Remin University will meanwhile collaborate with RSC on the innovation center geared specifically towards institutions.

Wang also noted that the pilot zone would “deepen cooperation with top research institutions across the globe and key players in the blockchain industry.”

Despite its crackdown on cryptocurrency exchanges and promotion continuing this year, China appears to remain committed to supporting blockchain in both the public and private sector.

At the end of last month, Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com announced the opening of its own institute fostering smart cities using a combination of blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI). Also in September, the Chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) said that the bank will focus on blockchain technology development.

By  

William Suberg

China launches blockchain pilot zone in haikou hainan

HAIKOU - China's first blockchain pilot zone was launched in South China's Hainan province Monday.

Based in Hainan Resort Software Community (RSC), the zone includes a blockchain research institute, which officially opened Monday and was jointly established by RSC and University College Oxford Blockchain Research Centre at Oxford University.

A blockchain institutional innovation center will also be launched by RSC in collaboration with Renmin University.

"The pilot zone will commit to attracting blockchain talent around the world and exploring the application of blockchain in areas such as cross-border trade, inclusive finance and credit rating," said Wang Jing, head of Hainan's provincial department of industry and information technology.

She said the pilot zone would deepen cooperation with top research institutions across the globe and key players in the blockchain industry.

The blockchain is a digital ledger system that uses sophisticated cryptographic techniques to create a permanent, unchangeable and transparent record of exchanges to trace transactions.

The technology now has a wide range of applications in China, including in finance, credit reporting, smart manufacturing and supply-chain management, according to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Xinhua | Updated: 2018-10-08 23:21

Development of the Blockchain industry in Hainan

April 27th 2018, the Hainan Provincial Government, Alibaba Group and Ant Financial Services Group signed a framework agreement in Haikou to develop a comprehensive strategic cooperation and carry out key cooperation activities within the digital economy.

May 2nd 2108 Huobi Labs, a subsidiary of Huobi China, one of China’s three largest bitcoin exchanges portals announced the launch of a US$1 billion blockchain industry fund in conjunction with Tianya Community Network Technology Co.,Ltd., a social networking and forum service web site.

Under the agreement, Huobi Labs agreed to relocate its China’s headquarter to Hainan Island, where Tianya is headquartered. Both parties agreed to jointly build a “Global Cultural and Creative Blockchain Lab.”

Bill Roscoe, Professor of Oxford University, at the Inauguration of Oxford University Blockchain Research Centre in Haikou

August 2018, Baidu's subsidiary Beijing Dinglu Zhongyuan Technology Co., Ltd. was registered to establish Degree Chain Network Technology (Hainan) Co., Ltd., with Baidu’s Senior Vice President Xiang Hailong as its legal representative.

September 30th 2018, the Hainan Provincial Industry and Information Technology Department approved the establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Zone Blockchain Trial Zone to encourage innovation and promote the application of blockchain technology.

October 8th the Hainan Blockchain Zone was officially established in Hainan Ecological Software Park.

Hainan Software Park announced its co-establishment of the Oxford University Blockchain Research Center (Hainan) with the Blockchain Research Institute of Oxford University.

The project, based at the Hainan Resort Software Community (RSC), includes a blockchain research institute. The zone has been jointly established by the RSC and England’s University College Oxford Blockchain Research Centre. In another collaboration, with Beijing’s Renmin University, RSC is expected to also launch its own blockchain innovation center.

The overall goals are to attract top blockchain talents from around the world, form a series of standard intellectual property rights and explore the application of blockchain in areas such as cross-border trade, inclusive finance and credit rating, as well as deepen ties with top research and development institutes across the globe.

The expectation is that international talent will be attracted to Hainan to work in the new industry and bring the island to the forefront of blockchain innovation. It is anticipated that the Hainan Blockchain Zone will be able to introduce preferential industrial policies and support policies and provide a suitable platform for the sustainable development of Hainan's blockchain industry.


Source:  http://www.tropicalhainan.com/ 

China establishes a new blockchain trial zone in Hainan

On 30 September 2018, the Hainan Provincial Industry and Information Technology Department approved the establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Zone (Port) Blockchain Trial Zone (the “Hainan Blockchain Zone”) to encourage innovation and promote the application of blockchain technology. On 8 October, the Hainan Blockchain Zone was officially established in Hainan Ecological Software Park (the “Hainan Software Park”), kicking off the digital industry development of blockchain in Hainan. In the meantime, the Hainan Software Park announced its co-establishment of the Oxford University Blockchain Research Center (Hainan) with the Blockchain Research Institute of Oxford University.

