Oct 16 marked a significant day for Shanghai's Jinshan district as two major projects critical to its future advanced simultaneously: the Syngenta Plant Protection Products Technology and Engineering Shanghai Lab was inaugurated with its first employees moving in, while a new Lexus office building opened, set to welcome nearly 100 staff members.

The Syngenta lab represents the vanguard of the Syngenta Group Global Plant Protection China Innovation Center, whose establishment in the Shanghai Bay Area High-Tech Zone was announced on Feb 17.

According to the plan, the innovation center will concentrate on developing new compound formulations, biologicals, and soil health solutions, aiming to become a key global R&D platform within the Syngenta Group.

The newly opened lab will serve as the "advance team" for this broader initiative, accumulating practical results and laying a systematic foundation for future research.

As the innovation center project progresses, an agricultural technology-focused innovation chain is taking shape in the district.

Also on Oct 16, the Lexus office building started operations, with an initial cohort of about 80 employees taking up roles in R&D, production, and sales.

The Lexus new energy project has seen steady progress since its groundbreaking in Jinshan this June. The overall project is scheduled for completion in August 2026, with production set to begin in 2027.

More employees will gradually transfer to the Jinshan office, with the headcount expected to reach around 280 by next April.

As Toyota's premium brand, the Lexus new energy project is a crucial part of Toyota Motor Corporation's electrification strategy.

Lexus Electrified Shanghai Co Ltd, with a registered capital of 107.1 billion yen ($700 million) and covering an area of approximately 1.13 million square meters, is intended to help Toyota swiftly achieve its strategic transition toward electrification and intelligence, launching more high-end electric vehicle models tailored for China and global markets.

Source: Jinshan district government