From May 18 to 25, 2026, the China-Finland Design Park Sub-venue of the 22nd China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair and the Cross-Strait Youth Entrepreneurship Exchange Event successfully concluded. The event was guided by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, the Publicity Department of the CPC Futian District Committee, the Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Futian District, the Fubao Sub-district Office of Futian District, and the Futian Public Culture and Sports Development Center. It was organized by China-Finland Design Park and the China-Finland Design Park Cross-Strait Youth Entrepreneurship Base, hosted by Shenzhen China-Finland Creative Industry Park Investment Development Co., Ltd., and co-organized by the Shenzhen Practice and Innovation Base for United Front Work among People from Emerging Social Strata, the China-Finland Design Park Haizhi Workstation, and Shenzhen Open Innovation Lab. The event was supported by the Shenzhen Cross-Strait Exchange Promotion Association, the Shenzhen-Taiwan Integrated Development Center, SEG Maker Space, Huacan Workshop, Fantasia Group (China) Co., Ltd., and Asia Design Week.

This year, the China-Finland Design Park Sub-venue of the ICIF was held under the theme of “Smart Design Convergence: Bridging the Two Sides and Connecting the World”. With design as a bridge, the event connected both sides of the Taiwan Strait and engaged with the wider world. From the exchange of ideas at industry salons to the craftsmanship and everyday vitality of the lifestyle market, from the digital imagination of the science and technology workshop to the dialogue between tradition and modernity in the dual-theme exhibition, every scene reflected the warmth and power of creativity. With an open approach, the event linked both sides of the Strait with the world, gave new life to traditional cultural heritage through technology, and offered a vivid example of cross-strait integrated development and mutual learning between Chinese and international cultures.

During the same period, China-Finland Design Park also presented design merchandise from the coffee brand Red Coffee at the Futian Exhibition Area of the main venue of the 22nd ICIF, Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center (Bao’an). The newly launched Smile · Time Gift Box created a fresh consumer experience through minimalist and elegant design aesthetics. Its distinctive cultural and creative product style attracted visitors to stop, take photos, taste the products, and make purchases.

At the opening ceremony on May 19, Zeng Wufei, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government; Wu Bo, Party Secretary and President of Shenzhen Pengcheng Technician College; Feng Changhong, Chairman of the China Industrial Design Collaborative Innovation Platform and Founder of China-Finland Design Park; Liu Ming, First-level Researcher of the Shenzhen Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau; Liu Xuelian, Director of the Integration Development Division (Economic Affairs Division) of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government; Ms Farhana Kamaruddin, Commercial Consul of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou; and Zhang Yu, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Futian District Committee, jointly took the stage and pressed the launch button, officially opening the series of activities at the China-Finland Design Park Sub-venue of the 22nd ICIF.

After the launch ceremony, witnessed by leaders and guests present, the Taiwan Youth Shenzhen Entrepreneurship Alliance was officially established. Initiated by the China-Finland Design Park Cross-Strait Youth Entrepreneurship Base, and jointly developed with SEG Maker Space and the Shenzhen-Taiwan Integrated Development Center, the alliance also brought together institutions such as the Shenzhen Industrial Design Association, the International School of Design of Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, and Shenzhen Pengcheng Technician College. It further connected the Futian Industrial Design Community as well as dozens of enterprises and incubation platforms in the cultural, creative, scientific, and technological fields. The alliance aims to integrate high-quality local entrepreneurial resources, build a full-chain entrepreneurship service system, and fully support young people from Taiwan in developing their careers in Shenzhen.

The Futian Creative Design Alliance and the China-Finland Featured Industry College were also established during the same period. Focusing on the integrated development of “design + cultural tourism”, “design + technology”, and “design + education”, they aim to build a collaborative “design +” industrial platform and create an integrated innovation ecosystem connecting industry, academia, research, and application. These initiatives will continue to deepen cross-strait collaboration among young innovators and entrepreneurs, drive industrial upgrading through design innovation, and inject strong momentum into high-quality regional development.