The above steps aim to: firstly, through Oxford University, to gather global blockchain technology and talents, promote research collaboration and technology development of blockchain technology and form a series of standard intellectual property rights; and secondly, to explore blockchain in the fields of cross-border trade, cross-border payment, inclusive finance, credit evaluation, etc., to drive industry development as well as to develop in-depth cooperation with top-level research institutions in China. Currently, the cooperation mainly focuses on e-government, including government management, real estate registration, healthcare and other fields with supply chain, banking and other related businesses to follow.

A large number of blockchain technology-related enterprises have been established in Hainan, attracted to the favorable policies provided in the Hainan Blockchain Zone. By way of example, on 27 April this year, the Hainan Provincial Government, Alibaba Group and Ant Financial Services Group signed a framework agreement in Haikou to further develop their comprehensive strategic cooperation and carry out key cooperation within the digital economy; in August, Baidu's subsidiary Beijing Dinglu Zhongyuan Technology Co., Ltd. was registered to establish Degree Chain Network Technology (Hainan) Co., Ltd., with Baidu’s Senior Vice President Xiang Hailong as its legal representative. In addition, it is reported that 360 Blockchain, Thunder Blockchain and other projects might have also been established in Hainan successively.

At present, blockchain technology has become an emerging technology following big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and other technologies. The speed and quantity of China's blockchain development is attracting attention all over the world. It is anticipated that the Hainan Blockchain Zone will be able to introduce preferential industrial policies, support policies and rich application scenarios in order to provide a suitable platform for the sustainable development of China's blockchain landscape, enabling the facilitation of its technical exchanges and cooperation with countries around the world.

Tech companies flock to China’s first blockchain pilot zone in Hainan

Hainan, China. (Photo Credit: Bigstockphoto/gyn9038)

China’s first blockchain pilot zone officially opened in Haikou, Hainan on Monday, Xinhua reports.

Its site is the Hainan Resort Software Community, which has launched a blockchain research institute in cooperation with Oxford University’s blockchain research center. The software community is also setting up an innovation center in partnership with China’s Renmin University.

The zone’s scope will cover more than research, however. According to the head of Hainan Province’s department of industry and internet technology, Wang Jing, “[the] pilot zone will commit to attracting blockchain talent around the world and exploring the application of blockchain in areas such as cross-border trade, inclusive finance, and credit rating.”

Some of China’s tech players have already moved to Hainan and set up blockchain-related divisions. AI and search engine giant Baidu registered subsidiary Dulian Internet Technology in the island province back in August. Although Baidu hasn’t specified whether it will belong to the blockchain pilot zone, Dulian will specialize in blockchain tech development as well as online games.

China’s government is harnessing its data to make blockchain-based identity a reality

Global crypto exchange company Huobi—which recently completed a backdoor listing in Hong Kong—is also planning to set up a blockchain research lab in Hainan, according to an April 30 press release. The lab initiated with Tianya Community is scheduled to be completed before the end of this year. According to the release, Huobi’s plan is to move its domestic headquarters to the Haikou pilot zone, set up a blockchain incubator, and create “a billion-dollar global blockchain industry fund.” Huobi is currently operating only in a consulting and research capacity in China due to China’s infamous crypto crackdown.

Aside from Baidu and Huobi, NASDAQ-listed Xunlei—which launched its ThunderChain this past April—and 360 Blockchain Security which falls under China’s top cybersecurity company Qihoo’s 360 will also set up office in the new zone, local media reported.

Hainan is not the only area in China included in the country’s national plan to make rapid advancement in the field of blockchain. Shenzhen launched its first venture capital fund of RMB 500 million on April 24 to focus on blockchain firms, about 2 weeks after the Hangzhou government invested in a $1.6 billion blockchain fund. China’s southeastern coastal province Fujian also announced a regional policy encouraging companies to adopt blockchain technology during the same month.

At the Trusted Blockchain Summit 2018 held in Beijing earlier this month, emphasis on blockchain as was reaffirmed by the Ministry of Industry and Internet Technology’s chief economist, Wang Xinzhe. According to Wang, blockchain technology is important for the country as a whole, and the ministry will seek to support innovation and improve policies, among other things, in order to speed domestic growth.