Speaking at the 36th International Business Leaders' Advisory Council on Sept 22, Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng outlined the city's strategy to become a key player in the global innovation ecosystem. The city will focus on breaking ground in four key areas—international cooperation models, cooperation platforms, innovation resource aggregation, and participation in global governance.

The mayor stated that Shanghai will continue to support initiatives such as the International Human Phenome Project, the brain-wide mesoscopic connectivity map project, the Ocean Drilling Program, and the construction of the SKA regional center, building collaborative platforms for basic international research. Additionally, Shanghai will encourage foreign-funded enterprises to conduct R&D, enhance the development of foreign-funded R&D centers, and support these enterprises in setting up global R&D centers and open innovation platforms. Meanwhile, the municipality will help local enterprises, institutions of higher learning, and scientific research institutions in expanding globally and establishing R&D and innovation centers worldwide.

According to Gong, Shanghai will expedite the construction of world-class major sci-tech infrastructure clusters, with a number of facilities adopting international operation standards to further boost global cooperation. It will also promote the construction of high-level international sci-tech cooperation bases and encourage international tech organizations, multinational corporations, and innovation service institutions to establish innovation platforms, incubators, and branch offices in Shanghai. Finally, Shanghai will continue to host major events to boost cooperation and exchanges, further enhance the influence and guiding role of international platforms such as the Pujiang Innovation Forum, and expand the spillover effect of global innovation and entrepreneurship events like "WeStart".

Gong also highlighted that the city will bolster its global resource allocation functions, enhancing the integration of innovation elements such as capital, data, technology and talents.

Shanghai will continue its efforts to implement the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative, work together with all parties to promote the construction and updating of the global sci-tech governance framework, create an open and fair innovation environment, the mayor added.

Initiated in 1989, the IBLAC has grown over the years into a key think tank for Shanghai mayors.

This year's meeting was attended by top executives of 34 multinational companies from 13 countries. The next meeting will be held on Oct 12, 2025.

Source: Jiefang Daily