By Li Wenhan 丨 Beijing Review Marco Lovati, a professional who has worked in various countries such as Austria, Finland and Switzerland, continues to seize opportunities that enhance his career development. After arriving in Chengdu, Sichuan province of China, in 2021, Lovati eventually secured a role as a senior algorithm development engineer at Hisense, a global leader in home appliances and consumer electronics operating, headquatered in Qingdao, where he decided to settle.Lovati’s work is centered around artificial intelligence, particularly in the area of music creation. He values career growth that not only builds personal capacity but also creates value for others. “It’s interesting, it’s self-satisfying and I enjoy the job very much,” he noted.![]()
Marco Lovati, an algorithm development engineer at Hisense (WEI YAO)Discussing Qingdao, Lovati emphasized its scenic beauty, with its seaside and mountainous landscapes, as well as its atmosphere, famous for Chinese barbecue and beer. The city also hosts global companies like Hisense and Haier, making it an attractive hub for talent. He pointed out that the innovative environment is a main draw for overseas professionals like himself.In addition to being one of the top 10 “Amazing China － The Most Attractive Chinese Cities in the Eyes of Foreign Talents”, Qingdao is rapidly emerging as a center for innovation and high-tech industries. Hisense, headquartered in the city since its founding in 1969, achieved a remarkable revenue of 202.2 billion yuan (approximately $28.6 billion) in 2023. Of this, 85.8 billion yuan (around $12.2 billion) came from international markets, accounting for 42.5 percent of the company’s total earnings.As well as its core businesses in displays and smart appliances, where it holds a leading global position, Hisense has been expanding its presence in automotive electronics, optical communication, healthcare and smart transportation.Investing in high-tech fields yields substantial returns but comes with greater risks. Hisense’s progress in smart industry is largely due to the support from Qingdao. For instance, in 2002, Qingdao was among the nine cities selected as pilot cities for smart transportation systems, which gave Hisense the opportunity to develop in this sector.Smart transportation allows local residents to, for example, receive real-time public transportation information through a mobile app as well as on digital screens at key public spots like bus stops. Bus operating companies can do real-time monitoring, remote control, intelligent dispatching of vehicles and match passenger flows and traffic capacity. This will help cities to improve operational efficiency.![]()
Hisense showcases smart city scenarios at its headquarter in Qingdao (WEI YAO)Since Qingdao became a partner city for the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games, Hisense has consistently advanced its smart transportation technologies in major events, including the 2010 Shanghai Expo, the Guangzhou Asian Games, and the 2018 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Qingdao Summit.China’s shift towards high-tech green industries is gaining momentum, with experts forecasting that the “new three” sectors—photovoltaics, lithium-ion batteries, and new energy vehicles—will play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s future economic landscape. Qingdao is also embracing this trend.Regarding industrial development, “Qingdao is focusing on new energy and new materials as key industrial sectors,” said Yu Bingbo, Deputy Director of the Qingdao Science and Technology Bureau. These areas are central to the city’s industrial strategy and innovation efforts.Teld New Energy, a leading company in China’s electric vehicle (EV) Charging operator, recently recorded its first annual profit after nearly a decade of operation. This success is attributed to China’s rapidly expanding EV market. Teld, which operates the nation’s largest charging pile network, benefited from increasing demand for EV infrastructure.![]()
New Energy Eco-technology Museum of China (WEI YAO)
Tgood Electric, the Qingdao-based parent company of Teld, reported that the unit’s public charging network saw significant expansion, which boosted both revenue and profitability. Tgood, a manufacturer of electrical distribution boxes, ventured into the EV charging business by founding Teld in 2014. Qingdao is on the path to advance technological innovation and improve its talent policy to support high-quality development.
