The New Era of &#8216;Made in China&#8217;: From Factory Floor to Global Innovation Frontier
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<img decoding="async" src="https://web-summit-engine.imgix.net/jbnjzle9iwe6f7l4psaubw16vyl6?auto=format&amp;fit=fill&amp;fill=solid&amp;fill-color=white&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fm=jpg&amp;dl=Jianhua Li.jpg" alt="Jianhua Li, Irene Long, Nick Yu" align="left" hspace="10" width="200" style="float:left;margin-right: 15px">
At Web Summit Lisbon 2026, the &#8220;Chinamaxxing: The new era of Made in China&#8221; panel, moderated by Ms. Jianhua Li, explored China&#8217;s evolving global role. Traditionally known as the &#8220;world&#8217;s factory,&#8221; China is now rapidly transitioning. Chinese companies are increasingly developing proprietary technologies and transforming innovations into market-ready products, fundamentally reshaping the global perception of &#8220;Made in China.&#8221;

Ms. Irene Long, Chief Sales Officer at Rokid, illustrated this shift. She noted that &#8220;Made in China&#8221; now signifies innovation, advanced technology, and new user experiences. Rokid, founded in 2014, exemplifies this, having become the leading global shipper of AI and AR glasses in the first half of 2026, capturing a significant 41% market share, according to Counterpoint Research.

Mr. Nick Yu, Chief Product Officer at OMOWAY, whose company launched in 2024, highlighted a globalized approach. OMOWAY leverages China&#8217;s engineering and supply chain for R&amp;D in Guangzhou, while its brand center is in Singapore, and manufacturing and after-sales operations are localized in markets like Indonesia and Thailand. This model showcases &#8220;Made in China&#8221; as a foundation for global brand development.

Both speakers underscored China&#8217;s robust supply chain and talent ecosystem as crucial for innovation. Ms. Long explained that complex hardware like AI glasses requires swift collaboration among diverse component suppliers, enabling rapid testing and mass production. Mr. Yu added that China&#8217;s vast pool of educated engineering talent across various disciplines, from mechanical to software, fosters an environment conducive to quick and diverse innovation.

Regarding industry standards, Mr. Yu emphasized rethinking existing paradigms rather than merely challenging them. OMOWAY&#8217;s Omo X motorbike, for example, features self-stabilization at low speeds, enhancing rider experience. Ms. Long noted that in emerging sectors like AI glasses, Rokid has pioneered new standards, such as the double-chip architecture, which is now adopted by other international players.

Addressing concerns about speed versus quality, Mr. Yu clarified that rapid development does not equate to sacrificing reliability. He stressed meticulous initial design and extensive real-world testing. OMOWAY utilizes Over-The-Air (OTA) updates, drastically shortening validation cycles from weeks to days. Ms. Long added that fast innovation allows for quick learning from user feedback, leading to rapid product improvements like Rokid&#8217;s AI shortcuts and wireless charging solutions for continuous use.

On trade tensions and overcapacity, Mr. Yu argued that products must offer tangible value beyond just competitive pricing, focusing on unique selling points and rethinking industries. Ms. Long agreed, asserting that consumer demand for useful, productive, and reasonably priced products should drive market acceptance. Looking ahead, both envision &#8220;Made in China&#8221; evolving to mean &#8220;Created in China,&#8221; representing fun, innovative, trusted global brands that make technology accessible and beneficial worldwide.

Chinamaxxing: The new era of Made in China

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Closing remarks