Focusing on collaboration at scale, the discussion will examine how partnership models function in a market where speed, cost, and volume are key drivers, and what it takes for Chinese producers, innovators, and brands to move from participation to more active co-creation. It will also explore the transition from innovation to industrial scale, unpacking the barriers between pilot success and
mass production, as well as how different material pathways, from established wood-based MMCFs to next-gen and recycled inputs, are positioned within the Chinese market.

Finally, the session will address the economic realities behind scaling, including how investment flows across China and Asia shape what ultimately grows, which parts of the value chain attract capital, and how investors assess risk and viability in emerging material solutions.

Moderator:

Sue Su | Senior Marketing Manager at CCFGroup

Panelists:

Dongbin Zhang | Executive Deputy General Manager and a Senior Professor-level Engineer at Xingda Chemical Fiber Co., Ltd of Tangshan Sanyou Group

Karen Ye | Vice President and Sales Director of FUEN GROUP

James Hughes | Founder and Managing Partner, Aether Capital Partners/Canopy Catalyst Fund

Mr. Wei Guo | Head of the Product Department at Black Peony Textile Co., Ltd