Chengdu, 19 May — Re:Think 2026 Sustainable Innovation Week opened today in Chengdu under the theme “Local Ideas, Global Pathways,” convening more than 150 participants from government, business, academia, and the innovation ecosystem to explore how Chinese enterprises can strengthen the capabilities needed to compete in higher-standard global markets and contribute to positive actions in advancing sustainable development and global climate agendas. 

Hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China, with support from the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE) and the Chengdu Hi-Tech Zone, the week-long initiative (16–24 May) is being organized through the UNDP SDG Innovation Lab (SPARK Lab) in Chengdu. Now in its seventh year, Re:Think has grown into a leading platform connecting innovators, entrepreneurs, and businesses with international sustainability standards, dialogue, and opportunity. 

“Sustainability is not a constraint, nor simply a matter of compliance. It is becoming a core capability — and indeed a strategic necessity — for participating in the global economy,” said James George, UNDP Resident Representative ad interim in China, at the opening ceremony. 

James George noted that UNDP’s sustainable procurement should be understood not only as a business opportunity for Chinese enterprises, but as entry points into a broader transformation in which enterprises strengthen transparency, credibility, and sustainability capacity in order to compete in higher-standard global markets. 

With SMEs accounting for 50% of global GDP worldwide, UNDP has worked through SPARK Lab to ensure that local enterprises can thrive in an increasingly interconnected global economy shaped by international standards. This is critical to the sustainable development agenda, and a requirement for more resilient societies, more inclusive growth, and supply chains that are aligned with long-term environmental and social goals. 

AI Yinfang, Deputy Director General of the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges stated, “As global trade rules and supply chains undergo profound change, Chinese enterprises are moving beyond product export toward capability, standards, and value.” 

A major feature of this year’s edition is the launch of SPARK Selected 2026, an open call designed to identify and showcase brands, designers, and innovators whose work advances the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through cultural heritage, innovation, and social impact. Through this mechanism, Re:Think is evolving from a platform for dialogue into one that also highlights and supports practical solutions. 

SPARK Selected forms part of the broader SPARK Sustainable Living Initiative, a new public-facing platform launched by the SPARK Lab linking innovation, sustainable lifestyles, and community participation. The initiative includes the SPARK Selected open call and showcase event on 20 May, as well as a sustainable lifestyle market and a night market for local residents.  

Together, these activities are designed to bring sustainable development from policy discussions into everyday urban life, while giving greater visibility to local innovation with global relevance that advances the SDGs.  

The opening ceremony also marked the signing of the Chengdu International Public Procurement Industry Incubation Base, aimed at helping local enterprises engage more effectively with international public procurement systems and evolving global sustainability standards. AI Yinfang noted: “By supporting the further development of UN procurement-related services in Chengdu and the Hi-Tech Zone, this initiative will help strengthen the capacity of local enterprises to participate in international procurement, enhance their readiness to meet higher-standard requirements, and support more effective linkages with cooperation and development opportunities.” 

Additionally, this afternoon’s programme features a closed-door training session for local SMEs focused on the practical requirements for entering international public procurement and higher-standard global markets, including UN Global Marketplace registration, bid preparation, and meeting international standards and certification requirements. The session is designed to help local enterprises engage more effectively with international public procurement systems and fast evolving global sustainability standards. 

Since 2019, UNDP, CICETE, and the Chengdu High-Tech Zone have worked together through the UNDP SDG Innovation Pilot Project to connect local enterprises and innovators with international resources, dialogue, and opportunities. Re:Think 2026 builds on this foundation by placing greater emphasis on sustainability capacity, concrete solutions, and global pathways for local innovation.