On the afternoon of May 19, the themed salon “Co-Shaping through Design · Digital Intelligence for New Growth” officially opened. Industry leaders including Max Lee, CEO of Kele Design; Chiu Hsin-Hsien, Distinguished Dean of the International School of Design and the School of Future Design at Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen; Jian Chengyi, General Manager of Huanying Technology Sports Culture; and Shi Chunlei, Founder of Zero Gravity Design, gathered at the event. They engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge topics such as the deep integration of AI and design, global creative collaboration, cross-strait youth entrepreneurship across different fields, and the empowerment of industries through ultimate design. Major announcements were also made, including the release of the first chief curators of the OPC International Community and the co-branded achievement between Red Coffee’s “Smiling Little Red Cup” and the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Rome, Italy. Through forward-looking exchanges of ideas, the salon brought new perspectives to the industry and injected fresh momentum into the digitalization, internationalization, and youth-oriented development of cultural and creative industries.

From May 19 to 21, the “Smart & Creative Cross-Strait” Lifestyle Market, a major highlight of the sub-venue, successfully concluded. Rooted in local cultures on both sides of the Strait, the market explored the aesthetics of everyday life. It not only provided a high-quality platform for young entrepreneurs from both sides to exchange ideas and share resources, but also continued to promote deeper integration and collaboration in the cross-strait cultural and creative industries. Through ongoing exchanges, traditional culture was passed down from generation to generation, while fresh creativity continued to emerge through the collision of ideas.

Each booth had its own distinctive features and was full of creativity, showcasing the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the creators. Pili glove puppetry presented cute chibi-style figures and themed merchandise, condensing the spirit of classic martial arts into small objects and bringing traditional opera culture into the public eye in a trendy new form. Cozy-Ever focused on scenarios of companionship between people and pets, designing stylish and practical clothing, travel accessories, and lifestyle products that express a warm aesthetic of companionship. Wanwan Tipsy brought specialty wines as well as agarwood and sandalwood products, creating an immersive expression of Taiwan’s relaxed and elegant lifestyle. WooSmell developed layered fragrances inspired by natural plants, flowers, and fruits, using rich scents to create a soothing and healing home atmosphere. Yunshangyu focused on the intangible cultural heritage craft of diancui, skillfully combining rare feather materials with modern fashion design to give classical court craftsmanship a renewed brilliance. Danqingkang focused on health and wellness, sharing knowledge on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular care and protecting everyday health through featured dietary products.

Visitors strolled leisurely through the market, carefully appreciating the exquisite details of intangible cultural heritage handicrafts, experiencing the unique charm of niche fragrances, tasting and selecting original cultural and creative products, and exchanging creative ideas and aesthetic perspectives with one another. The market was filled with a lively and harmonious atmosphere of communication. Due to heavy rainfall during the event, the Taiwan food section was unable to open to the public as scheduled, leaving a small regret, but also creating anticipation for a future reunion over delicious food.

On May 23, the “Intelligent IP Creation” Fab Lab Tech-Innovation Workshop was held at Shenzhen Open Innovation Lab. Supported by professional science and technology innovation equipment and creative courses, the workshop allowed participants to create with their own hands, experience the process of technology-driven design up close, and feel the unique charm of making through technology.

The workshop centered on an AI dialogue machine featuring IP characters inspired by figures from ancient China, integrating cutting-edge AI large model technology with digital intelligent manufacturing techniques. Under the guidance of the mentor team, participants completed a series of tasks, including using AI text-to-image tools to create portraits of ancient figures, writing dialogue logic for IP characters, and assembling AI dialogue smart circuit boards. Through hands-on making, they experienced the technological appeal of AI interaction and intelligent assembly, deepened their bonds of innovation and cooperation through cultural resonance, unlocked the fun of design innovation, and further expanded the boundaries between artistic creation and technology-based applications.

After eight days, the China-Finland Design Park Sub-venue of the 22nd ICIF and the Cross-Strait Youth Entrepreneurship Exchange Event came to a successful close. The event connected cross-strait friendship, linked Chinese and international art, and integrated tradition with technology, fully demonstrating the diverse vitality of the cultural and creative industries. A series of activities not only strengthened cultural identity and entrepreneurial exchange among young people from both sides of the Strait, but also continuously expanded the boundaries of design and art. Looking ahead, China-Finland Design Park will continue to take the ICIF as an opportunity and design as a driving force, deepen cultural innovation, and inspire more high-quality works that combine warmth and creativity. It will continue to leverage its platform strengths, bringing together the creative sparks of young people from both sides of the Strait into a powerful flame, amplifying the global voice of Shenzhen design, and writing a new chapter with greater warmth and depth in the grand journey of building a culturally strong nation.