The 13th Annual International IC Conference & Exhibition (IIC-China) opens at China World Trade Center today.

IIC-China is mainland China's largest systems design event, showcasing the latest products and solutions from the world's top technology companies. Mark A. Saunderson, President of Global Sources' Electronics Business Unit, said: "The Bohai Sea Economic Zone that covers Beijing, Dalian, Jinan, Qingdao and Tianjin is mainland China's largest R&D center. Beijing alone spent US$ 5.8 billion on R&D in 2006 and the gross added value contributed by the high-tech industry amounted to US$ 36 billion in 2006, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China."

Mark added: "Demand for technology and knowledge is immense, and IIC-China's exhibition and conference program is the ideal platform for international and local technology companies to showcase their solutions – and to network with engineers in this important electronics hub."

The Pearl River Delta has long been the leading hub for China's electronics industry, but a trend of manufacturers shifting north is brewing. As the costs of labor and land keep rising, some manufacturers have moved their factories north to China’s inner cities.

Economists say the advantage of lower production costs in the Pearl River Delta is waning, and a shift north is inevitable. The key to survival for manufacturers in Pearl River Delta is whether or not they can step up innovation and improve manufacturing.