CBI member Rolls-Royce recently held an Innovation Forum in Beijing under the theme of "Better Power for a Changing World" to celebrate its 50 years of partnership with China since the delivery of the first Dart engines to power China's Vickers Viscount aircraft in 1963.
Rolls-Royce Chief Executive John Rishton, Director of Research and Technology
Ric Parker, and Regional Director for Northeast Asia Patrick Horgan joined
around 200 local employees, customers, suppliers, and partners to discuss some
of the key opportunities and challenges faced by China in developing highly
skilled people and managing innovation, from research and development through
to commercialised products and services.
In his opening remarks, Patrick Horgan highlighted the company's continued
commitment to customers and the importance of forging partnerships that go well
beyond the simple selling of equipment. He said, "From that small start 50
years ago, we now have a business that spans customers in multiple sectors, in
civil aerospace, in marine, in energy and civil nuclear. And China has become
an integral part of our global supply chain, a manufacture location, and also a
research partner. The relationships now are diverse and multifaceted, and are
set to grow strongly over the next 50 years."
Echoing the importance of customer focus, John Rishton explained that
innovation needs an open and creative environment that accepts ideas, but it
also calls for a clearer understanding of what customers are looking for. He
said, "Making something that nobody wants may be innovative but it doesn't
help anybody. So the close link between our customers and innovation is a
critical element for our success as an innovative company."
Ric Parker expanded on this theme when he shared with the audience
Rolls-Royce's approach to innovation and why it sits at the heart of the
company's DNA. He explained that last year Rolls-Royce invested £919 million in
research and development globally, two thirds of which had the objective of
further improving the environmental performance of its products, in particular
reducing emissions.
During the anniversary reception where Rolls-Royce recognised the support of
both customers and partners, The President of the Xi'an Aero-Engine Group, with
whom Rolls-Royce formed the joint venture XRA in 1997, presented John Rishton
with a commemorative Chinese edition of the book The Magic of a Name: The
Rolls-Royce Story. It represented a token of long-lasting friendship.
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