Xuhui district has rolled out a new plan to improve its business environment, with targeted support for companies at different stages of growth and with varying capabilities.

A key focus of the plan is the smart transformation of high-end manufacturing. In December 2025, Xuhui partnered with Zurich-headquartered precision instrument maker Mettler Toledo to develop a 6,000-square-meter "lighthouse factory".

The project marked the first "industry moves upstairs" initiative in the precision manufacturing sector in downtown Shanghai, adopting a model that relocates manufacturing into multi-story buildings to address limited urban land resources.

Xuhui has also seen rapid progress in emerging industries. On Jan 9, local AI firm MiniMax was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange just four years after its founding, making it the fastest AI unicorn globally to go public.

The company's market value surpassed HK$80 billion ($10.3 billion) shortly after its debut.

At the same time, the district is strengthening support for early-stage innovation. On Jan 5, Xuhui inaugurated the Yuanli Community, a shared workspace designed for solo entrepreneurs and small start-up teams.

Within a month, 20 startups and one-person companies have moved in. The space offers free rent for the first year, along with support in computing resources, legal services, and access to capital.

By mid-2026, Xuhui plans to establish five such communities, providing about 2,500 workstations and attracting over 200 startups.

Source: Jiefang Daily