The high-end equipment industry plays a crucial role in facilitating the "Made in Shanghai" initiative and promoting digital industry transformation and advanced manufacturing development. The city is striving to build itself into a globally influential hub of innovation and a source of core technologies in the high-end equipment sector.

Achievements in 2025

​Industry Support

Key Areas

• Shanghai focuses on enhancing the manufacturing capabilities of complete machines in aerospace, shipbuilding, and marine engineering;
• The city continues to strengthen the industry foundation of intelligent manufacturing equipment such as industrial machine tools and instruments;
• It is home to China's largest core intelligent manufacturing equipment industry cluster, with 4 core industry clusters valued at over 100 billion yuan ($14.93 billion) in energy equipment, intelligent manufacturing equipment, specialized equipment, and major equipment.

Intelligent Transformation

• Shanghai supports enterprises in applying cutting-edge technologies such as large AI models, and promotes the use of independent basic software and industrial software in R&D design, production control, and other processes;
• By 2028, robot density is expected to reach 600 units per 10,000 people, and the digitalization rate of intelligent manufacturing equipment is projected to exceed 70 percent.

Reinforced Infrastructure

• The range of manufacturing loans continues to expand, offering lower interest rates, higher credit limits, and longer maturities;
• Manufacturing enterprises are encouraged to issue technology innovation bonds;
• The city rewards enterprises with sustained high growth in R&D investment, and supports them in establishing R&D centers, global R&D centers, and open innovation platforms, among others.

Highlight Elements

Industry Associations: Shanghai Heavy Equipment Manufacturing Trade Association (SHEMT), Shanghai Intelligent Manufacturing Industry Association (SIMIA), etc.

Conventions & Exhibitions: China (Shanghai) International Heavy Machinery Equipment Exhibition (CTEF), China International Industry Fair (CIIF), Shanghai International Aerospace Technology and Equipment Exhibition, Shanghai International Low-altitude Economy Expo, etc.

Industry Platforms: National Engineering and Research Center for Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing, National Robot Test and Assessment Center (Headquarters), etc.

Industry Policies

Action Plan of Shanghai for Promoting the Industrial Service Industry to Empower Industry Upgrading (2024-27)

Action Plan of Shanghai for the High-quality Development of the Intelligent Terminal Industry (2026-27)

Three-Year Action Plan for Supporting the Transformation and Upgrading of Advanced Manufacturing in Shanghai (2026-28)

• Promoting industry upgrading and guiding enterprises toward emerging fields such as low-altitude economy and commercial aerospace;
• Strengthening innovation incentives, with subsidies provided based on enterprises' annual basic research investment.

Exemplary Case

Shanghai has been providing all-around support for foreign investors to enter core segments of high-end equipment industry by helping them start construction immediately upon land acquisition, and offering green power subsidies and rent reductions. For example, Valeo was able to receive all necessary certificates and start construction within 24 hours of land acquisition; Siemens Energy received green power procurement subsidies, which reduced their manufacturing costs of hydrogen energy equipment in Lin-gang; and PAMA was provided with rent discounts and talent support in Lin-gang.

Industry Map

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Shanghai will prioritize the development of civil aviation in Lin-gang, Minhang, Changning, and Jinshan, aiming to achieve a leading advantage in specialized sectors such as large aircraft and low-altitude economy; commercial aerospace and spatial information in Minhang, Songjiang, Qingpu and Lin-gang; high-end shipbuilding and marine engineering in Chongming, Pudong and Baoshan, with particular efforts to accelerate the development of high-tech, high-value-added shipbuilding, as well as the development and operation of large cruise ships.

"1 + 2 + N": Spatial Layout of the High-end Equipment Industry in Shanghai

"1" Core Zone

• Lin-gang Special Area Core Zone for High-end Equipment Innovation and Manufacturing
• Areas of focus: Civil aviation equipment, marine engineering equipment, high-end energy equipment, high-end engineering machinery, etc.

"2" Coordinated Development Belts

Yangtze River Development Belt

Areas of focus: Smart manufacturing equipment, civil aviation equipment, marine engineering equipment, high-end energy equipment, etc.

Circum-bay Development Belt

Areas of focus: Intelligent manufacturing equipment, civil aviation equipment, high-end energy equipment, etc.

"N" Specialized Industry Clusters

China-Israel Innovation Hub, Hongqiao Digital Logistics Equipment Port, Shanghai Smart Manufacturing and Robotics Industry Park, Hongqiao Airport Economic Demonstration Zone, Caohejing Hi-Tech Park, Zizhu Hi-Tech Park, Minhang Development Zone Intelligent Manufacturing Industry Base, Beidou West Hongqiao Base, etc.

Source: 2026 Shanghai Foreign Investment Guide