Chinese President learns about low carbon innovation

(Left-right: Dame Barbara Woodward, British Ambassador to China, President Xi Jinping, Dr Liam Fox MP, UK International Trade Secretary, HRH The Duke of York)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and foreign leaders attending the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) on Monday toured the UK’s Trade and Investment pavilion, which showcased pureLiFi technology.

pureLiFi - a spinout from the University of Edinburgh and supported by ECCI through the China-UK Low Carbon College - is now is the world leader in Light Fidelity (LiFi) innovation, enabling the communication of data through light. The technology creates more secure, energy-efficient and faster connections - with 1,000 times more bandwidth than conventional Wi-Fi.

Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Professor Harald Haas is also Director of the LiFi Research and Development Center at the University of Edinburgh.

The CIIE - the world's first import-themed national-level expo - attracted more than 3,600 companies from different countries, bringing more than 5,000 new products to over 400,000 purchasers from China and overseas.

Alistair Banham, CEO, pureLiFi said: “LiFi is a connectivity platform that will revolutionise wireless communications for 5G and beyond.

"China has the highest number of internet users in the world, and LiFi could make a significant impact on China’s wireless infrastructure, providing high-speed, efficient data transfer with unprecedented bandwidth.”

The China-UK Low Carbon College - China’s first college for the study of low carbon technology - is a joint initiative of the University of Edinburgh, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Lingang City. The Centre opened earlier this year with the support of experts from the University of Edinburgh and leadership from ECCI’s Deputy Director and Dean (Edinburgh) of the China-UK Low Carbon College, Ed Craig.

Mr Craig said: “The China-UK Low Carbon College aims to be a key base for the exchange of low carbon ideas, talent, technology and resources between China and Europe.

"We could think of no better innovative business to represent the UK and meet President Xi. It’s great to see the work of the Low Carbon College already bearing fruit.”

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