Shanghai's Fengxian district aims to become a national leader in the new materials sector with the release of a focused three-year action plan designed to accelerate industry development.

Announced on July 9, the Action Plan for the Development of General New Materials Industry (2025-27) lays a clear roadmap to strengthen Fengxian's capabilities and industrial competitiveness. The goal is to position Fengxian as a hub for scientific and technological innovation in the field of new materials.

The plan emphasizes the creation of a high-quality industrial ecosystem, with a focus on key areas such as high-performance polymers, advanced composites, and green materials. It forms part of the district's broader strategy to support emerging industries and reinforce Shanghai’s innovation-driven development.

I. Two strategic goals

1. Build a leading innovation hub for new general materials

2. Develop an industrial cluster with a total output of about 100 billion yuan ($13.8 billion)

II. Three areas for industrial advancement

1. Strengthen and upgrade core material tracks

Focus on enhancing five established material segments to consolidate Fengxian's industrial foundation:

• Advanced chemical materials
• Integrated circuit (IC)-supporting materials
• Advanced metal materials
• High-performance fiber materials
• Green materials

2. Accelerate the development of strategic key materials

Speed up breakthroughs in high-value, high-demand materials critical to national and industrial development, such as:

• High-performance engineering plastics
• Electronic-grade wet chemicals
• Functional membrane materials

3. Foster and cultivate future materials

Support the growth of next-generation materials with superior properties or specialized functions, widely applicable in frontier fields, including:

• Electronic information
• Biomedicine
• Energy and environmental protection
• Aerospace

III. 2027 development objectives

By 2027, Fengxian aims to establish a well-integrated new materials ecosystem featuring a complete innovation chain, optimized spatial layout, and tightly coordinated upstream and downstream sectors. Key objectives include:

1. Industrial output reaching 60 billion yuan

2. Competitive advantages established in 3-5 strategic material segments

3. Breakthroughs achieved in 1-2 frontier material fields

4. More than 15 new projects introduced, each valued at more than 100 million yuan

5. At least two leading enterprises with an annual output exceeding 1 billion yuan

IV. Key measures

1. Developing five core industry clusters

Advanced chemical materials: Centered around the Hangzhou Bay Development Zone, this cluster will scale up industries such as high-end adhesives, functional coatings, and high-performance resins, while driving aggregation in engineering plastics and polyurethane (PU) materials.

Integrated circuit-supporting materials: With the Shanghai Electronic Chemicals Special Zone as the core, and the Hangzhou Bay Development Zone and Fengpu Industrial Park as key supporting areas, efforts will focus on wet chemicals, high-purity sputtering targets, electronic gases, and semiconductor packaging materials.

Advanced metal materials: Development will be concentrated in Situan Town, capitalizing on opportunities from the automotive and aerospace sectors in the Lin-gang Special Area. The district will promote the growth of energy metals, high-strength lightweight alloys, and superalloys.

High-performance fiber materials: Centered in Fengpu Industrial Park and Situan town, and integrated with neighboring hubs such as Oriental Beauty Valley and Lin-gang, this cluster will advance carbon and inorganic fibers for downstream applications in photovoltaics, batteries, automobiles, medical devices, and aerospace.

Green materials: Zhelin town will serve as the base for a manufacturing and R&D hub specializing in biodegradable materials for use in packaging, healthcare, household goods, and agriculture.

2. Enhancing project introduction and cultivation

Fengxian will pursue targeted investment promotion, focusing on Fortune 500 companies, industry leaders, and high-growth enterprises, striving to attract more than three major projects that either fill critical industry gaps or serve as new engines of growth.

The district will accelerate the development of major projects of enterprises to bring at least five new projects into operation within the plan period.

As part of its strategy, Fengxian will implement a cultivation initiative to develop 100 competitive enterprises in the new materials sector. Through these efforts, the district aims to foster over 15 champion enterprises — whether specialized manufacturers, high-tech innovators, or pioneers of advanced and distinctive technologies.

Fengxian will also promote strategic collaboration among leading firms and support mergers and acquisitions of listed companies, to establish at least three internationally competitive flagship enterprises.

3. Building a robust talent ecosystem

Fengxian will support the return of overseas high-level talent teams in the new materials field to launch ventures and commercialize research outcomes.

New materials enterprises are encouraged to collaborate with universities and research institutes to establish research centers and postdoctoral stations, as well as innovation and commercialization platforms that foster industry-education integration.

Academic institutions will be supported in launching specialized master's and doctoral programs in new materials and integrating vocational training into degree curricula.

Researchers from universities and institutes will be encouraged to convert patents into equity stakes in enterprises, with rewards granted for successful commercialization.

Housing and other supporting services will be prioritized to attract and retain qualified talent in the new materials field.

4. Elevating industrial branding and global reach

Fengxian will support enterprises in establishing overseas R&D centers.

Leading international and domestic companies in the new materials sector are encouraged to set up R&D and manufacturing bases in the district.

High-profile events such as the General New Materials Industry Conference, the Disruptive Technology Innovation Competition, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competitions will be hosted to boost Fengxian's global visibility and influence in the advanced materials industry.

 

Source: Fengxian district government