Shanghai is sharpening its competitive edge in the global investment landscape by strengthening its business environment, bolstering industry support mechanisms, and showcasing targeted initiatives in cutting‑edge technology sectors. Municipal officials and corporate leaders outlined this strategic shift ahead of the Shanghai Global Investment Promotion Conference 2026, set to open on March 14 with a weeklong program of events and deal‑making activities.

This year's conference will feature a suite of new innovation platforms designed to lower entry barriers for technology enterprises and accelerate industrial deployment. According to Tang Wenkan, director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, these include:

• Public service platforms for shared computing power resources and high‑quality language data assets, supporting AI development and large‑model training;

• Enterprise overseas expansion platforms to assist Chinese companies with global market entry and regulatory navigation;

• Pilot testing zones for intelligent hardware‑software interoperability, advanced civil aircraft manufacturing, and embodied AI components.

To stimulate real‑world adoption, Shanghai will also highlight application demonstration scenarios — such as humanoid robot training facilities, a high‑level autonomous driving demonstration zone, and a test base for next‑generation aircraft systems — signaling a shift from conceptual R&D toward scalable industrial deployment.

Several major technology and industrial projects are expected to be signed during the conference, including a manufacturing and R&D base for 3D integrated circuits and a general aviation engine research center. French mobility and tire maker Michelin is also set to formalize an open innovation center to deepen cooperation in smart mobility solutions.

Shanghai will publish an updated Industry Map 3.0, a strategic tool for aligning district‑level industrial development with citywide priorities. The blueprint aims to guide local governments in concentrating resources on 25 strategic sub‑sectors, each targeting an annual output of RMB 100 billion (approximately USD 16 billion).

Shanghai is also embedding AI agents into government service platforms to improve policy matching and administrative responsiveness for businesses — a move that reflects the city’s broader digital governance strategy.

Domestic manufacturers are using the conference as a launchpad for market and product strategy refinement. C&U Group, a leading bearing producer, plans business matchmaking sessions with suppliers, clients, and research institutes. The company’s global R&D center in Minhang District, which began construction in January, will tap into Shanghai’s broad ecosystem of application scenarios — spanning robotics, industrial machinery, low‑altitude aircraft systems, energy‑saving technologies, and new energy vehicles — to accelerate technology iteration and global competitiveness.