Zhangjiang: a hot spot for startups

Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Pudong New Area, Shanghai [Photo/IC]

A sound innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, active investment environment and favorable policies have made Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park a hot spot for startups and a gathering place for Chinese companies keen to explore the international market.

Statistics from the park show that there were over 18,000 companies in total, 53 headquarters built by multinational companies, and 828 hi-tech companies as of the end of 2018, with information technology and biopharmaceutical being the leading industries in the park.

Talent gathering

A visitor experiences a rehabilitation robot developed by Fourier Intelligence at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2018 in Shanghai. [Photo/IC]

For many companies, the concentration and internationalization of talents in Zhangjiang is one of the key factors behind the decision to settle in the park.

"Zhangjiang is the first choice for any Chinese companies who want to go global, as it is easier to recruit international talents here," said Gu Jie, CEO of Chinese technology startup Fourier Intelligence.

Founded in 2015 at Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Fourier Intelligence provides products and services with rehabilitation robots. Aiming to become a global intelligent robot company from its early days, Fourier Intelligence is currently the only technology company in China that exports exoskeleton robotic products and services on rehabilitation for disabled people and those who have suffered injuries to 10 countries around the world, including Australia, the United States and numerous European countries.

"Talents in artificial intelligence, robotics, and engineering are usually required in hi-tech industries, such as the robotic industry. In the United States, one can find top engineers but there is a shortfall in middle-level ones, and they might be expensive to hire. But in Zhangjiang, we can have both highly-skilled talents as well as middle-level ones," said Gu, adding that Zhangjiang is clustered with many young people.

By last October, over 370,000 employees have worked in Zhangjiang, including 6,200 doctoral candidates, 7,500 overseas returnees, 4,300 expats and 450 high-caliber talents.